Cristóval María Larrañaga

Cristóval María Larrañaga (1758–1851) was one of the first trained physicians in New Mexico. He served in the Spanish military and engineered a successful vaccination program against smallpox in 1804 and 1805.

Cristóval María Larrañaga
Born1758, in Spain
DiedJanuary 6, 1851
Spouse(s)María Gertrudiz Mestas

Biography

Born in Spain, Larrañaga immigrated through Mexico City to Northern New Mexico. He married María Gertrudiz Mestas and had seven sons and two daughters.[1]

In 1804, Larrañaga received a shipment of cowpox scabs from Mexico City and travelled north to Chihuahua City with children to pass the smallpox vaccination from person to person. He continued his travels up north along the Camino Real to Taos. His logs show he vaccinated 3,610 people. Larrañaga is credited for saving a generation.[2] The children who traveled from Ciudad Chihuahua to Santa Fé with Larrañaga were children of soldiers, and were also labeled as heroes.[3] New Mexico had been struggling against smallpox since the early 1780s; a 1781 outbreak had killed 5,000 people, which is thought to have been more than a quarter of the population in New Mexico.[4]

Fray Angélico Chávez states extant orders given to Larrañaga to vaccinate the area until 1809. He also cites Larrañaga as a notary for the state.[1] In 1809, Larrañaga was vaccinating again after running out of antigen. In 1810, he is recorded as vaccinating 124 children up to age six.[5]

By the end of that year, he exhausted himself by providing serum to so many.[6] In Saints & Seasons: A Guide to New Mexico's Most Popular Saints, the authors state that "[i]n the annals of New Mexico medicine, Cristóval Larrañaga is both a pioneer and a hero."[7]

Simmons states that "Dr. Larrañaga deserves a biographer". He practiced in New Mexico from 1775 to 1811.[8]

Larrañaga was the only accredited and trained physician in the territory. The pioneer was responsible for caring for more than forty thousand people.[9] In Tocante a monumentos de españoles, the author Jerry Padilla says that Larrañaga should be honored for his efforts of vaccinating so many.[10]

On page 106 of Land Claims in New Mexico, Congressional Edition, Volume 967, Larrañaga signs as secretary of the Corporation (Capital) of Santa Fé. This was a promotion due to the notaries he facilitated. Larrañaga is mentioned as deserving a promotion due to his extensive knowledge of medicine.[11]

Eight Generations of the Larrañaga Family, David H. Salazar. One of the least known persons who made an impact in New Mexico. Salazar provides the first genealogical research on the family Larrañaga.[12]

Descendants have served as doctors, served in the military, and served as notaries. Descendants include Larry Larrañaga, a New Mexico State Representative.[13]

Larrañaga's work with the smallpox vaccine in New Mexico inspired a children's book, Amadito and the Hero Children.[13]

References
  1. Origins of New Mexico Families: A Genealogy of the Spanish Colonial Period - Fray Angélico Chávez, page 29, page 204, ISBN 978-0890132395
  2. Taos to Tomé : true tales of Hispanic New Mexico / by Marc Simmons, page 15, ISBN 978-0941270267
  3. Amadito and the Hero Children: Amadito y los Ninos Heroes, By Enrique R. Lamadrid, ISBN 978-0826349798
  4. Lazell, Carleen; Payne, Melissa (January 1, 2007). Historic Albuquerque: An Illustrated History. HPN Books. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-893619-75-3. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  5. Hispanic Albuquerque, 1706-1846, By Marc Simmons, page 114, ISBN 978-0826331601
  6. Estudios de Historia Novohispana, 11, 1991, Michael C. Meyer, Public Health in Northern New Spain, page 135-153, ISSN 1870-9060
  7. Garcia, Nasario; Pacheco, Ana; McCord, Richard (2005). Saints & Seasons: A Guide to New Mexico's Most Popular Saints. La Herencia. ISBN 0974302260. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  8. Spanish Pathways: Readings in the History of Hispanic New Mexico, By Marc Simmons, 68-70, ISBN 082632374X
  9. Changing National Identities at the Frontier: Texas and New Mexico, 1800-1850, By Andrés Reséndez, page 107, ISBN 9780521543194
  10. Tocante a monumentos de españoles, Cirujano español, verdadero héroe, April 18, 1991 The Taos News from Taos, New Mexico, El Crepúsculo Jerry Padilla, Page 16
  11. Remedio a day keeps the doctor away," by Tibo J. Chavez., FL 1094; 1 folder. Article in New Mexico Magazine, Jan. 1978.
  12. Journal Winter 1989 - Volume 1 - Number 4, GSHA Nuestras Raices Journal Genealogical Society Of Hispanic America, LARRAÑAGA (A study of a New Mexico Family) by DAVID H. SALAZAR, The Descendants of Don Cristóval María Larrañaga, page 127-132
  13. "RWJF Center Hosts Reception for Book 'Amadito and the Hero Children'". University of New Mexico. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
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