Poisoned Eden: Cholera Epidemics, State-Building, and the Problem of Public Health in Tucuman, Argentina, 1865-1908

In 1895, the Argentine province of Tucumán was described as the "Poisoned Eden" due to two previous cholera epidemics and horrific hygienic conditions. Carlos S. Dimas' book "Poisoned Eden" analyzes the social, political, and cultural effects of three epidemics in 1868, 1886, and 1895, showing how cholera became intertwined in all areas of the social fabric and how public health services expanded the state's presence in the interior.

Format: Hardback
Length: 348 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

In 1895, after enduring two previous cholera epidemics and facing horrific hygienic conditions and the fear of another epidemic, officials in the Argentine province of Tucumán described their home as the "Poisoned Eden," a play on its official title, "Garden of the Republic." Cholera elicited fear and panic in the nineteenth century, and although the disease never had the demographic impact of tuberculosis, malaria, or influenza, cholera was a source of consternation that often illuminated dormant social problems.

Carlos S. Dimas analyzes the social, political, and cultural effects of three epidemics, in 1868, 1886, and 1895, that shook the northwestern province of Tucumán to understand the role of public health in building the Argentine state in the late nineteenth century. Through a reading of medical and ethnographic material, Dimas shows that cholera became intertwined in all areas of the social fabric and that Tucumanos of all classes created public health services that expanded the states presence in the interior. In each outbreak, provincial powers contended with how to ensure the provinces autonomy while simultaneously meeting the needs of the state to eradicate cholera. Centering disease, Poisoned Eden demonstrates how public health and debates on cholera's contagion became a central concern of the nineteenth-century Latin American state and promoted national cohesion.

In 1868, a cholera epidemic struck the province of Tucumán, Argentina, causing widespread fear and panic among the population. The disease spread rapidly, leading to the deaths of thousands of people and leaving a devastating impact on the region. The response to the epidemic was marked by a lack of coordination and communication between provincial and national authorities, resulting in a delayed and inadequate response to the crisis.

The outbreak of cholera in 1886 was even more severe than the previous one, with a mortality rate of up to 30 percent. This time, the response was more organized, with the government establishing a centralized system of control and coordination. However, the disease continued to spread, and it took several years for the province to recover.

The third and most devastating epidemic of cholera occurred in 1895, with a mortality rate of up to 50 percent. This time, the response was even more coordinated, with the government establishing a dedicated public health department and implementing a series of measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Despite these efforts, the epidemic continued to spread, and it took several months for the province to recover.

The social, political, and cultural effects of these epidemics were profound. The disease caused widespread fear and panic, leading to social unrest and political instability. It also highlighted the lack of infrastructure and resources in the province, as well as the poor living conditions of many people. The response to the epidemics also highlighted the power of the state and the importance of public health in building a cohesive and healthy society.

In conclusion, the cholera epidemics of 1868, 1886, and 1895 had a significant impact on the province of Tucumán, Argentina. The disease caused widespread fear and panic, highlighted the lack of infrastructure and resources, and highlighted the power of the state and the importance of public health in building a cohesive and healthy society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496208408