In the 16th century, a series of deadly epidemics swept through much of the region of Mesoamerica known as the Aztec Empire, killing untold millions. By the start of the first of these epidemics, the area had become woefully accustomed to devasting epidemic disease, as the Spanish conquistadors had introduced smallpox, measles, typhus, and influenza, among other infections. But this disease, with its tendency to induce massive hemorrhage, fever, jaundice, and rapid death, seemed different from those now familiar infections, and so was given a new name: cocoliztli. People watched in horror as cocoliztli overtook town after town, village after village, sometimes killing as much as 80% of the population and leaving nothing but desolation in its wake. Hundreds of years after the epidemics ended, debate about the pathogen responsible for cocoliztli remains. In this episode, we’re going deep down the rabbit hole of this medical mystery, linking the spread and nature of these epidemics with the characteristics of the many pathogens that have been proposed over the years. We draw from contemporary accounts, ecological analyses, and even a recent ancient DNA study to make our evaluations, but do we ever get to the bottom of cocoliztli? Tune in to find out.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 70 Henrietta Lacks: HeLa, There, & Everywhere
COVID-19 Chapter 15: Disease, Take 2
Ep 69 Huntington’s disease: Let’s talk frankly
Ep 68 Coccidioidomycosis: It’s never a spider bite
Ep 67 HPV: My wart be with you
Ep 66 The Outs and Ins of Organ Transplantation
Ep 65 Sweating Sickness: Ready, Sweat, Go!
Ep 64 Rubella: Timing is Everything
COVID-19 Chapter 14: Virology, Take 2
Ep 63 Poison Ivy: It's Just Us
COVID-19 Chapter 13: Vaccines, Take 2
Ep 62 Leishmaniasis, Relationship Status: It's Complicated
COVID-19 Chapter 12: Control, Take 2
Ep 61 Typhoid: There's Something About Mary
Ep 60 Giving birth to "The Pill"
Ep 59 Thalidomide: Justice Delayed, Justice Denied
Ep 58 Guinea worm: (Almost) Ancient History
Ep 57 Herpes: Stop the STIgma
Ep 56 Sickle Cell Disease: Invisible Illness, Enduring Strength
Ep 55 Rocky Mountain spotted fever: The tick must be destroyed!
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free