Basque ethnography at a glance

Arraba tuberculosis recovery hospital in Gorbea. Source: Jon Urutxurtu.

As incredible as it sounds, at the beginning of the 20th century, in Gorbeia, in the Arraba meadow, at an altitude of 1,060 meters, there was a tuberculosis hospital. Its main responsible was Doctor José de Madinabeitia, from Oñati.

The idea of establishing a tuberculosis sanatorium in Gorbeia stemmed from new ideas about this disease that spread throughout Europe, discussed at international congresses by the end of the 19th century. Thus, at meetings held in Berlin and Naples, it was recommended, among other measures, that sanatoriums should be built at altitudes above 800 meters, with a suitable climate, clean, dust-free air, low atmospheric pressure, dry conditions, and good sunlight.

Dr. Madinabeitia searched for these conditions in the highlands of Mount Ganekogorta, Oiz, Sollube, and Urkiola, but he could not find the right location. However, in Gorbeia, he located a small valley at a suitable altitude. In this valley, Madinabeitia began with a temporary facility in 1899. During two months of that summer, he treated 12 patients. The mild climate favoured the patients’ treatment.

The following year, in 1900, he treated about 20 patients, whom he housed in small wooden cabins. That summer was stormy, but the improved living conditions and food allowed Madinabeitia to conduct his studies under better circumstances. He saw that the patients progressed well, and from this he deduced that a permanent sanatorium could be built in Gorbeia with the same conditions as those enjoyed by European facilities.

In the winter of 1900-1901, he managed to obtain 80 hectares of land in the Arraba meadow from the town councils of Orozko and Zeanuri. The only condition they imposed was that he treated two poor patients from each municipality free of charge.

Gorbea Sanatoriums Inc.

To carry out the project, money and the professional support of Bilbao’s medical community were needed. Initial support was provided by Tomás José de Epalza, Victoriano Zabalainchueta, Ramón de la Sota, Rafael Picavea, and Marcos Iruarrizaga, the latter a pharmacist from Areatza. At the beginning of 1901, they formed the company “Sanatorios del Gorbea, Sociedad Anónima” (Gorbea Sanatoriums Inc.) with a capital of 500,000 pesetas.

During the summers of 1901, 1902, and 1903, 33, 17, and 33 patients, respectively, were treated.

The following advertisement appeared in the 1903 edition of the Gaceta Médica del Norte:

Advertisement for the hospital in the magazine Gaceta Médica del Norte. Source: Jon Urutxurtu.

However, 1903 was the last year for this hospital. It is doubtful that the sanatorium reopened in 1904, but it seems clear that it was closed by the summer of 1905, since in November of that year the Gorbea Sanatorium was referred to as a “good attempt.”

Currently, only a few vestiges of the sanatorium remain in the Arraba meadow: stone and brick fragments of the facilities, next to the Ganguren Mendi Taldea refuge, and traces of the water channel from the Elorria spring. It should also be noted that the track leading from Pagomakurrre to Arraba—the most frequently used route to climb Gorbeia today—was also built to serve the hospital.

Jon Urutxurtu