1763. Carta de João Ribeiro Coelho, licenciado, para António de Sá Tinoco, cirurgião.

Private letter written by the attorney João Ribeiro Coelho to António de Sá Tinoco, a surgeon.

The author supports his addressee in his misfortune, since he is the victim of unfair accusations, and tries to instill courage on him.

A priest in Rio das Mortes (Minas Gerais, Brazil) accused a surgeon, António de Sá Tinoco, of attempting against the 6th Commandment: he accused him of having a mistress, a creole woman, and of creating scandal around him, both by his conduct and by his sayings. Many witnesses, including monks, presented themselves to defend the surgeon, who was taken by the population as a kind man who gave money and free medicine to the poor. Suspicion fell on the plaintif, who had a brother who was also a surgeon and would get the monopoly of the trade if António de Sá Tinoco was found guilty.