The book "Duna menti zárvonalak az 1831. évi kolerajárvány idején Dél-Dunántúlon" by József Havasdi offers an in-depth analysis of the first major cholera epidemic in Europe, which occurred in the 1830s. It examines the authorities' responses to this unknown threat and the implementation of quarantine measures that had previously been successful against the plague. By focusing on the southern Transdanubian region of Hungary, the book critically questions the role of quarantine measures and their effectiveness in the context of cholera spread. It explores whether the quarantine measures were doomed to fail from the outset or if the failures were due to specific circumstances, particularly the reliance on waterways. This historical investigation provides valuable insights into medical history and the challenges society faced in the face of an epidemic.