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Abstract Details

Powdered Human Skulls in New Spain: Epilepsy Care before Pedro de Horta, the First American Epileptologist
Research Methodology, 好色先生, and History
S17 - History of Neurology (4:08 PM-4:16 PM)
002
To introduce Pedro de Horta's predecessors in the management of epilepsy (morbo caduco) to the contemporary neurology community.
De Horta is the author of the first treatise on epilepsy ever written in the Americas (1763), the Informe médico-moral de la penossisima y rigorosa enfermedad de la epilepsia (The Medical-Moral Account on Epilepsy). Therefore, Drs. García-Albea and Jiménez-Jiménez (1995), as well as many others, consider him the first American epileptologist.
Secondary historical sources regarding De Horta's predecessors were reviewed.
In the General Archive of the Nation (Mexico), Rodríguez-Sala and Soriano-Cuevas (2012) discovered and reviewed primary sources (1702) about one therapy for epilepsy that was used in New Spain. The three medical practitioners who were using this treatment (Nicolás Antonio de Armijo, Juan de Torres Guevara, and Antonio de Heredia) lived in Puebla de los Ángeles, the same Colonial city where De Horta later resided. They recommended powdered human skulls for difficult-to-treat epilepsy. In different parts of the world, human skulls had been used for a long time as a remedy for seizures (Charlier & Deo, 2018). For instance, they were used by Dr. Jonathan Goddard (1617–1675), Gresham Professor of Physic, in his famous concoction: the Goddard's Drops. As the medical use of human skulls raised some controversy in Puebla, Drs. De Armijo, De Torres Guevara, and De Heredia requested an official authorization from the Holy Office of the Inquisition to use human skulls for medical purposes. Five months later, the Inquisition approved the use of human skulls for epilepsy. Information regarding clinical outcomes is not available.
Drs. De Armijo, De Torres Guevara, and De Heredia (1702) from Puebla, New Spain, may be regarded as the legitimate forerunners of medical epilepsy care in the Americas.
Authors/Disclosures
Guillermo R. Delgado-Garcia, MD, MSc (University of Calgary - Alberta Health Services)
PRESENTER 		Dr. Delgado-Garcia has received research support from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Mexico). Dr. Delgado-Garcia has received research support from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Mexico). Dr. Delgado-Garcia has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Team Member with Neurology Resident & Fellow Section that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Delgado-Garcia has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board Member with Brain and Life en Espanol that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Delgado-Garcia has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board Member with Neurology Clinical Practice that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.
No disclosure on file
Bruno E. Vidal, MD (Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición) No disclosure on file