St. John's Cholera Outbreak of 1831

Back in 1831 Cholera had appeared in Great Britain quickly spread to Newfoundland. However the government of the time did not act until the following year.

On July 2 the High Sheriff, Lieutenant David Buchan, convened a public meeting to discuss what measures the government should adopt.

Most people then believed that disease's were caused by the decay of vegetable and animal matter rather than passed on by physical contact with some article an infected person had touched.

There was an inspection station set up at the St. John's Narrows. Ship's had to anchor there until the Board of Health gave its captain written permission to enter.

Of the 126 patients admitted, 23 died during the months of of June, July and August.