Page "Quarantine" Paragraph 37

The British regulations of 9 November 1896 applied to yellow fever, plague and cholera.

Officers of the Customs, as well as of Coast Guard and Board of Trade ( for signalling ), were empowered to take the initial steps.

They certified in writing the master of a supposed infected ship, and detained the vessel provisionally for not more than twelve hours, giving notice meanwhile to the port sanitary authority.

The medical officer of the port boarded the ship and examined every person in it.

Every person found infected was certified of the fact, removed to a hospital provided ( if his condition allow ), and kept under the orders of the medical officer.

If the sick could be removed, the vessel remained under his orders.

Every person suspected ( owing to his or her immediate attendance on the sick ) could be detained on board for 48 hours or removed to the hospital for a similar period.

All others were free to land on giving the addresses of their destinations to be sent to the respective local authorities, so that the dispersed passengers and crew could be kept individually under observation for a few days.

The ship was then disinfected, dead bodies buried at sea, infected clothing, bedding, etc., destroyed or disinfected, and bilge-water and water-ballast ( subject to exceptions ) pumped out at a suitable distance before the ship entered a dock or basin.

Mails were subject to no detention.

A stricken ship within 3 miles of the shore had to fly at the main mast a yellow and black flag borne quarterly from sunrise to sunset.