Matters of Life and Death: The Hospital of San Pedro in Puebla, 1790-1802

The last decade of the eighteenth century may be described as a "golden age" in the history of the Hospital of San Pedro of Puebla. Under the stewardship of its director, Father Ignacio Domenech, San Pedro underwent an extensive renovation of its physical plant and a thorough administrative reorganization that turned it into one of the best medical care and research institutions in New Spain. This article draws a profile of the patients who filled the hospital's wards and adds a human dimension to the many names and ailments listed in the registries. It also describes the valiant efforts of the medical staff who daily shared the patients' struggle against illness. Fighting immense odds, the practitioners sought to provide good-quality care and to further their limited understanding of disease. A detailed analysis of San Pedro's everyday life reveals a portrait of human suffering, professional dedication, and humanity's pursuit of knowledge.