The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-11-12
PROM rur tu,IAprtrn,A POLITICAL sro,srrK'
FIRST REPORT,
BRITISH BohRD OF HEALTR

tfNoI NEESNi,
BRITISH Board OF HEALTR
An outline OF Plan prevent the ipreadng Of the
Plague or other Contagious Difeaics, prciented
by the Board Of Health, agreeable to the initruc-
tons of Ills Majoity's moa honourahle privy
P.1ESii ia Loaaou, AEsye 27sI.
(Coae!a6.J.J
The efforts to be made 10 cxtinyuifh the difsafe
can he all much more completely erred into effea
in the beginning, while there but few i'll, than
after the consason has extended to greater NUMBER
therefore, every thing that diligence and zeal can
dictate muR be dore in the fri inaance. On the
melancholy fuppoiition that it fpreads widely,
nieaiures would become neceifary.
As toon as any town is declared to be nfeSied, it
ought to be divided into diitriGs-Thoie inhabi,irg
the found dietras fliould be at liberty to depart
but from the tainted ditris hould be permit
ted to remove without certificate of hea,,h Ggued by
the juisices Belonging to that diftria.
Three uttices leaf in each diitra fhou.d meet
daily tor tile purpote of receiving applications FOR
lief of granting certificates of health, Of providing
Tor the bueal of the dead of conveying the hc the
hop'tas, ut regulating the fupply of provions OF APP
pointing different officers and attendants, &c.
a council ct the juitices fhould meet in the
week, or oftcner, to cc,lider of the belt in
winch their reioutions be carried into effect.
They fhould alto report the Privy Council the
. ,srd Of fIeath.
II will be the bufnef. Of the juilices to appoint
examiners who may diligently enquire into the ilzte
OF health i'll each diitri6t-'rhefe examiners ought
20 be peions acquainted with difeaies lurseons or
spothecarie.
Befides examiners, it will be neceiIary to pro-
viie, LIT. watelmen guards to be fationed at the
doors OF the Infectious houies; Cd nefengers, who
fhall procure every thing that is wanted Sd. car
sand carriages, to convey the ck the hopitals
md fhares ~ r Il L =.
theirs to carry the dead the places appointed for
their burial ft confabes or overieers who ihall
dee chat the aforementioned officers perform their
duty.
Physicians, furgeons, and apothecaries, and ALTO
all other Perions, ihould be enjoined to give in,me-
date notice the lnigra:es of every cafe of inee
tion.
After the diieaae has fpre1d, the number Of fck
rendering IL impra ficabie provide adequately for
them willie they diiperfed III different parts, or
to remove all the other inhabitants from every infect
ed houfe, it becomes cxpedient to carry the ck as
cry as Poihbe, TO fon,e temporary hofpita unef,
their i'tua.on IN life enable them provide for them
ielves without riil; 10 the public in manner that
Hall be satisfactory TO the maginrates
Every attention will be lry to render the hof-
ptals as clean and comfortable poible, that the
lick may not coniidcr il Is hardhip, they will en-
drayour TO avoid, bu: benefit they will be glad
embrace.
iswiii be neceiary beforehand TO provide fcrvants
ber the hofpital, and ALTO fuperntendant, upon
whom much wa, depeud. There mut lkewile be
carts tor the executive purpofe of removing perons to
the hoptal For hopitas may he uIed, houfes barns
fheds, tents, any other buildings the magistrates
can appropriate Ills ufe
Ihe unbound part Of the community fhop!d be d.
vided into fck, fuipeefed, and convelefceur; and
they mnf be kept ieparate OF the fufpe6ed the in
dividuas ought much polible TO be kept diftna
from each Other.
he 1n;-reyeta; ra-f,,s ,,,Lo H.. -.
me fame houe with the fck ought be eonlidered a.
very much fuiPecfed they ihouid be confined either
III the houe, IN fonie place OF obiervaton for the
fpace of 20 days before hey declared to be found
During this time they ihould be examined night aud
morning by fome phyician furgeon OK aporhscary;
and oil the hrn appearance of dfeaie, that perion
iloud be taken TO the ho!psal; and the Others who
have had communication with him, ihonld be obliged
to begin quarantine anew.
In order the more effeaually to prevent the con-
t2gion from Threading among the people, all meeting.
or aiieublles of every kind ihoud be discontinued
all places OF public amufement fhould be ihut up as
play houies, &c. and the fchoos and churches
ihonid not be opened, and the places appointed for
markets ihoula be removed without town.
IL becomes duty OF the magistrates lkewfe to ap-
point burial grounds. The burial hould be conduct
ed privately, and in the night time, without tolling
bell; and the bodies ought to be depoited at depth
ct not leis than fix feet below the iurface.
Moreover, fome provifon will be necefIary for
orphans or heiple5 children and liewile for thole
poor people who diGreItd by the interruption of
their ufpal bunels. Dut thefe mum only be relieved
when their ituatiOn is properly attehed.
For iecrring the good, Of thofe who are moved
from their own houfes to the houie of ob(ervaton
the magistrates ihould direct fch meafures to be Ia
ken as TO them may ieem mot expedient. The a.
partment uled might be fcaled up the goods and
furniture might be iaut in more rooms, ALTO
to be lealed. What remained in ufe for the Gck if
an hired nuFle employed, fhould be taken ac-
count of, and the inventory entered in book to be
KEEP, by the niagarate.
The intercourse with neighbours fhould be as lit
tie as poiible and amy perion finding any fymptoms
OF dfeae upon HIM, ihould feparate himelf from O.
theirs, and the moment the complaint is found to be
the plague, peitiental dfeae, he fould give that
notice to others which he would think but fair lhould
be given 70 him by another in his uation. This eut-
ting off OF in:ercourie has been propoied to 20 the
length Of putting every one into quarantine bur
there many diiieuties in dong this ; aud we
hope the dieale might be ihort before uch mea-
fure becomes necrnary Yet it will deferve the at
tertior of the magtrstes promote the wilhes of
individuals who, from delire off intercourie
may pfopoie eoniioe thcfelve5 their own houfes
This may be done by appointing proper perfons to
go TO market FOR them and furnh all fuch families
with neeeilares. suppofng the daeafe not to have
H. r., 10 I,,,.