BACKGROUND AND MATERIAL: Cholera was the horror disease in Norwegian cities in the 18th century. The City of Kristiansand had a quarantine station and hospital at Odderøy island from 1804. We have studied the quarantine organisation and compared the number of cholera deaths in different cities along the coast.
Results: Drammen is comparable to Kristiansand and had many visiting trading ships. During 1832-33, 1833 and 1857 the Drammen community had registered 544 cholera patients; 336 died. Kristiansand had a total of only 15 deaths (1833, 1853 and 1866), the quarantine hospital included. Also compared to other cities, Kristiansand had few deaths.
Interpretation: The reason for the better cholera statistics in Kristiansand is probably the quarantine station and hospital at Odderøy island (1804). The city's health authorities had efficient routines and knowledge, probably adopted from the quarantine station and the hospital.