Accidents caused by poisonous animals: an ethnozoological study with farmers from Tacaratu, Pernambuco

Abstract

Agriculture-related activities in low input areas expose humans to a variety of accidents caused by poisonous animals, such as snakes, scorpions and centipedes. This study was performed to investigate, from an ethnozoological perspective, the occurrence of accidents caused by poisonous animals in Tacaratu, sertao of Pernambuco State, Brazil. In December 2004, we interviewed 37 farmers in order to characterize the cases and also to assess the victims’ medicinal responses. We observed that accidents caused by bees and scorpions were the most frequent, and that the farmers used several popular medicinal products, primarily plant-derived. People frequently rely on religious rituals and ask for local healers’ help, especially to heal snake-inflicted bites. The use of popular medicine is stimulated by relatives and represents a combination of elements from European, indigenous and African cultures and religions.