The Intermittent Fevers in Morelos: a study of Malaria, Precariousness, and Insalubrity (1880-1917)

Abstract

The main objective of the paper is to analyze the material conditions of the Mexican state of Morelos in connection with the persistence of malaria between 1880 and 1917. Additionally, it seeks to identify the dominant scientific and social interpretations pertaining to the disease during that time. This period marks the inception of national initiatives to advance public health and hygiene, ultimately culminating in the codification of health as a fundamental right in the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. Furthermore, during this period, notable shifts were observed in the productive and socio-territorial dynamics of Morelos, with few improvements in the quality of life of the communities. The research constitutes a significant contribution to the advancement of the examination of specific diseases within local contexts, as well as to the understanding of the vulnerability of their populations to these phenomena. This is particularly evident in Morelos, where such research is practically non-existent. The study is based on a review of primary sources, adopting a historical and social approach that transcends medical and epidemiological explanations. The research findings permit the conclusion that, although the presence of the transmitting mosquito was influenced by geophysical and climatic characteristics, the persistence and impact of malaria were closely linked to the socio-historical context. Therefore, the successes and failures in the control of the disease were not exclusively due to technical and medical interventions. Rather, they were also influenced by a number of other factors, including living conditions and the particularities of the occupation and intervention in the Morelos territory.