QUARANTINE

(Ital. quaranto, forty.) A period of time of variable length, during which a ve el from certain or ports, said or supposed to be infected with certain diseases, is not allowed to communicate with the shore, il under particular restrictions. A ship in qq irantine carries a yellow flag at the main; and when released from this condition, she is said to obtain pratique. The term is derived from the Ital. quaranto, forty, it being generally supposed that if no infectious disease break out within 40 days or six weeks, no farther danger is to be a|i prehended. It is universally believed that the Venetians were the first to adopt regulations for guarding against the Introduction of infected persons into their ports; but there is now no civilized country In which it is not practised. (For full particulars on the history and policy of quaranee the Com. Diet.) [s. 1027]