in the character of an Officer of Health.
Common sense alone shows that the Superintendent could have no motive in concealing that he had knowledge of small pox on board, when the first thing he did was to inform the Colonial Physician of it, and to request that the patient might be received into the hospital.
Civil cases of small pox both in the colony and on board H.M. ships of war, that have had communication with the shore, if Your Excellency should think proper to investigate the matter, perhaps it will be found that there is no mistake on my part.
The difficulties which have been put in the way of the "Erie" proceeding, no doubt, arise from the imperfect organization of the sanitary authorities, who in all countries generally provide for vessels in quarantine a place to receive the sick, so as to prevent infection on board, and the expenses incurred are charged to the vessel.
With regard to the observation that the risk incurred by the communication of the Officer of Health with the shore is considerable, I shall remark that this does not justify the irregularity of the measure: either the disorder is contagious and the Officer of Health who visits the vessel ought to be put in quarantine, or it is not contagious, and the vessel ought to be admitted.