Section 9

Section 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That whenever the board of health shall receive information, that any malignant or contagious disease (the small pox and measels excepted) prevails in any port or place within the United States, or on the continent of America, they shall make diligent enquiry concerning the same, and if it shall appear that the disease prevails as aforesaid, all communications with such infected port or place, shall be subject to such control and regulations, as the board of health may from time to time think proper to direct, and publish in one or more newspapers published in the city of Philadelphia, and thereupon every person or persons, and all goods, wares, merchandizes, bedding and clothing, from such infected port or place, and having entered and brought into the city and county of Philadelphia, contrary to such regulations, shall be subject to the penalties and forfeitures provided by the next preceding section of this act; and all vessels from such port or place, and bound to the port of Philadelphia, shall stop at the Lazaretto, and be proceeded with in the same manner, and under the same penalties and forfeitures, as are provided in cases of vessels coming from foreign ports. And every person or persons, having entered or been brought into the city or county of Philadelphia, from such infected port or place aforesaid, shall also be conveyed by any person authorised by the board, to such place for purification, as the said board may appoint or direct for that purpose, and be there detained at the pleasure of the board, any time not exceeding twenty days, and at the expense of such person or persons; and if the said board shall have cause to suspect that any person or persons, at the time within the city and county of Philadelphia, have been at such infected port or place within fifteen days since such disease prevailed at such port of place next preceding, the said board may lawfully require such person or persons, to render satisfactory proof of their place or places of abode during the said period, and if such person or persons neglect or refuse to render such proof, or fail in proving their residence, other than at such infected port or place, every such person shall be dealt with by purification and detention, as persons coming from such infected port or place.