Unter Krankheitsbedrohung. Vorbemerkungen zu einer Historischen Erforschung der Grossen Epidemien in der Österreichischen Bukowina

• Main Author: Harieta Mareci-Sabol
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava 2013-12-01
• Series: Codrul Cosminului
• Subjects: Bukovina; epidemics; Hygiene; mortaliy rate; disease; children
• Online Access: http://atlas.usv.ro/www/codru_net/CC19/2/epidemics.pdf

Under Threat of Disease. Introduction to a Historical Study of the Great Epidemics in Austrian Bukovina Like natural disasters, wars and famine, epidemics recorded in Austrian Bukovina, affected people from all layers of society, leaving deep traces in memory and mentality. Considered as divine punishment or attributed to poverty, ignorance and lack of hygiene, they modeled different behaviors, reactions and attitudes, causing panic, tension, isolation, economic decline and, in some cases, depopulation. Information drawn from a variety of sources (from parish and civil registers to newspapers or memories) provides an overview of morbid events recorded in Bucovina, from the late XVIIIth century to the early XXth century. Consecutive or recurrent episodes of plague, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid fever and typhus, measles, scarlet, smallpox and influenza have disrupted both rural and urban communities, imposing the imperial authorities, local officials, doctors, priests, teachers, and journalists to initiate some mechanisms for prevention, limitation or eradication of the disease.