Puerto Rico and the Second Cholera Pandemic

Abstract

This study examines colonial Puerto Rico’s response to the Second Cholera Pandemic through La Gaceta del Gobierno de Puerto-Rico. This newspaper tracked the epidemic’s spread across Europe and the Americas and highlighted the resulting social disruption. While Puerto Rico avoided direct effects, the threat prompted significant public health responses from the Spanish administration. Governors, notably Miguel de la Torre and Miguel López Baños, enacted foundational public health ordinances (Bandos de Policía y Buen Gobierno) aimed at improving sanitation and food safety. However, the cornerstone of the island’s defense was the rigorous enforcement of maritime quarantine protocols. This study argues that Puerto Rico’s experience during the Second Cholera Pandemic highlights the critical role of information dissemination and traditional preventative measures in a pre-bacteriological era, laying the groundwork for a more centralized public health system.