30
death has occurred during the voyage from unknown or suspicious causes, and if the
Health Officer is satisfied by such enquiry and examination that no person on board is
suffering, or during the voyage has suffered, from plague, and that no death has
occurred during the voyage from unknown or suspicious causes, and if the ship carries
a qualified Medical Officer, quarantine shall be dispensed with, and pratique granted.
If the vessel does not carry a qualified Medical Officer, he shall direct the Com-
mander to take the vessel to the quarantine anchorage duly appointed and notified by
the Commissioner in Sind, and there to remain for a period of eight clear days from
the date of arrival in the harbour. The Health Officer shall also direct the Com-
mander to prohibit, during the period for which the vessel remains at the quarantine
anchorage as aforesaid, all communication, except such as is hereinafter provided for,
between such vessel and the shore or other vessels and boats in the harbour.
IV.-If the Health Officer, as the result of the enquiry and examination made under
paragraph III above, shall have reason to believe or suspect at the time when the
vessel arrives in the harbour that any person on board is suffering, or during the
voyage has suffered, from plague, he shall direct that such person, if alive, and, in any
case, the family and others, who have been in immediate attendance on, or in contact
with, him on the voyage, together with all his or their baggage and personal effects;
other than articles which the Health Officer directs to be immediately destroyed, be
removed to such particular spots as may from time to time be selected by the Com-
missioner in Sind as places of quarantine, there to remain until permitted to leave by
the Health Officer. After such removal all other persons may be allowed to land
under such precautions as the Health Officer considers necessary. The vessel shall
then be thoroughly disinfected under the direction and supervision of the Health
Officer, and pratique shall be granted after such disinfection has been completed.
V.-Any mails, baggage, or cargo which may be brought by any vessel so arriving shall
be landed under such precautions as the Health Officer may deem necessary to prevent
the spread of the disease.
VI.-It will be the duty of the Port Officer to facilitate the conveyance to all persons in
quarantine of such supplies of provisions, stores, and other articles as may be required.
VII.-All vessels arriving at Karchi which may have communicated with vessels coming
from Bombay shall be subjected to the same rules as vessels arriving at Karchi from
Bombay."
17. By the 5th February 1897 arrangements had been made to improve
the system of medical inspection of vessels departing from Karchi and to adopt
rules similar to those applied to Bombay : and on that date the following notifica-
tion was published in the Government Gazette:
" No. 820-322 P.-The following rules have been prescribed by His Excellency the Governor
in Council in accordance with the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897:
1. No vessel shall leave the Port of Karchi until she has been inspected by the Health.
Officer of the Port and the Master or person in charge of such vessel has obtained a
Bill of Health or certificate from such officer that the Master or person in charge,
officers, crew and passengers (if any) of such vessel are free from any dangerous
epidemic disease.
2. Should the Health Officer of the Port be of opinion that any person on board of any
vessel so inspected is suffering from a dangerous epidemie disease he shall refuse to
give a Bill of Health or certificate as aforesaid unless and until such person is removed
from the vessel.
3. After the Master or person in charge of the vessel has obtained any Bill of Health or
certificate under the provisions of these rules no person or cargo shall be admitted or
taken on board such vessel before she leaves the Port of Karchi unless such vessel is
again inspected by the Health Officer of the Port and another Bill of Health or
certificate obtained from such officer by the Master or person in charge of such vessel.
4. No port clearance shall be delivered to any vessel unless and until the Master or
person in charge thereof shall produce the Bill of Health or certificate so to be obtained
as aforesaid, and it shall be the duty of Customs officers to refuse delivery of the port
clearance without the production of such Bill of Health or certificate.
5. All steamers and square-rigged vessels will be inspected by the Health Officer before
leaving the wharves or moorings, and all coasting craft shall anchor between and to
the west of No. 1 mooring and deep-water point for the purpose of being medically
inspected by the Health Officer of the Port on the eve of their departure.
6. Vessels not leaving port within 24 hours after receiving pratique may not leave with-
out re-inspection. The date and hour of his inspection will be noted in the Bill of
Health by the Health Officer.
7. The medical inspection of vessels and passengers shall be carried out between sunrise
and sunset.
8. Disobedience to any of the above rules Nos. 1 to 6 will subject the offender and all
persons aiding or abetting him to a prosecution under the Indian Penal Code."