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
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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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    the imposition of (juarantine upon coasting vessels. Another siii)ject to be considered in the performance of quarantine, is the discharge of the cargo, and de- livery of letters, &c. On this subject the Board have already expressed their opinion. In his evidence. Dr. Chamberlane says,— As 1 have never seen or heard of an authentic case of any infections disease being conveyed l)y any description of merchandise or goods, (excepting perhaps foul rags, or linen, in cer- tain infectious diseases,)! do not see any good reason. Avhy the cargo might not be landed at once.—He also states, '* No clothes or body linen on board are ever permitted, under any circumstances, to be landed from a vessel inquaraiitine. Tothequestion— Have you ever witnessed a case where von were satisfied that any disease was conveyed from a vessel to the sliore by letters, or J)y anjt description of ' fomites,' under which term the cargoes of vessels, also body clothes, are included Answer. No, I never have—but the introduction of cholera at Port-Royal, was falsely ascribed to the latter cause—I mean foul linen. W'^ith regard to the susceptibility and non-susceptibility of goods, he does not place any credence in it, but obse'ry.es, some think otherwise—that cotton and woollen stuffs pos- sess such properties. Question, Would you permit the body clothes of those on board a vessel in quarantine to be washed ] Answer. I see no objection, provided they were first immersed in boiling or in sea water. With reuard to letters. Dr. Chamberlane says, If it be wished to send letters on shore, they are directed by the health. ofHcer to be fumigated with sulphur, and sprinkled with vinegar, and to bo then put into the siiip's boat, astern, from which they may be taken by the people in the bum-boat, when j)rovisions are sent off. Letters are not generaMy landed in the healtli officer^s boat; occasionally a few single letters are landed by him! (in oppo.sition to the law,) biu never any packages of ietters. The mail bags, after being fumigated, are re. G