A brief review of respiratory diseases in pre-Hispanic times in Mexico

Abstract

It is known that, in ancient Mexico, diseases of the respiratory system were a major cause of death in the population. Severe epidemics in the XVI century ravaged and killed nine out of ten indigenous persons. Pre-Hispanic physicians served as medical sorcerers and dealt with the physical and spiritual diseases that afflicted the population. Important medical knowledge pertaining to each culture has been identified; this knowledge explained the diseases depending on the religious beliefs of each culture, and it tried to solve the health problems that afflicted the population at that time.