Chap. 162.—An ACT to provide a quarantine for convicts in the penitentiary
and prisoners in the jails of the commonwealth, in case of any contagious or
infectious diseases, breaking out among convicts and prisoners dangerous to
the public health.

Approved January 27, 1896.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it
shall be lawful for the governor of the commonwealth of Virginia,
upon the application of the superintendent of the penitentiary, when
requested in writing so to do by the physician at said institution, to
have removed from said penitentiary any felon or prisoner serving
a term of imprisonment who has contracted any such contagious or
infectious disease dangerous to the public health, to some place to
be designated by the said governor, and when any such prisoner is
so removed he shall be safely kept and treated for said disease, and
as soon as he recovers his health be returned by said superintendent
to said penitentiary, unless the term of his imprisonment has ex-
pired during his quarantine, in which event he shall be discharged,
but not until all danger of his spreading contagion has passed.

2. The judges of the county and corporation courts of the com-
mouwealth are likewise authorized and empowered to have removed
from the jails of their respective counties and cities, upon the appli-
cation of the keeper of the jail, when requested so to do in writing
by the physician doing the practice at the jail in question, all
felons or prisoners serving terms of imprisonment in said jail, and
all persons, who may be confined in said jail and awaiting trial, who
have contracted any such contagious or infectious disease dangerous
to the public health, to some place designated by the judge of the
county or corporation court, as the case may be, wherein it exists,
and when said prisoners are so removed they shall be safely kept,
and receive proper care and attention, including medical treatment,
and as soon aa they are restored to health they shall be returned to
the jail from whence they were moved, unless the term of those who
have been convicted of any offence should expire during the time of
their quarantine, in which event they shall be discharged, but not
uutil all danger of their spreading contagion has passed. All ex-
penses incurred under and by reason of this act, shall, as to prison-
ers taken from the penitentiary, be borne by the state, and as to per-
sons taken from the jails uf counties and corporations, be paid by
the respective cities and counties.

8. This actishall, ke dxforee from its passage,