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Quarantine law, first

A profitable trade had been opened between Massachusetts and Barbadoes and other West India islands, when, in the summer of 1647, there was a wasting epidemic in those islands, carrying off 6,000 people in Barbadoes, and nearly as many in the other islands, proportionably to their population. The General Court of Massachusetts, on hearing of the disease, published an order that all vessels which should come from the West Indies should stay at the Castle at the entrance to the harbor, and not land any passengers or goods without license from three of the council, under a penalty of $500. A like penalty was imposed upon any person visiting such quarantined vessel without permission. A similar order was sent to Salem and other ports. The nature of the epidemic is not known, but yellow fever has been alleged.

Harper and Brothers Publishers. . New York. 1902.

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1647 AD (1)
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