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Port of Providence, 1844.. 
AN ORDINANCE RESPECTING QUARANTINE. 
WHEREAS, in the opinion of the City Council of the 
city of Providence, there is danger that at certain 
seasons of the year, contagious or infectious diseases may 
he brought into said city by vessels, their officers, seamen, 
passengers and cargo—therefore— 
vessel arriving at this port and subject to quarantine, as he 
shall deem proper, respecting the state of the vessel, and 
the health of the people on board, and if such captain or 
commanding officer or other person, shall refuse to answer 
any or all interrogatories or inquiries put to him by such 
Health Officer, or shall evade such inquiries, or shall in 
any way or manner make, or cause to be made to such 
Health Officer, a false or equivocal statement or report re- 
lative io the officers, crew or passengers on board thereof, 
or the state of health of all or any of the officers, 
or passengers; or shall neglect to report to said Health Of- 
ficer any death that may have occurred on board during 
the said voyage; or shall refuse to sign his written exami- 
nation taken at the time by said Health Officer, after being 
requested so to do, such captain, commanding officer, or 
other person so offending, shall forfeiland pay as a penalty 
to and for the use of the city, a sum not exceeding two hun- 
dred dollars, nor less than one hundred dollars, to he reco 
vered in an-action of the case in the name of the City Trea- 
surer, before the proper court to try the same. 
Sec. 10. That if any person ordered to the Hospital from 
on board any vessel arriving at this port, or from any part 
of said city after having so arrived, shall refuse to go thith- 
er, or being there shall depart from or leave the limits of 
said Hospital, without permission first obtained from the 
Board of Aldermen, acting ex-officio as Board of Health, or 
from said Health Officer in writing, such person shall for 
each offence forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding one hun- 
dred dollars nor less than twenty five dollars, to and for the 
use of the city, to be recovered in an action of the case in 
the name of the City Treasurer, before the proper court to 
try the same. 
Sec. 11. That no person during the existence of the quar- 
antine, unless by special permission of the Board of Aider- 
men. acting ex officio as Board of Health, or Health Officer, 
shall go within fifty yards of the Hospital, except those at 
quarantine, the Health Officer and other physicians, nurses, 
and those attached tp the family of the keeper of the Hospi- 
tal and those passingon the turnpike road, under a penalty 
not exceeding twenty dollars nor less than five dollars, to 
be recovered to the use of the city, in the name of the City 
Treasurer, before the proper court to try the same; nor shall 
nurses, or those attached to the family of said keeper.be al 
lowed to leave the Hospital, without his permission in 
writing, under the like penalty, to be recovered in like 
manner. 
and cargoes : Therefore, by virtue of the power vested iu 
this Board, acting ex-officio as the Board of Health, in and 
by the 17th section of the Ordinance passed by the City 
Council on the sth day of May, A. D. 1834, entitled “An 
Ordinance respecting Quarantine,” it is hereby ordered and 
decreed by this Board, that from and after the first-day of 
July next, the order and decree of this Board, passed on the 
2d day of October last, suspending the operation-of the 
whole of said Ordinance, from and after the 15th day of 
said month of October, and until the further order and de 
cree of this Board, be and the same is hereby repealed, and 
that the whole of said Ordinance be and the same is hereby 
revived, and declared to lie in full force and operation, from 
and after the saidxlst day of July next. 
Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city 
of Providence, That the quarantine ground of said city shall 
comprise that part of the harbor tif said city lying west- 
ward ofthemain channel of the river, and extending north 
ward from Snssalrss-Fosat to the distance crone half of a 
mile from said point 
Sec. 2. That from and after the twenty-fourth day of June 
next, no vessel which shall arrive in the harbor of said 
city, irora any foreign port or place whatever, except those 
direct from any port or place north of the forty-eighth de- 
gree of north latitude, and no vessel which shall or may 
arrive from any port or place in the United States south 
of Chesapeake Bay, and including the port of Norfolk and 
places on the James River, notwithstanding she may have 
stopped or touched alany intermediate pnrt or ports during 
her homeward passage, nor any vessel with her officers, 
crew or passengers, that shall have touched or landed at 
ttie port of Norfolk, shall pass the quarantine ground.— 
But all such vessels, whatevei be their lading, shall be 
subject to the inspection and examination of the Health 
Officer appointed by the Board of Aldermen, acting ex- 
officio as Board of Health; which Heallh Officer may, on 
information and examination of any such vessel, permit 
her to proceed up 10 the city, if it shall appear to him that 
the public health wil1 not thereby be endangered; and pro- 
vided it is not repugnant to the eighth section of this or- 
dinance. 
