Description
Epidemics in Villafranca
Book Summary
This book offers a rigorous historical journey through the major health crises that affected the town of Villafranca-Ordizia, from the plague of the 15th century to the tuberculosis of the 19th. The author, Iñaki Dubreuil Churruca, documents outbreaks of plague, epidemics of unknown etiology, and Asiatic cholera, analyzing their demographic, social, and economic impact. A reference work for understanding how health emergencies shaped local history.
What is it about?
The work chronologically examines the epidemics that struck Villafranca-Ordizia, beginning with the plague that devastated the town in the Middle Ages (1483) and continuing into the Modern Age (1516). Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, several epidemic episodes of unknown origin that hit the child population with particular severity are described. The narrative includes the Asiatic cholera outbreaks of 1834 and 1855, as well as the threat of 1885, and concludes with the first bouts of tuberculosis at the end of the 19th century. Each chapter contextualizes the health emergency within the social and demographic reality of its time, offering a local perspective on global phenomena.
Main Themes
- History of epidemics in Villafranca-Ordizia from the 15th to the 19th century.
- Demographic and social impact of the plague, cholera, and tuberculosis on a local community.
- Historical epidemiology of infectious diseases in the Basque Country.
- Consequences of health crises on community life and the local economy.
- Evolution of social and health responses to epidemic emergencies.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at local historians, students of epidemiology and the history of medicine, as well as any reader interested in the history of infectious diseases and their repercussions on small communities. It will also be of interest to the inhabitants of Villafranca-Ordizia and the Goierri region who wish to learn about the health past of their town.
What this book offers
- A detailed and documented view of lesser-known local epidemics.
- Understanding of the real impact of historical pandemics on the demographics and economy of a municipality.
- Contextualization of disease outbreaks such as the plague or cholera within the history of Villafranca-Ordizia.
- A narrative that connects local history with global health phenomena.
- Information on epidemic episodes that especially affected the child population.
Technical Details
- Author: Dubreuil Churruca, Iñaki
- Publisher: PUNTO ROJO EDITORIAL
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MEDICAL STATISTICS
- Collection: PUNTO ROJO
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: March 2023
- Number of pages: 288
- Weight: 370 g
Editorial Review
A work of local history that addresses a highly relevant topic with documentary rigor: epidemics and their social impact. The author succeeds in building a bridge between the microhistory of Villafranca-Ordizia and major global health phenomena, offering a useful perspective for understanding how communities face epidemic crises. Recommended for those seeking a concrete and well-documented approach to the history of public health.