236 
IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
13, 1848. In some '‘Laws amendatory of the charter and concerning 
city affairs” approved Jan. 22, 1853, provision is made that "The city ^ 
council of said city shall have power to make regulations to prevent the 
introduction of paupers, or of contagious diseases, into the city, also 
to make quarantine laws and enforce the same \vithin the city, and not 
to exceed four miles beyond the city bounds. ”. On July 10, 1860, 
"An ordinance establishing a board of health, was passed.” The board 
was to consist of three physicians, and w^as to be appointed annually by 
the city council at their first session in May. The board was* to have 
general supervision over the health of the city and could provide for the 
removal or safe keeping of persons infected with contagious diseases. 
Evidently some kind of a board of health was in existence prior to 1860 
as the Keokuk Gate City dated May 15, 1855, refers to a report of the 
board of health. Sec. 21 of "An ordinance concerning misdemeanors,” 
passed July 10, 1860, is to the effect ' ' That the commander or person in 
charge of any steamboat or other vessel, or any other person whosoever, 
who shall knowingly bring into the city of Keokuk, any person diseased 
with the small-pox, cholera, ship-fever or any other communicable or 
contagious disease, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. ’ ’ 
One of the powers of the city council of ' Burlington as enumerated in 
Sec. 12 of the charter, approved June 10, 1845, is one to the effect "that 
they shall have power from time to time to make and publish all such 
laws and ordinances as to them shall seem necessary to provide for the 
safety, the health, promote the prosperity, and improve the morals, 
order, comfort, and convenience of said city, and the inhabitants there- 
of. ” In Sec. 16, the council is given power "to require and compel the 
abatement and removal^ of all nuisances within the limits of said city, 
under such regulations as shall be prescribed by ordinance.” 
In 1871, or at some time prior to that date, the council of Burlington 
passed "An ordinance to prevent the introduction and spread of con- 
tagious or infectious diseases and to preserve the health of the city.” 
This ordinance bears no date as it appears in Hall’s Revised Ordinances 
of 1871. In 1876, the council passed an ordinance which was adopted 
May 12, establishing a board of health consisting of the Mayor and 
City Council. The board was given the usual powers and duties of 
establishing quarantine, of posting notice of such quarantine, and of 
requiring all physicians to report all cases of contagious diseases under i 
their care. Also on the same dMe "An ordinance in relation to dogs” 
was adopted, of which Section 7 requires the confining or muzzling of 
dogs whenever ordered to do so by the Mayor’s proclamation or by the 
direction of the council, because of apprehension of hydrophobia. The 
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