It is further ordered and directed, that the following in- 
structions be and hereby ate given* to the Health Offic 
appointed by this Board : 
To Dr JOHN W. RICHMOND, 
Sir—The Board of Aldermen, acting ex-officio as the 
Board of Health of the city of Providence, having appoint- 
ed you Health Officer of the port of Providence, enclose to 
you a copy of an Ordinance passed by the City Council of 
said city, on the sth day of May, 1834, entitled “an ordi- 
nance respecting Quarantine,” and give you in addition to 
what is required of you in and by said ordinance, the fol- 
lowing instructions in the execution of the duties of your 
said office. 
First—As soon as any ship or vessel shall arrive at the. 
port of Providence, and shall have passed the Sentinel at 
Field’s Point, having a signal in the shrouds for the Health 
Officer, you will as soon as possible repair on board such 
ship or vessel; you will then present the master or com- 
manding officer with the Quarantine Regulations, and take 
down in writing in a book to be kept for that purpose, the 
name of the ship or vessel, the name of the master, num- 
ber of men composing her crew, the number of passengers, 
(if any,) the ports or places from iwhich she saile:l,and 
where she has stopped or touched during her voyage, and 
of what her cargo consists, the number of days on her 
passage, whether any person has died on board; and, tf so, 
when and where ?—whether there is or has been any one 
sick on board. The answer made to your interrogatories 
by tile master or commanding officer, you will read to him 
in the presence of the crew and passengers; winch written 
examination shall be signed and acknowledged by such 
master or commanding officer, to be a true statement of 
facts. 
Sec. 3. That no vessel coming from any port or place in 
the south-of Europe, or within the straits of Gibraltar, or 
from any port or place on the American continent, situated 
between the tropics, including all the West India Islands 
and places in The Bay ol Mexico, or from any other port or 
place where it is ascertained that contagious sickness doth 
prevail, or hath recently prevailed, shall be permuted to un- 
load at any of the wharves in this city. But such vessel, 
with her officers, crew and passengers, after having been 
subjected to, and gone through all the regulations of quar- 
antine, to the satisfaction of the said Health Officer, may, 
on a certificate from him to that effect, or liberty from the 
Board of Aldermen acting ex-officio as Bcaid of Health', 
be permitted to discharge her cargo into scows or light- 
ers, any where southward of the Crook and west of the 
channel, and in such craft may bring the same up to the 
city; or the said Health Officer may permit* if in his opin- 
ion no danger is to be apprehended, any such vessels to 
unload at the wharves at Fox Point or India Point—vessels 
laden with salt, and vessels coming from Canton, or from 
any port in the Pacific Ocean, havingnosickness on board, 
are. not included in this Ordinance, but may, after con- 
forming to all the directions of the said Health Officer, and 
on receiving his certificate that in his opinion no danger is 
to be apprehended, be permitted to unload at any of the 
wharves in said city. 
Sec. 12. That no stagnant or offensive bilge water shall 
be pumped out of any vessels at any wharf in said city 
above Fox Point, nor in the channel or on the flats opposite 
said wharves, during the existence of said quarantine regu 
lations, unless it be done between the hours of eleven 
o’clock p. rn. and four o’clock a. ni., under the penalty of 
two dollars for the first offnnee, and for every subsequent 
offence five doliars, to be recovered of the captain or com- 
manding officer of such ships or vessels, or of the owner or 
owners theieof, to the use of said city, in an action of debt 
in the name of the City Treasurei, before-a proper court to 
try the same. 
Secondly—You will examine every person on board, in 
order to ascertain the true state of their health, also of the 
state of the vessel, and give directions lor cleansing the 
same. You are particularly required to give directions to 
the masters of all ships or vessels, from ports or places sub- 
ject to contagious or pestilential diseases, or having had 
any sickness during the voyage, to remove the filth from 
the cabin, steerage, forecastle, and every other part of such 
ship or vessel, in which any officers, passengers or seamen 
have lived or slept during the voyage, and that all fillhy or 
unclean bedding and clothing be washed and cleansed 
agreeably to your directions. Also, that all sails that may 
have been slept upon, and that all beds filled with straw 
or other substances which in your opinion may be danger- 
ous, shall be emptied into bags, or tied up in a bagand sunk 
upon the flats of the river, or buried near high water mark 
on the Hospital ground. Also, all the clothing which you 
may judge necessary shall be sunk or buried as aforesaid. 
No bedding, straw, or filthy clothing shall be thrown into 
the river in such a situation as to be liable to be floated or 
drifted into the city of Providence. And you are further di- 
rected not to grant permission for any vessels to leave the 
Quarantine until your directions have- been complied with* 
All vessels that, during their passage may have had any 
sickness or deathson board ol a malignant orcontageous fe- 
ver, shall be smoked and whitewashed in every part under 
deck, the limbers to bets ken up, and lime put between- 
every timber to your satisfaction* 
See. 13. Thatthe following be the rules and regulations 
to be observed on board all vessels while at quarantine : 
1. Every vessel shall, during her quarantine, wear colors 
in her shrouds. 
