Q. 



QUA 



QUADRUPEDS, col. 6, 1. 33 from bottom, add— 

 See alfo Natural Hijlory. 



QUARANTINE, that fpace of time (ufually forty 

 days, as the term manifeftly implies) which veiTels and 

 perfons are reftrifted from having intercourfe with other 

 veffels or perfons, or with the fhorc, on their arrival from 

 places fubject to the plague or other infetlious difeafe or 

 diilemper, or having held communication with {hips coming 

 from fuch places, or on board of which any infeftious dif- 

 eafe (hall have appeared during the voyage. 



The public health is a matter of the higheil import- 

 ance, and whoever is fenfible of the havoc which the 

 plague and other infeftious difeafes formerly made in this 

 country, (fee Plague,) and confiders the prevalence of 

 fuch difeafes in fome parts of the globe, how eafdy they 

 are communicated, and how long the poifonous contagion 

 lies dormant without lofing its malignity, will readily 

 alfent to the ftrong neceffity that exifts for rigorous pre- 

 cautions being adopted, to prevent its introduction into 

 thefe kingdoms. 



Of fuch common concern, indeed, is the health of large 

 and trading communities, that the chief magiftrates (fays 

 Blackflone) have the guardianlTiip of the pubhc health, 

 and are empowered to iflue fuch ordinances as may be 

 deemed neceffary, either to prevent the introduction of 

 infeftion from neighbouring or remote countries, or for 

 feparating thofe aftually infefted by removal, or by cutting 

 off communication with their abode. 



In this country, a Board of Health has been inllituted, to 

 inquire into the nature of the infeftion of the plague, and 

 the bell mode to counteract its effects ; and public ordi- 

 nances have been made from time to time upon this fubjeft ; 

 formerly by proclamation, but latterly by parliament. And 

 fuch has been the anxious fohcitude to frame the laws and 

 orders to obtain the ends defired, that they have at various 

 times undergone laborious revifion, and fuch further regu- 

 lations and amendments have been introduced as by expe- 

 rience were found to be neceffary. Nor has the care and 

 anxiety of the Britiib government ftopped here, for their 

 confuls and pubhc functionaries abroad are inftrufted to 

 convey, with the utmoil promptnefs, intelligence of the 

 appearance of any epidemic diftemper in the places where 

 they refide, or in fuch as are in their vicinity. Govern- 

 ment is thereby enabled to iffue neceffary diredtions, for 

 fubjefting (hips and perfons arriving from thence, to a more 

 rigid examination and feclufion than might otherwife have 

 been adopted. Governors and commanders have fimilar 

 local powers and inftruCtions, and are empowered to make 

 fuch orders, either to regulate or entirely cut off commu- 

 nication with fufpefted places and veffels as they (hall deem 

 neceffary. In fea-ports, veffels and their cargoes and crews 

 are fubjefted, on arrival, to examination ; where the two 



e 

 is 

 Id 



QUA 



former are aired and puri(^ed for a neceffary time, and th 

 latter retanied a certain number of days, in which time, it 

 luppofed, any infeftious difeafe they might retain, wou 

 make its appearance. 



In inland places, reftraints are likewife impofed for fimi- 

 lar purpofes, and intercourfe thereby cut off by proper 

 means, (ufually a cordon of troops drawn round the infeAed 

 place,) which taking poffeffion of the roads, rivers, and 

 watercourfes, effectually prevents infected perfons entering 

 the place, as well as others from efcaping. 



AH thefe meafures, though they may appear arbitrary, 



the very apprehenfion of approaching perfons a/Hided with 

 difeafes ot an infeftious or putrid nature, or having even the 

 poflibihty of harbouring contagion ; and what dreadful and 

 painful confequences are known to follow from an unguarded 

 or mdifcreet expofure, in fuch cafes they will refrain from 

 haftily rudiing into fociety, without fubmitting to fuch 

 falutary precautions which are fo abfolutely neceffary, or 

 at leaft fo fatisfaftory to their fellow-citizens. No doubt 

 the time is tedious, and the places appointed may be but 

 little calculated to afford comfort to or reconcile " hs 

 detenus-;' but when they refleCt that thoufands may be 

 fwept away in a few days, by the introduftion of fuch a 

 malady, it is hoped they will fubmit with lefs impatience. 

 One thing which makes the neceffity lefs apparent is, that 

 from the length of time fince England has been afflicted 

 with fuch a calamity, and from the fuccefs of the meafures 

 that have long been adopted to prevent its introduction, 

 perfons in general have no aCtual knowledge, and (till lefs 

 fear of its dreadful effefts, and they perceive with indiffer- 

 ence, as it were, an objeCt at a diltance, which on nearer 

 approach would almoft paralize their fenfes. 



That perfons and commerce may be as little impeded as 

 the nature of circumllances will admit, a certificate is always 

 obtained by perfons coming from places where any of thefe 

 dillreffing maladies are of frequent occurrence ; by this means, 

 the general fafety is more Itrongly fecured, as well as lefs im- 

 pediment given to the trader and the traveller ; becaufe when 

 it declares the country free from any infectious difeafe or 

 diftemper, no further detention is generally required, than is 

 neceffary to tranfmit the cafe to the confideration of thofe 

 who are intruiled with the general fafety. If on the con- 

 trary the certificate ftates, that an infectious diftemper does 

 prevail at fuch place at the time of their departure, or if 

 no certificate is brought, the examinations are more minute, 

 and the purifications are of longer duration. 



It is not intended in this article to fay any thing of the 

 nature of infeCtious difeafes; they will be found in the pre- 

 vious work under the heads Epidemical Difeafes^ Plague, 



TellofU 



