The Development of a Maritime Quarantine System in 19^th Century Spanish Puerto Rico as a Response to Epidemics and Pandemics

Zusammenfassung

The development of a maritime quarantine system in the Spanish Caribbean colony of Puerto Rico during the 19^th century responded to concerns regarding the epidemics and pandemics registered worldwide. Although the island had experience with many epidemics between the 16^th and 19^th centuries the new threat that maritime transportation represented needed to be addressed. This paper explores the initiatives undertaken to establish a quarantine system in the early decades of the 19^th century until the construction of the permanent quarantine station of Isla de Cabras.