RT journal article
T1 Spanish–French leech trade and its consequences: From the increase in medical demand to resource depletion and technical innovation
A1 Copena, Damián
A1 Gómez Martín, María
A2 Economía General
K1 Hirudo medicinalis
K1 Medical input
K1 Medicinal leeches
K1 Medical practice
K1 Hirudiniculture
K1 Leech fever
K1 Rural industry
K1 Rural innovation
K1 Rural resources
K1 Nineteenth century
AB This article studies the impact caused by the success and dissemination of Broussais’ theories on the use of leeches as a medical supply on Spanish–French trade relations, as well as its consequences for the Spanish market between 1821 and the 1860s. Analysing the documents produced by the different public administrations, together with newspaper and archival sources in both Spain and France and the literature and legislation of that period, allows us to understand the evolution of this trade and the heavy impact it had on the autochthonous population of this animal resource. The article reveals how, at the beginning of the 1820s, leeches became an important medical supply and how the demand for them increased significantly. This gave rise to a trade relation between Spain and France that led to the overexploitation of the resource, the issuing of regulations on the matter, and the search for technological solutions to increase the production of leeches.
PB Cambridge University Press
SN 2048-8343
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/33498
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/33498
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 05-nov-2026