tion. The vessel will be released by me at the expiration of twelve hours from this time, should you fail to make the inspection required by the said Order. QUESTIONS TO BE PUT TO MASTERS OF VESSELS 1. What is the name of the vessel, and of the master? Questions 2. From what port have you come? to masters of vessels infected 3. Was there any sickness at the port while you were from ports lying there, or at the time you left it? 4. Have you any bill of health? if so, produce it. What number of officers, crew, and passengers 5have you on board? 6. Have any of them suffered from any kind of illness during the voyage? If so, state it, however trifling it may have been. 7. Is every person on board in good health at this moment? Directions for the boarding officer. If all the answers are satisfactory, the following notice is to be read to the master, who is to sign his name to the answers he has given. "It is my duty to caution you that if any of the statements you have made are incorrect, you will be liable to penalties, and I am directed to request you to sign your name to the answers you have given." with cholera. CHAPTER VII. The Laws, Ordinances, and Regulations relating to Quarantine in the British Colonies and Possessions. The quarantine regulations at the port of Nassau are under the Colonial Act, 34 Vict. c. 6 (1871) amended by the 40 Vict. c. 6 (1877). Quarantines, when imposed, are based for the most. part on the actual condition of the ships on arrival, Bahamas. their crews and passengers, and not so much in reference to the existence of particular diseases at the port of departure; but the Governor in Council may declare any ports to be "infected" and ships arriving from them must perform quarantine. The principal diseases whose existence on board renders vessels liable to quarantine are small-pox, yellow fever, and scarlet fever. The existence of any other cause which, in the opinion of the health officer, may render the immediate admission of a vessel dangerous to the health of the inhabitants, would also justify its imposal. The duration of the quarantine is regulated from time to time by the Governor in Council, as he may in each case think fit and necessary, and subject thereto, the period is fourteen days. The only vessels exempt from the operation of the quarantine law are those carrying mails. They are subject to special regulations of the Governor. The Governor in Council may permit the landing of passengers and crews under such restrictions as he may deem necessary, and best calculated to guard against the introduction of disease. There is a lazaret at Athol Island, about three miles and a half distant from the port of Nassau. There is a resident quarantine officer; there is a tariff of charges. Cargoes are not landed at the lazaret, unless found to be in a putrescent state. Medical assistance is provided from the shore to sick persons on board, but not at the public expense, except in the case of poor seamen. When a vessel is in a foul and sickly state on arrival, Bahamas. the precautionary measures to be adopted are left to the discretion of the health officer, who reports to the Governor. British ships of war having a medical officer on board are exempt from reporting the sick on board. to the health officer, but the sick must not be landed without his permission. Bills of health are granted, when requested, to vessels leaving the port of Nassau by the health officer, and have reference only to the health of the town and port. No previous inspection of the vessel is made. Foreign consuls are in the habit of granting bills of health to their own vessels, and the health officer is only applied to in the case of British vessels. In case of a formidable epidemic visiting the Colony, the Governor in Council may issue orders proclaiming interinsular quarantine, and the Board of Health has power to frame rules to meet emergencies. BERMUDA. The Quarantine Act in force is No. 18 of 1863, but this has been in part amended by subsequent Acts. Vessels arriving from all countries, declared by the Governor in Council to be "infected places," or having had sickness on board, are subject to quarantine, whether their bill of health be clean or foul; this, however, is subject to the regulations of the Governor in Council. If the sickness be yellow fever, cholera, or any other infectious or dangerous disease, the vessel may be detained in the ports of Bermuda for eight days; this period may be prolonged if deemed necessary, but there is no specified period for quarantine. No difference is made in favour of vessels having a Bermuda. medical officer on board, or between yachts and merchant vessels, or in favour of any person who may happen to be on board. By Act No. 2, of 1874, any vessel arriving in July, August, September, or October, on a voyage direct or indirect from any place south of 35° North Latitude is brought to either off Castle Island, or in Five Fathom Hole, Murray's anchorage, or Granaway's Deep, at the option of the master of the vessel, until visited by the health officer, who determines whether she is to proceed to quarantine or not. British ships of war, troopships or storeships may be brought to either, in Five Fathom Hole, Murray's anchorage, or Grassy Bay. But in case of necessity, a British ship of war may communicate by boat, with the naval officer of the Islands, before the visit of the health officer, if there be no infectious disease on board; this is the only exception in favour of British ships of war. Pratique is granted, at the discretion of the health officer, when all apprehension of danger has ceased, without the lapse of any fixed period; also to all arrivals from infected or suspected places, at his discretion. There is a lazaret near the port of Hamilton, on an island (Durrell's), about one mile from the nearest dwelling. There is also a small island near to Ports, and situated in the Great Sound, with stone buildings erected thereon for the reception of persons when their vessels are performing quarantine. There is another lazaret belonging to the navy, also situated on an island, and in every respect well adapted for the purpose. |