The successive cholera epidemics caused millions of deaths throughout Europe in the 19th century, 800.000 of these deaths occurred in Spain. One case in particular, the cholera epidemic of 1885 in the Caceres community of Garganta de Béjar, is analysed here in detail: the causes, development, precautions, mortality, medicines, etc., all of which are highly representative of the public health situation in Spain and Europe at the time.