The Carniolian defence mechanism for protection against the first epidemic of cholera in Europe

Abstract

The Habsburg authority fought against the epidemic of cholera, which firstly reached Europe at the beginning of the 30ies of the 18th century, with identical means as they did in the 18th century against plague. With a system of sanitary cordons, they initially protected the state borders, and after the occurrence of the disease within the monarchy, borders of separate provinces as well. From the example of a sanitary cordon on the Carniolian-Croatian border, which was established for the protection against the epidemic in the Hungarian part of the state, the system of controlled passages through sanitary cordons (rastel) and quarantines is evident, and causes that lead to general further discontinuation of closing borders as a means of defence against cholera.