HEALTH LAWS, &c... An ACT to provide against infectious and pesti I. B lential Diseases. Passed 30th March, 1801. ers of the Eit enacted by the People of the State of New- Commission. York, represented in Senate and Assembly, Heal h-Office That there shall continue to be a health-office in in N. York, and their resi the city of New-York, under the superintendance dence. of three commissioners, who shall consist of a health-officer, and of a physician to be styled the resident physician, and one other person; that the health-officer shall reside at Staten-Island, the resident physician in the city of New-York, and the other commissioner at or near the marine hospital on Staten-Island or in the city of New-York, as a majority of the said commissioners may deem most proper; that the said commissioners shall be appointed by the person administering the government of this state by and with the advice and consent of the council of appointment; Provided Proviso. however, That the persons now holding and exercising the office of commissioners aforesaid, may continue therein until others shall be appointed in their stead; And provided further, That it shall be Further provi lawful for the mayor, or in his absence the recorder of the city of New-York, in case of the death or resignation of any of the said commissioners, to appoint a suitable person to supply such So. Vessels sub. vacancy, until the sense of the council of appoint. ment shall be declared thereon. II. And be it further enacted, That all vessels tine of course. arriving in the port of New-York, from any port, island or other place in the East-Indies, or from any port, island or other place on the coast of Africa, or from any port, island or other place in the Mediterranean, or from any port, island or other place in the South Seas, or from any port, island or other place in the West-Indies, or from any port, Island or other place whatever in America lying on the south of Georgia, or from any port or other place in the Bermuda Islands, at any time in any year, or from any foreign port, place or island whatever, between the last day of May and the last day of October in any year, shall be subject to quarantine of course, and to the examination of the health-officer, under the regulations herein prescribed; and that all vessels arriving in the port of New-York, from any port, island or other place in the United States south of SandyHook, between the first day of June and the first day of October in any year, shall anchor at the place assigned for quarantine, and shall be subject to such regulations as vessels which are to perform quarantine of course, if on the examination of the health-officer it shall by him be deemed ex、 pedient; and that any master or commander of a breach of qua- vessel offending in the premises shall be considered as guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall for each offence be fined by the court having cognizance of the same, in a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars, or be imprisoned for a time not exceeding twelve months. Vessels sub ject to quaran tine if expedi ent. Penalty for rantine. to be unloaded III. And be it further enacted, That whenever Vessels when a vessel shall arrive at the anchoring place for ves- and cleansed, sels at quarantine from a place where a malignant or pestilential fever prevailed, or if during her voyage any person has died or been sick on board with such fever, the master, owner or consignee shall forthwith upon the requisition and under the direction of the health-officer, whose duty it shall be to make such requisition, cause such vessel to be unloaded, cleansed and purified, and that until then no permit shall be granted for her to proceed to the city of New-York; and every master, own. Penalty for er or consignee neglecting or refusing to comply with such requisition of the health-officer, shall be considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for a time not exceeding six calendar months, by any court having cognizance thereof. disobedience.. cleansed. IV. And be it further enacted, That whenever When bedding and goods to any vessel shall arrive at the quarantine ground be landed and between the first day of June and the first day of October in any one year, from a place to the southward of the latitude of Sandy-Hook, the master or person having the charge of such vessel, shall forthwith upon the requisition of the health-officer cause all the wearing apparel, bedding and every other thing on board likely in the opinion of the health-officer to communicate infection to be landed, for the purpose of being cleansed with water or otherwise purified, under the direction of the commissioners of the health-office, by persons to be employed by them; during which cleansing, Proviso. Penalty for disobedience. they shall, if necessary, furnish any indigent person with change of apparel at the expence of the health-office, the same to be afterwards returned to the said commissioners; Provided, That it shall not be the duty of the commissioners to employ persons to cleanse and purify any part of the cargo of any vessel; and that until such requisition shall be complied with, no such vessel shall have a permit to proceed to the city of New-York, and that every master or person having charge of avessel so circumstanced, neglecting or refusing to comply with such requisition, shall be considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof be fined in a sum not exceeding two hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for a time not exceeding three calendar months by any court having cognizance thereof. V. And be it further enacted, That it shall be When Gover- lawful for the governor of this state, or in his ab nor or Mayor And stop intercourse. to designate sence the mayor of the city of New-York, or in vessels subject the absence of both of them, the recorder of the to quarantine. said city, from time to time whenever it shall appear adviseable, to issue publicly his order, declaring whatever description of vessels, to be therein designated together with the ports, islands or countries whence they come, shall also be subject to quarantine; that in like manner it shall be lawful for him to issue his proclamation, prohibiting or regulating the intercourse by land and ferries between the city and county of New-York, and any Penalty for of other place where he shall learn that a pestilential fending thereor infectious disease doth prevail; and that all persons offending in the premises, shall be liable to punishment as for a misdemeanor by fine and im in. |