The article examines the state of health of a population of runaway slaves, based on announcements published in Rio de Janeiro's Jornal do Commercio in 1850. Two strategies were used. The first entailed analysis of the slaves' physical characteristics, as described by their masters. Taking into account the slave's health, the second step was to describe his or her physical problems as viewed by the era's medical or folk knowledge. This evidence can be traced to procedures found in the slave system, which sought to maximize use of captives.
runaway slaves; newspapers; health; Brazil
