Blatsko zdravstvo kroz vijekove

The book Blatsko zdravstvo kroz vjekove ("Healthcare in Blato Through the Centuries"), authored by Dr. Nikola Bačić and published in 2004, is an exceptionally valuable work of medical history and local studies that explores in detail the origins and development of healthcare services in the town of Blato on the island of Korčula. The author—a long-serving physician and chronicler of local affairs—provides a thorough overview of health conditions, epidemics, and treatment methods in this island community, spanning from ancient times to the modern era. Drawing on a wealth of archival material, historical records, and personal accounts, the monograph traces key milestones: from early forms of folk medicine and the establishment of the first pharmacy, through the arrival of the first formally trained physicians and midwives, to the construction of a modern community health center (Dom zdravlja) and the organization of contemporary primary healthcare. The author describes the local population’s struggle against severe infectious diseases—such as the plague, cholera, and tuberculosis—and highlights the role of dedicated healthcare professionals who left a lasting mark on the town’s public life. This 2004 edition represents a significant contribution to the history of medicine in Croatia and serves as an essential resource for the study of the social history of the island of Korčula.