ip in a splendid cabin, surrounded with
phials and pills, and Jack in the forecastle, redolent of tobacco, and
destitute of ventilation.

The quarantine regulations in Boston formerly partook of the
unreasonable and absurd character, which, to a greater or less extent,
has marked these regulations in all maritime countries. Vessels arriving
from certain ports where yellow fever was supposed to prevail, were
not allowed to haul to a wharf and discharge cargo, or hold any
direct personal communication with the city, until the expiration of
twenty-five days after leaving port. Thus a vessel from the West Indies,
having perishable commodities on board, might reach Boston in twelve
days, the vessel and cargo in good condition, and every man stout and
hearty. But it was supposed that yellow fever might lurk among the
crew, or lie concealed among boxes of sugars or cigars, and, therefore,
thirteen additional days were allowed to give it an opportunity to
escape. At the expiration of that time, when the patience of the men,
kept so long in durance vile without the shadow of a cause, in sight of
their homes, was exhausted, and the perishable portion of the cargo in a
most unwholesome state of decomposition, caused by the delay, the vessel
was pronounced pure, in a fit condition to receive PRATIQUE, and allowed
to haul alongside the wharf, receive visitors on board, and discharge
cargo.

The reader, inexperienced in the mysteries of sanitary regulations, may
smile at the absurdity of such proceedings, but the system of guarding
the public against the horrors of the yellow fever, adopted by the
health department of Boston, was in those days remarkably judicious and
indulgent, when compared with the regulations in other cities, and which
exist at the present time, not only on the other side of the
Atlantic, but in this country. And, to the credit of Boston, and as an
illustration of the intelligence of her citizens, it should be recorded
that this seaport, the principal one in New England, WAS THE FIRST IN
THE CIVILIZED WORLD TO EXPRESS AN OPINION THAT THE YELLOW FEVER WAS
NOT CONTAGIOUS, and to repeal those ridiculous, useless, and burdensome
"quarantine laws," which, originating in panic terror, have been
instituted from time immemorial, to prevent the introduction of plague
and yellow fever, and establish in their stead sanitary regulations,
which are in accordance with the dictates of common sense.

Infectious diseases are s