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BEXAR
HISTORY
almost non-existent. pox and malaria, the latter being treated with extract of cinchona
Information from the Bexar county archives (translated from the bark (quinine).
Spanish documents) transmitted back to Spain indicated that the Pneumonia, with varieties consisting of catarrhal, croupous and
prevalent diseases at the time consisted of smallpox, pneumonia, in- interstitial, was treated with quinine, Dover’s powders, morphine,
flammatory influenza, malaria, extensive gonorrhea and syphilis in and Veratrum, a local herb consisting of “Indian poke (Indian helle-
the military, and measles throughout the community. The various bore)” and also the use of antipyrine (phenazone) for high fever. A
treatments recommended were suggested isolation, rest, fresh air, quote from a doctor of the time was, “The disease abates only when
light diet, plenty of “rye water”, frequent bathing, cream of tartar there has been time for repairs through the agency of nature and oc-
orally, and olive oil or butter externally applied. casionally the art of man.”
Smallpox, initially introduced into Mexico by Hernando Cortez, The treatment of tetanus had utilized many modalities, but it was
was rather widespread. In response to the pleas for assistance from found that the hypodermic injection of oil of tobacco in a few drops
San Antonio de Bexar to Madrid, the king of Spain by royal decree in water was successful in controlling severe spasms, but not the final
directed his royal physician to act. In 1805, a ship with a large num- outcome of the disease. There were many ways of treating whooping
ber of children and a physician set sail for the Americas. Initially, cough including cocaine, hyoscyamine, cannabis, and others. Most
two of the children had been vaccinated with the recent “Jenner dis- successful was the use of bromide as a sedative to reduce the severity
covery”. The cowpox vaccine was given to two children. From this, of the symptoms; however, this wasn’t a cure. Quinine was also uti-
two more children were inoculated every week from the prior two lized in the treatment of whooping cough.
children who had been vaccinated. In this way, the vaccine was kept
current until the ship reached Mexico. The process was then contin- Typhlitis (inflammation of the cecum, now known as appendicitis)
ued throughout the province and eventually reached San Antonio was diagnosed only when it had reached the advanced stage of peri-
de Bexar. The population was convinced by the local physician of tonitis. Treatment consisted of sedatives to make the patient more
the necessity and safety of the process, and the smallpox was on its comfortable, along with hot or cold packs to the abdomen, and ir-
way to eventually being eradicated. rigation of the colon when there was a possibility of obstruction. If
there was formation of an abscess in the abdomen that was palpable,
During the 1820s and 1830s, colonization of Texas by groups then it would be drained. The mortality was very high, approaching
from the United States began, the first being that of the Stephen F. 90 percent in children and about 30 percent in adults.
Austin colony. Among the people flowing to Texas were occasional
physicians: these physicians of the 19th century were engaged in the In the summertime, there were bilious disorders present, which
general practice of medicine. They depended largely on their five were treated with calomel, quinine, and tartar emetic. Bloodletting
senses, their experiences, and their judgment in making a diagnosis was popular during the early period. In 1825 and 1830, there were
and treatment. Much of the medical treatment was similar to that epidemics of “fevers of various types,” possibly including typhoid.
which existed in colonial America. The motto of the times was In 1832, an epidemic of cholera in Gonzales was controlled by es-
“bleed, puke, or purge.” tablishing a quarantine of the city from other areas of the state.
Malarial fever was a great killer that existed in almost every com- The treatment for extensive gunshot wounds consisted of boiled
munity. Other diseases included yellow fever, tuberculosis, small- light oak bark (very strong) mixed with pounded char wood and
pox, diptheria, whooping cough, and various diarrheal conditions. Indian meal made into a poultice and placed around the gunshot
An additional responsibility on the early doctor was the necessity wound of an extremity or compound fracture for five days, after
to prepare and dispense his own medicine. Generally, these tasted which the mortified parts fell off and the extremity then occasion-
bad and consisted of medication such as quinine, turpentine, cas- ally healed.
tor oil, and bichloride of mercury (calomel), and included local
botanical preparations. In 1857, it was reported that the treatment of yellow fever con-
sisted of the use of lobelia and quinine, as against the early treatment
In the 19th century there were two preventable diseases: small- with bleeding or purging. Treatment of diphtheria was with potas-
sium chlorate as well as steam inhalations of sodium chloride, car-
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