Julio Tello as a medical anthropologist: assessing the antiquity of syphilis in ancient Peru / Julio Tello como antropólogo médico: examinando la antigüedad de la sífilis en el antiguo Perú

Abstract This paper explores the methods used by Julio Tello to address the antiquity of syphilis in ancient Peru, examining his thesis La antigüedad de la sífilis en el antiguo Perú to understand the logic behind the procedures he used to test his hypothesis. The contention presented here is that despite being a medical thesis, his text can actually be considered an exploration of the origins of syphilis using a truly anthropological method, making Tello a pioneer in the subfield of medical anthropology in the Andes.

Resumen Este artículo analiza el método utilizado por Julio Tello en la investigación de la antigüedad de la sífilis en el antiguo Perú, examinando su tesis La antigüedad de la sífilis en el antiguo Perú, con la finalidad de comprender la lógica detrás de los procedimientos utilizados para evaluar su hipótesis. A pesar de ser una tesis en medicina, el trabajo de Tello puede ser considerado como un trabajo en el cual se utiliza el método antropológico en la evaluación del origen de la sífilis, convirtiéndose Tello en un pionero en el campo de la antropología médica en los Andes.

Primitive society, health & elderly.

Mankind have been ravaged by diseases since primitive age and remedial measures were emprirical learnt either by accident, experience or superstition. But most elderly population were killed and hardly died of diseases. Fate of women were no better. Care for elderly came with civilization. They were little better in the East compared to the West. Although elderly population were better treated in India, China tops the list for elderly care. Even today the oldest man in the family is most respected. Civilized nations even today discriminate elderly population compared to children and adult, but apply the yardstick in a different manner, direct killing alone is not allowed.

Ethnobiology in Mizoram state: folklore medico-zoology.

Studies in ethnobotany and ethnozoology under the umbrella of Ethnobiology seem imbalanced in the sense that enormous publications have accumulated in case of the former but only little information has been disseminated in case of the latter. While 7500 wild plant species are known to be used by tribals in medicine, only 76 species of animals have been shown as medicinal resources (Anonymous, 1994). The present paper is the first-hand information of folklore medicine and animals in Mizoram. The animals enumerated comprise of 25 vertebrates and 31 invertebrates and are used for treatment of over 40 kinds of diseases or ailments, including jaundice, tuberculosis, hepatitis, cancer, asthma and veterinary disease. The author, however, does not recommend destruction of wild animals, be it for food or medicine.

Japanese ethnology and Chosen people during Japanese annexation period / 의사학

Japan extended her territory since the end of 19th century, Sahalin island northward, Ryukyu islands southward. Japan annexed Chosen in 1910. The task of Japanase ethnology was how to describe and define the people of many races in Japanese territory. On the other hand Japanese ethnology was a confrontation of Japanese about the sense of superiority of the West. Japanese ethnology was the background of exploitation and discrimination of other Asian countries and their people. In that sense Japan imitated Western countries in an age of imperialism. Japanese ethnologist adopted two theories; one was an anthropology and another was the theory of evolution. They classified races into two categories, evoluted one and primitive one. Japanese government intended to utilize Asian people in respond to the advantages and disadvantages of each race. Kubo, Koganei, Kyono, and Hasebe were those who studied Chosen people. Kubo, a professor of department of Anatomy of Kyungsung Junior Medical College, was the most productive one in anthropology of Chosen people. He describes Chosen people as a primitive one. His prejudice about Chosen people was very closely related with so called "Kubo abusive words case". It was a symbolic happening rather than a personal defect in the perspective of the idea of Japanese ethnology about Chosen people.

Gujjar Bakarwals: the eco-friendly tribals of Jammu and Kashmir since centuries.

According to the ecological approach, health represents the adjustment of the human organism to his environment. The man of today is living in a highly complicated environment and his health problem is more complicated as he is becoming more ingenious. But, there are people who with their strong social structure are living in healthly relatiomshi with their environment and are enjoying the transformation of their rich genetic potentialities into phenotypic realities since centuries. They are Gujjar Bakarwal tribals of Jammu and Kashmir. Here, in this article, the traditionally hard life style of these tribals with reference to their social, physical and biological environment factors which make them eco-friendly has been discussed.