EARLY QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS OF SALEM. 25 



born by the town whereto he or she belongs : provided, 

 always, that this act shall not be understood to extend to 

 persons in any town where more than twenty families are 

 known to be visited with the small-pox at one and the 

 same time. 



[Sec. 3.] This act to continue for the space of ten 

 years from the publication thereof, and no longer. 

 [Passed February 2; published February -3, 17.31-2.'] 



In 1737, the Province Hospital was removed from 

 Spectacle to Eainsford Island, in Boston Harbor. 



In 1739, a Provincial act which seems to have been an- 

 ticipated by the order of our selectmen touching the Mar- 

 blehead Ferry, and which was extended from time to time 

 for twenty years, provided for the regulation of Ferry- 

 ways and for the prompt reporting of strangers arriving 

 from neighboring colonies. It was as follows : 



An Act to prevent the spreading of the small-pox or 

 other infectious sickness. 



Whereas the inhabitants of sundry towns in this prov- 

 ince are often exposed to the infection of the small-pox 

 and other malignant, contagious distempers, by persons 

 coming from the neighbouring governments visited with 

 such infectious sickness, and by goods transported hither 

 that carry infection with them, 



Be it therefore enacted by His Excellency the Governour, 

 Council and Representatives in General Court assembled, 

 and by the authority of the same, 



[Sect. 1.] That any person or persons coming from 

 . any place, in either of the neighbouring colonies or prov- 

 inces, where the small-pox or other malignant infectious 

 distemper is prevailing, into any town within this prov- 

 ince, who shall not, within the space of two hours from 

 their first coming, or from the time they shall first be in- 

 formed of their duty by law, in this particular, give no- 



ESSEX IXST. BULLETIN, VOL. XIV. 2* 



