Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Circular.—Translation.]
Interior Department, Sanitary
Division, Madrid,
January 9, 1867.
To the Provincial Governors :
The sanitary condition of Europe and of some portions of America has
recently improved, and as it is no longer necessary to continue
stringent health regulations, the Queen (may God protect her) has
deigned to order—
1. That vessels coming from the Papal States may be admitted without
quarantine if their captains present clean bills of health, signed
by our consular agents, and show there has been no death on board
during the voyage.
2. Vessels from France, England, Italy, Denmark, the United States,
Hamburg, Holland, Sweden, and Norway, shall perform only three days’
quarantine in the ports of Cartagena, Cadiz, and Santander,
designated for that purpose, where the marine boards of health are
charged to examine their certificates and crew-lists, to know if the
vessels have touched at other ports where infectious diseases
prevail, or if deaths have occurred on board, and to see that all
the legal requisites have been complied with.
3. Vessels from Austria are subject to the same regulations, with all
the formalities required in such cases; and,
4. In cases of doubt about the proper interpretation of this supreme
decree, the chief board of health in this department must be
consulted by telegraph.
I communicate this by royal order, charging you, in her Majesty’s
name, to use the greatest zeal and diligence in the execution of
this important service.
God save you many years.
