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IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
make regulations for the government of the same; to make regulations 
to secure the general health of the inhabitants : In 1852 and 1853 
^^An ordinance to secure the health of the city, and to prevent nuis- 
ances” was passed. The ordinance has to do principally with nuisances, 
and no reference is made to quarantine regulations. On August 8, 
1866, the City Council passed '‘An Ordinance to secure the Health of 
the City, providing for a Board of Health and other purposes.” In 
this ordinance the i\Iayor Avas empowered to appoint a hoard of health 
with the approA^al of the council, at any time it seemed advisable; the , 
board could be dissolved by tlie Mayor or the Council when there 
seemed to be no further reason for its continuance. Meetings were to 
be held, the first one of any year at the call of the Mayor, and others at 
either the call of the Mayor or at their own pleasure: it made its own 
rules of procedure. Section 4 defines the powers and duties of the board 
as folloAvs : ' ' Said Board of Health shall exercise general supervision 
over the city of Davenport, with full power to take all steps and use all 
measures to promote the cleanliness and salubrity thereof, to abate 
nuisances of eA^ery description, on public or prAate property; to pre- 
vent the introduction into the city of malignant, contagious diseases, 
and to remove or otherAvise dispose of any person attacked by any such 
diseases, and adopt in reference to such person any resolutions, restric- 
tions, or measures deemed advisable : and to establish rules and regula- 
tions for the government of the city hospital, and to prevent the intro- 
duction or spreading of cholera, ship-fever, small-pox, or other infectious 
or contagious diseases within the city.” The physicians were required 
to report all cases of ship-fever, cholera, or small-pox they Avere called 
upon to attend Avithin the city limits or within five miles of the city, 
Avithin twelve hours after examination of the patient. Proper precau- 
tions Avere reciuired Avith reference to the removal of patients with con- 
tagious disease to the hospital or to some retired place, or subjecting them 
to quarantine within their dwellings. Notice of the character of the 
disease Avas to be posted on the house or some other suitable place. Small- 
pox patients Avere also subjected to isolation under penalty of a fine. 
Fourteen of the sixteen sections of Art. 2 of the ordinance refer to rules 
and regulations Avith reference to boats and the passengers and crews. 
In these regulations the specific diseases cholera, ship-feA^er, and 
small-pox are named and also "any communicable disease of a fatal or 
dangerous character.” The penalty imposed upon the master of any 
vessel coming from the south was heavier than the penalty upon the 
boat master coming from any other direction if quarantine rules were 
disregarded. This indicates the dread that Avas felt Avith reference to 
