UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 



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Council of three nobles, who were directly charged with preventing the 

 entry of epidemic disease. The Council constructed lazarettoes on two 

 islands, and instituted a rigid inspection of incoming crews, and the 

 letters of health from the place of departure. The time of detention 

 was forty days (quarante diei), hence our term quarantine. Venice was 

 therefore the first to practise systematic quarantine. Similar arrange- 

 ments were adopted by other countries, and have developed into our 

 modern institution of quarantine. The first quarantine disregarded 

 humane and medical considerations, for the sake of commerce. The 

 latest quarantine disregards commerce but only if it stands in the way 

 of public health and real humanity. 



Quarantine stations are maintained at forty-five points of entry into 

 the United States, besides eight stations each in Hawaii, Porto Kico 

 and the Philippines. The quarantine control of the Canal Zone is also 

 exercised by the Public Health Service. A fully equipped quarantine 

 station has adequate provision for boarding and inspecting vessels, 

 apparatus for mechanically cleansing them, and suitable equipment 

 for disinfection with steam, sulphur, formaldehyde and various solu- 

 tions. It must include a clinical laboratory, hospitals for contagious 

 and doubtful cases, a steam laundry, detention barracks for suspects, 

 bathing facilities, a crematory, sufficient supply of good water and a 

 proper system for the disposal of sewage. 



Vessels from domestic ports are also subject to quarantine, if 

 quarantinable disease prevails in the port of their departure, or 

 if there is sickness on board. No persons other than quarantine and 

 customs officers, and pilots, are permitted to board vessels subject to 

 quarantine, until they have been given free pratique. In case a vessel 

 carrying immigrants develops quarantinable disease in transit, after 



Bed Shelter, Hospital Annex, Fort Stanton. 



