Um estudo dos escravos a partir dos registros de óbitos (Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, 1822-1850)

Abstract

This paper examines the records of deaths of people in the city of Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, from 1822 to 1850, taking into account the variables cause of death, age and sex of the deceased. These data are listed under the categories established by Mary Karasch for diseases of slaves in Rio de Janeiro and the main causes of deaths were defined according to popular medical manuals that circulated in the region. We found that, as was the case in most of the province, the highest incidence of deaths was among the innocent. It is concluded that the main causes of illness and death were the slaves of infectious and parasitic diseases, as was the case in other localities of the Brazilian Empire. In comparison, other groups of diseases was not as significant. The fact that infectious diseases are a major cause of death leads us to think that poor diet, unsanitary conditions and hard work of the prisoner to leave the body susceptible to contamination from external agents.