Of the first Kind are all Corn, Vallonia, Salt, Flax-Seed, and other Seeds, Marble, Minerals, Wood, Earth for Looking-Glasses, Gold Dust, Rock Alum, Vitriol, Elephants Teeth, &c. Of the second Kind are, Sugars, Cheeses, Fruits green and dry, Kernels of Pine Apples, Salt Fish and Flesh, or Fish and Flesh Smoak dried, &c. Potargo, Drugs, Colours, and every Thing of that Kind, which can be separated from their Envelops. Of the third Sort are all Kind of Liquors, Brandies, Oils, Wines, which may be taken out; and when it is acknowledged that they are so, they are secured with Rosin over the Corks, which serves to certify that they are free. Raisins, Ashes, and Rosin or Pitch itself, though they come in Envelops or in Vessels, yet in the Hope that the Spirits within destroys all Suspicions, or repels any bad Effluvia, or the Effects of Contact, it is only required to rip the Bags and Envelops, and to tar the Seams of them, and they may be taken out.
Such Things may be taken out, if the Merchant’s Necessity requires it; or else every Thing coming in Envelops performs Quarantine; the Envelops performing it, though emptied of their Contents; though the most refined Precautions are not required, if they are but a little handled, and exposed to Air. Yet most of the Deliveries of such Things are performed at the Lazarettos, that it may be done with the greater Circumspection, considering that Things, very free of themselves, may however be put up and mixed with something subject to Quarantine: As for Instance, Pistacchio-Nuts, and Coffee, amongst which Cotton is frequently found; so that when such Things happen, they cannot be cleared.
Such are the Precautions used in the Lazarettos, towards all Persons and Things which come from suspected Countries; proportioned to the greater or less Cause of Suspicion: Since, in the most dangerous Cases, the Method is the same, the Term only longer.
The ordinary Term being ended without any Accident of any Sort, the Prior concludes his Incumbences with sending separate Testimonials, wherein he certifies, That on such a Day commenced the Quarantine of the Persons, and such a Day that of the Goods: That the proper Precautions have been used in opening them, emptying them out, &c. And that the Term of Forty Days expires on such a Day, no Accident having happened. The Guardian on Ship-board sends a like Testimonial; and on the Day free Communication is to be given to the Ship, Persons, or Merchandizes, it is granted them: Which Testimonial the Magistrate subscribes, and the Fante is Bearer of it; taking Care, that it tallies exactly with all the Steps and Rules of the Lazarettos, and especially with the Order issued to the Clerk of the Office of Health.
In Case any Sickness or Disorders have happened; though they have been already communicated from Time to Time, the Prior and the Guardian must in that Testimonial repeat the Mention of them; that it may tally with the Reports made by the First Physician, who registers all his Visits, and makes himself Master of the Cases that have happened, without waiting for the Time of the Patient’s being at Liberty, to apply what is proper for the Cure of the most grievous Complaints.
Such is the Conduct held in the Lazarettos, the Effects of which have been found so beneficial; but the good Management of which depends upon the Concert being kept up between so many different Precautions. I hope I have now discharged what my Orders required, viz. To describe, or give an Idea of the Functions of the Health Office, taken from the constant Practice here.
FINIS.
