EARLY QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS OF SALEM. 31 



And be it further enacted, 



[Sect. 3.] That if need so require, any justice of 

 the peace may, and is hereby impowred, on application 

 to him made by the selectmen of the town in which such 

 infected baggage, cloathing or other goods shall be, to 

 make out a warrant to the sheriff of the county or his 

 deputy, .or constable of the town where such baggage, 

 cloathing or other goods shall be, requiring said officer, 

 with the advice and direction of the selectmen of said 

 town, to impress and take up convenient housing or stores, 

 for the receiving, lodging and safe keeping thereof, until 

 the same shall be sufficiently aired, as aforesaid. 



[Passed January 30 \ published January 31, 1752.~] 



This winter of 1751-2 seems to have been a peculiarly 

 disastrous one. The Governor was addressed by the Leg- 

 islature to appoint a fast for " distress of the Province^, 

 particularly Small Pox & Fevers ;" houses, nurses, and 

 other necessaries for the sick were impressed here, and 

 gates established at the entrances to the town in accord- 

 ance with the action of the Selectmen which follows. 

 During this year attempts were made in Salem, through 

 anonymous letters, to communicate the small pox to the 

 family of Judge Lyude, afterwards Chief Justice of the 

 Province, and a large reward of 500 old tenor was 

 offered, and an Executive proclamation issued for the de- 

 tection of the offenders. 



"At a meeting of y e selectmen. of Salem, March 25,, 

 1752, all present. 



Agreed that y e Clerk forthwith Issue Warrants for a 

 meeting of y e Freeholders & other Inhabitants of said 

 Town, at y e Town House on y e 30th instant at two of y e 

 clock afternoon, at y e request of Epes Sargent Esq. & 

 others, To consider the groat hazard, y e s d Inhabitants are 

 now in of being infected with y e small pox which prevails 



