No. 216.] 445 



conjunction with the board of health, (composed of the mayor, 

 aldermen, and assistant aldeimen,) constitute the external health po- 

 lice. No vessel can reach the city without an inspection by the 

 health officer, who has full power to determine whether she has on 

 board any material, or comes from a port in such a state of health, 

 as might produce disease in the city after arriving at our wharves. 

 Should he discover good cause to suspect her to be in a condition 

 dangerous to the public health, he is empowered to detain her at 

 the quarantine, a length of time sufficient to overcome all danger 

 therefrom. The law is imperative, unless the board of health, for 

 good and sufficient reasons, choose to permit the vessel to approach 

 the city. The health officer has full control over the persons of the 

 officers, crews and passengers of vessels suspected of infection, and 

 over the cargo, and all the properties of the vessel and passengers. 

 Certain articles may be destroyed by him, and he may order bedding 

 and clothing to be purified and washed, before being brought up to 

 the city. 



These officers are all appointed by the Governor of the State, 

 The city authorities have no voice in their selection, though the re- 

 sident physician is to a certain extent, subject to the direction of 

 the board of health. The only medical duty prescribed for him by 

 the law, is to " visit all sick persons reported to the mayor, or to 

 the board, or commissioners of health, and perform such other duties 

 as the board of health shall enjoin." " The health commissioners, 

 under the direction of the board of health, shall assist the resident 

 physician in the discharge of his official duties." 



These officers, it will thus be seen, belong exclusively to the ex- 

 ternal, and not the internal health police of the city, except so far, 

 or at such times, as the board of health" may direct. With the in- 

 vestigation and removal of causes of disease, and the suppression of 

 epidemics generated, and existing within the city, they have nothing 

 it do, unless ordered specifically by the board of health. Under pre- 

 sent circumstances, the board having no municipal officer upon whose 

 knowledge and judgment in such matters they could depend, the state 

 officers would undoubtedly have plenty to do, should an occasion for 

 extra services unfortunatel}' arise. 



This I repeat is our external health police; and it will be gene- 

 rally conceded to be well arranged, ample and efficient. All the in- 

 cumbents are medical men, and care has generally been taken to 

 appoint those in good standing in the profession, and possessing 



