The first childhood health statistics in the Chilean province of Santiago (1860-1929)

Abstract

We analyse the development of medical statistics on the causes of childhood death and disease between 1860 and 1929 in Santiago (Chile),evidencing the criteria applied for their classification. Our work is based on the hypothesis that the accumulation of bureaucratic and medical knowledge gradually modified the understanding of death and disease. Using primary sources, mainly the Statisticals Yearbook of the Republic of Chile, we address the historical change in the definitions of diseases, the scientific nature of diagnoses and the difficulties in implementing the Bertillon system. This task allowed us to detect conceptual representations of diseases that were developed and used by physicians and statisticians. The conclusions highlight the technical-improvements for both professions in their function as State officials during the last years of the period. The changes led to the collection of more reliable data on infant mortality and health and laid the foundations of the turnaround in Chilean paediatric medicine that started in the 1930s.