A VISIT TO THE COUNTRY. 347 







with compound fractures, which healed immediately; liul cured scrofulous eruptions and inflam- 

 matory rheumat ism that had defied the faculty at Santiago; was equally successful with a multi- 

 tun.- of tin- "ills that ll.-sli is heir to;" iin<l yet was aH utterly unalde to read, and as ignorant 

 of tho received theory of medicine, as an infant. Nor was she singular in tliese acquirements. 

 Everv nei-hi'orho.Ml has one such unlettered disciple of K< -nlapius. Hut I must tell of a male 

 prac'itioner in tin- art. so famous in his time t hat Padre < iimnan devotes an entire chapter to an 

 account of his skill and charity. This was PABLO CcEVAS, the medico of Chuapa. Moved wholly 

 by a spirit of philanthropy, Cuevas devoted all his means and time during a long life to the 

 cur.- of the poor who sought him. Quarters were provided in his own house, and the simple 

 remedies of which he had obtained knowledge were, at first, administered by his own hands; 

 suhse.|iiently, when he became old, by his daughters. No compensation was ever asked for 

 their expenditures or services ; and though many of the wealthy who had previously lingered 

 under the hands of physicians received relief through his applications, and made him handsome 

 largesses in return, these were invariably applied for the benefit of suffering humanity rather 

 than to the increase of his own wealth, and he died at an advanced age quite poor. Padre (iux- 

 man says: "The method by which Cuevas ordinarily cured the sick, considered under all aspects, 

 was the most admirable that can be imagined. He needed no other diagnosis for perfect know- 

 ledge of the disease of a patient than observation of the features and examination of the urine, 

 which last he required to be presented in a bottle, and subsequently scattered it in the air. By 

 the latter alone simple and momentary inspection of the urine he could tell the state of the 

 patient, the gravity of his disease, and its origin. Remedies that appeared proper were then, 

 applied, and with so much certainty that a case was rare where the patient did not remain per- 

 fectly healed. This virtuous man appears to have been sent by Heaven for the succor and 

 health of indigent mankind. His cures of diseases of every variety were like miracles; and 

 innumerable were the sick given over by the most learned of the medical faculty, who were 

 restored to health by the simple application of herbs, baths, sudorifics, drinks, and lavations, 

 administered by him." 



Not satisfied with curing the physical infirmity only, no sooner was a patient restored whose 

 disease had originated in sensual indulgences, than Cuevas took him aside, pointed out the cause 

 in plain terms, dictated moral no less than physical rules for his guidance thereafter, and ended 

 by warning him that a departure from the counsel given would infallibly render him a victim to 

 the malady. A man so renowned was not permitted to remain quiet in the country altogether, 

 and a part of his time was demanded by the Santiaguinos, who crowded his rooms day and night 

 applying for relief. Those unable to walk sent a vial of urine by a friend. During these visits 

 his home was at the Franciscan convent. On one occasion a vial was brought from a sick man 

 only two or three squares distant, when, after looking at it a moment without asking respecting 

 the character or gravity of the disease, he turned to the person bringing the vial, saying: 

 " Why seek you remedies for one who will probably be dead before you can reach his hou 

 And the prognostic proved true ; for on opening the door, the messenger was met by the rela- 

 tives with tidings that death had occurred during his absence. 



One with such reputation for learning, skill, and benevolence, could not but be of interest to 

 the nation at large. In order to profit by his experience, and to extend the benefits of his 

 knowledge to others, government selected one of its most intelligent and judicious citizens to 

 visit the wise herbalist at Chuapa, and ascertain directly from himself the virtues of the medi- 

 cinal plants used in different diseases. The commissioner duly passed several days with the 

 medico ; but he was then (1835) some 86 years of age, and quite sick himself. It was the end 

 of nutumn ; the dried herbs shown him were so disfigured by handling, that they were no 

 longer recognisable, and no other Pablo Cuevas has ever appeared in Chile. 



One short paragraph more from Padre Guzman, and we must take leave of him, remarking only 

 that eighteen years have not yet elapsed since the date of the subsequent note quoted, and that its 

 writer, now in the prime of life, enjoys among his countrymen a most enviable repuation for in- 