2- No provisions, spirituous liquors or other articles, shall 
be admitted on board such vessel, without permission from 
the said Heallh Officer- 
3. The said Health Officer shall, on all occasions, direct 
wh t goods shall be delivered from on board such vessel, 
the place wheie, and the manner in which they shall be 
landed. 
4. No person or persons, in any boat or vessel, shall be 
permitted to go alongside of any such vessel at quarantine 
without permission of said Health Officer, nor to be at an- 
choi or remain in any other manner, within one hundred 
yards of any such vessel 
5. Every such vessel shall be removed, and stationed at 
such place as the said Health Officer may, from time to 
time, under the direction ol the Board of Aldermen, acting 
ex-officio as Board of Health, direct and appoint. 
6. The bilge water shall be pumped from every such ves- 
sel at least twice a day. 
7. The directions of the said Health Officer, for cleans- 
ing the vessel, clothing and other things on board,shall be 
strictly complied with by the officers and crew. 
8. The commander of every such vessel shall be answer- 
able lor all irregularities and breaches of the regulations by 
the people on board ; all permissions and directions of the 
said Health Officer as aforesaid, shall be in writing. 
Sec. 14—That il any person or persons shall be guilty of 
a breach of any rules and regulations contained in The next 
preceding section, such person or persons so offending-hall 
forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, nor less 
than ten dollars, to and for the use of the city, to be recov- 
ered in an action of the case, in the name of the City Trea- 
surer, befoie the proper court to try the same. 
Sec. 15. Thatthe Board of Aldermen, acting ex officio as 
Board of Health, be and they are hereby authorised and em- 
powered, from time to time, to fix and assign the time 
which vessels shall be detained at quarantine, by virtue of 
this ordinance; and also to prescribe from time to time, if 
they deem it necessary, such other ports, places or countries 
besides those mentioned in this ordinance, from which ves- 
sels arriving shall be subject to examination lor quaran- 
tine. 
Sec. 4. That all vessel? arriving at this port, after having 
discharged their cargoes in any other port of the United 
States, agreeably to the quarantine regulations ol such port, 
sh"ll anchor on the quarantine ground, and be visited and 
examined by the said Health Officer; and be subject to th'j 
provisions ot the eighth section of this Ordinance, the same 
as if said vessel came direct to this port. 
Sec. 5. That every vessel subject on her arrival at this 
port to be visited and examined by the said Health Officer, 
which shall pass Field’s Point after nine o’clock p. m. and 
before six o’clock a. nu, shall anchor at the quarantine 
ground, notwithstanding she may not have been hailed by 
the sentinel. 
Sec. 6. That if any vessel subject to quarantine shall 
pass or leave the quarantine ground without permission 
of the said Health Officer, the owner or owners, or agent 
or agents of such vessel, or the person or persons who shall 
move the same, shall forfeit and pay to the use of the said 
city, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, nor less 
than twenty-five dollars, to be recovered in an action of 
the case, in the name of the City Treasurer, before the 
proper Court to try the same; and such vessel shall be li- 
able to be ordered back to the quarantine ground at the 
expense of the owner or owners, or agent or agents, there- 
of; and the owner or owners, agent or agents of such ves- 
sels, shall be liable to the same penalty on every repetition 
of such offence. 
Sec. 7. That if any officer of the customs or any other 
person whosoever shall without the permission of the Board 
of Ald< rm°n acting ex officio as a Board of Health, or the 
Health Officer, go on board ot any inward bound vessel that 
shall be subject to quarantine, such officer or other person, 
so going on board, shall.not land in said city, until the time 
of quarantine of such vessel shall have expired, under a 
penalty not exceeding twenty dollars, nor less than five 
dollars, to be recovered to the use o( said city, in action of 
the case, in the name of the Cify Treasurer before the pro- 
per Court to try the same. 
