The books of the dead revisited: mortality and morbidity in the German colonies of southern Brazil, 1850-1880

Abstract Examines mortality and morbidity in São Leopoldo/RS (1850-1880). Our interdisciplinary study is based on the Gemeindebücher (parish registers) produced by Lutheran communities. These “community books” reveal high rates of fertility and premature death. Infant mortality and maternal death as...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: João Biehl, Miquéias Henrique Mugge, Ana Maria Goldani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Casa de Oswaldo Cruz
Series:História, Ciências, Saúde: Manguinhos
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-59702018000401197&lng=en&tlng=en
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Examines mortality and morbidity in São Leopoldo/RS (1850-1880). Our interdisciplinary study is based on the Gemeindebücher (parish registers) produced by Lutheran communities. These “community books” reveal high rates of fertility and premature death. Infant mortality and maternal death assailed everyday life. Over half of all deaths were of infants and children. Of ten funerals, seven were for children and adults of reproductive and military age. This article contributes to debates over environmental, social and political determinants of mortality and people’s arts of living and healing in proto-statistical Brazil.
ISSN:1678-4758