| Espanto: a dialogue with the gods. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 535409 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Espanto or susto has been analysed from various points of view in the last fifteen years. From a survey covering 109 case analyses collected in Nicolas Ruiz (Chiapas, Mexico), we reached the conclusion that this folk illness cannot be conceived of as a syndrome in the medical sense. A semiological analysis showed that espanto can be better described as an indigenous theory whose function is to relate illness events to other levels of reality. According to indigenous belief, the Holy Earth and the chtonian spirits of the underworld play an important role in the origin of the illness. This origin is associated with an opening of the earth as is illustrated in the earthquakes or the volcanic eruptions forming the prototype of a fright experience leading to espanto; or, it is attributed to agents who inhabit locations where the earth presents a fissure (river, ravine, cave). It is through these holes that the Holy Earth exerts her power. Concomitantly, the body of the victim is believed to open itself to the influences of the bad winds of espanto. Trembling is another aspect of the phenomenon which is observed at numerous levels: first, during the fright experience; second, when the victim falls ill (chills jumping in bed); and third, when the curandera takes the pulse of the patient to see if the blood is afraid. These multiple analogies lead to the assumption that there is a meaning shared by these separate manifestations. |
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Authors:
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M Tousignant |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Culture, medicine and psychiatry Volume: 3 ISSN: 0165-005X ISO Abbreviation: Cult Med Psychiatry Publication Date: 1979 Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1980-05-14 Completed Date: 1980-05-14 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7707467 Medline TA: Cult Med Psychiatry Country: NETHERLANDS |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 347-61 Citation Subset: IM |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Female Guatemala Humans Indians, North American Male Medicine, Traditional* Mental Disorders / diagnosis* Mexico Mythology South America Syndrome United States |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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