Sec. 8. That no untanned hides, horns, hoofs, or any 
other article whatever, that snail or may be thought by the 
said Health Officer capable of generating disease, shall be 
landed from any vessel whatever, within the limits of this 
city, during the existence of the quarantine, except at the 
Hospital ground, on Fox Point or India Point; nor shall 
such goods be brought into the compact part of said city, 
except by special pe-mission from said Health Officer; nor 
shall any vessel having sickness on board, or having had 
any person or persons sick of a malignant or contagious 
disease during the voyage, be permitted to come to any 
wharf in the city during the existence of the quarantine, 
except to the wharves at Fox Point, south of Pike’s wharf, 
or India Point, under special permission of the Health 
Officer; nor shall any foul or unclean bedding or clothing 
be landed or brought within the limits of said city, during 
the existence of Hie quarantine, from any vessel, in which 
any of the crew or passengers have been sickly during 
the voyage; nor shall any foul or unclean bedding or cloth- 
ing be brought within the limits of said city during said 
lime from anyplace where any contagious or malignant 
disorder doth or hath recently prevailed, unless the same 
are first carried direct to the Hospital, and there washed 
and cleansed, and every person concerned in the violation 
of this section, shall incur a penalty not exceeding one hun- 
dred dollars, nor less than twenty-five dollars, to and for 
the use of the city to be recovered in an action of the case, 
in the name of the City Treasurer, before the proper court 
to try the same. 
Sec. 9. That the said Health Officer shall have authority 
to put such interrogatories and inquiries to the captain or 
commanding officer, or any other person on board ol any 
Thirdly—You will make a weekly return to this Board 
of all vessels that shall arrive in the port of Providence, 
liable to Quarantine, on each and ever Monday, between 
the hours of three and five. And you will report also to the 
Mayor all breaches of the Quarantine Regulations, or of 
your directions, as soon as may be. 
The Board of Aldermen, acting ex-officio as the Board 
of Health, in giving these instructions to you, think proper 
to slate, that they shall expect of you tl e utmo t vigilance 
in performing the important duties confided to you, and at 
the same time they also think it proper to state that they 
consider you responsible if any ship or vessel, not having 
been duly cleansed or purified, should come up to the 
wharves of the city by your permission or consent. 
It is farther ordered and directed, that the following in- 
structions be and are hereby given to the Sentinel at Field’s 
Point, viz:— 
To Mi EPHRAIM C. THURBSR, 
Sir—The Board of Aldeiinen, acting ex-officio-as the 
Board of Health of the city of Providence, having appoint- 
ed you Sentinel at Fields Point, to watch the arrival of 
all ships or vessels arriving in the port of Providence, sub ■ 
ject to quarantine, have adopted the following Rules and 
Regulations to be observed in the execution of your office, 
viz : 
Sec. 16. That the Board of Aldermen, acting ex-officio as 
Board of Health, be and they hereby are authorised and em- 
powered to make and carry into effect such further rules 
and regulations respecting quarantine, as to them may ap- 
pear necessary, to preveut the introduction of contagious or 
inlectious diseases from other places; and to annex such 
penalties for the breach thereof, as they may think proper, 
not exceeding two hundred dollars fine or ten davs impris- 
onment. 
First—Yru will let no ship or vessel pass Field’s Point 
during the Quarantine Regulations, (except river craft) 
without hailing and enquiring the name of such ship or 
vessel, and where from, and if subject to quarantine agree- 
ably to the Rules and Regulations ordained and adopted by 
the City Council, youwill order such ship or vessel to put 
her color in the shrouds as a signal lor the Health Officer, 
and to anchor at the place designated in the Quarantine 
Regulations for the port aforesaid. 
You will also hoist a signal at the flag staff on the hill, 
and keep it up until such ship or vessel shall be visited by 
the Health officer. 
Sec. 17. That the Board of Aldermen, acting ex-officio as 
Board of Health, be and they hereby are authorised and 
empowered, from time to time, to suspend the operation of 
the whole or any part of this ordinance, in such manner and 
for such term as they may deem proper, and the same to 
revive at their discretion. 
Secondly—You will in all cases, when there may be 
doubts in your mind relative to any ships or vessels 
whether I hey are subject to quarantine or not, order them 
immediately to anchor and send their boat neartheshrre 
and ascertain her true character, before you suffer her to 
pass. 
Passed May Oth, 1834. 
A true copy—witness, 
RICHARD M. FIELD, City Clerk. 
Thirdly—All breaches of your orders, or of the Quaran- 
tine Regulations, you will immediately report to the 
Mayor. 
It is farther ordered, that the Clerk of this Board deliver 
to the said Health Officer and to the Sentinel lespectively, 
a certified copy of the foregoing orders, directions and de- 
crees, together with a copy of said Ordinance ol the City 
Council. A true copy, witness, 
je2s mt3w ALBERT PABODIB, Clerk- 
At a meeting of the Board ofAldermen of the city of Prov- 
idence, acting ex officio as the Board of Health, holden 
on the 17th day of June, A. D., 1844, 
Whereas, in the opinion of this Board, acting ex-officio 
as the Board nf Health, there is danger that at this season of 
the year, contagious or Infections diseases may be brought 
into this city by vessels, their officers, seamen, passengers