Report by the Central Board of Health of Jamaica / presented to the legislature under the provisions of the 14th Vic. chap. 60, and printed by order of the Assembly.

  • Jamaica. Central Board of Health
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report by the Central Board of Health of Jamaica / presented to the legislature under the provisions of the 14th Vic. chap. 60, and printed by order of the Assembly. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    trade to Cuba, Saint Domingo, and the Spanish Main, and can- not enter without such docu- ment, when they change their character. Tl will ])e observed that this memorandum by no means contradicts the above evidence. VVitli regard to the American steamers, they often bring from two hundred to three hundred passengers. The reporting them^ielves after having arrived in Kingston, and had free communication with the shore, can be of little real utility. This is said to occur, when tliey come in during the night. If the quaran- tine laws, are able to effect what thev are intended to do, they should be most rigidly observed; if not, they should be modified, or abolished. As regards clause six, which enacts that vessels from suspected places, are to be visited at a conve- nient distance from shore, by health officer or his assist- ant.—The Board must observe, that, in many instan- ces, the medical officer appears, in his zeal, to have overstepped the bounds prescribed. Thus, Dr. John- stone says, I board immediately on her coming to anchor, and if necessary to place the vessel in quar- antine, my instructions are, to place her in, and to lee- ward of the other vessels in the port. Dr. Bayley states, The pilot has instructions if a vessel has any epidemic disease on board, not to bring her into port. The health officer, boards a vessel when she comes into harbour, but no communication is permitted with the town, until the health officer visits the vessel. In another place, he writes, It has been my practice to board the vessel, and person- ally examine the crew. Dr. Stevens also says, Vessels are boarded by the pilot at a distance from the harbour, who, before he boards, ascertains that no sickness exists, or has ex- isted, during the voyage. The vessel, if the replies are satisfactory, is then brought into port, where she is boarded bv the health officer and examined.