Onr Cat./10/ic Heritage in Texas
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prominent citizen. His patient recovered rapidly and Navarrete stayed because his services were much in demand. 8 · 1 In 1795 and 1796, a strange malady made its appearance m Texas. This was promptly named nzosezuela, which, freely translated, means "infant's disease." The ailment appears to have been common also in Havana, where it was called mal de siete dins (seven-day ailment). It was a sor_t of epilepsy which affected infants on the seventh clay after birth and which proved fatal in almost every case, for which reason it was declared incurable. Those few who survived seem to have been subject to a recurrence of the ailment on the seventh or twenty-first year. But just as the epidemic broke out in San Antonio in 1795, an effective remedy was being discovered in Cuba. This consisted of aceite de palo, known also as aceite ca11imar, or balsamo de copaiba. This was applied to the umbilical cord when cut. It proved a successful preventive in every case in Cuba. The officials of San Luis Potosi, upon being con- sulted, advised its use in Texas. 85 Smallpox still continued to be the most feared scourge on the frontier. La Ba~ia was frequently visited by the malady. In November, 1798, during an epidemic, Captain Jose Miguel del Moral informed Governor Munoz that he was sending two soldiers to San Antonio to purchase thirty pesos of piloncillo (brown sugar) needed for the treatment of the disease. He did not explain how the ingredient was to be used in the cure of smallpox. The disease was endemic, it seems, in the coast region. When in January, 1799, the governor ordered Captain del Moral to send some Indian allies to Laredo, he replied that the natives were unable to go because of the prevalence of smallpox in their villages. 86 Cattle industry. It is of interest to note how the importance of the cattle industry occupied the attention of the king himself. A long and interesting royal decree was issued May 8, 1800, detailing measures for the improvement of the stock. Instructions were given for the separation of the bulls from the cows each year and the selection of one third of the best bulls for breeding purposes in order to improve the quality of the herds. The other two thirds were to fatten in separate pastures to be used as oxen, or sent to the market. The recognition of the importance 84 Cortes to Munoz, June 20, and July 7, 1795; Munoz to Cortes, June 26, 1795. Bexar Archives. 85 Circulars dated September 23, 1795, and December 17, 1796. Be:rar Archives. 16 Jose Miguel de! Moral to Governor Munoz, November 21, 1798; Munoz to Del Moral, January 14, 1799; Del Moral to Munoz, January 18, 1799. Bexar Archives.
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