TNT Coronavirus Edition: Contagions & Ottoman Reactions (1871 & 1913)/Part III

//Ed. note: In May 1871, the Ottoman government issued 
these regulations to control cholera on ships passing 
through Kale-i Sultaniye-Çanakkale (Dardanelles), the Sea
of Marmara and the Bosphorus, from either the Aegean-
Mediterranean Sea or the Black Sea.

Based on the specificity of the regulations, it is evident
that even in 1871 the Ottoman government had long 
experience with cholera passing through the straits 
and the need to contain it.//


Dardanelles (Kale-i Sultaniye) - Sea of Marmara - Bosphorus.


Regulations concerning health measures to be implemented for ships
transitting the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea straits:

One: All ships and sailing vessels coming from the Black Sea must
stop at the quarantine post at Anadolu Kavağı and all those coming
from the Mediterranean Sea must stop at Kale-i Sultaniye (Çanakkale)
for interrogation and quarantine health permits.  Any ship acting
contrary to this will be subject to a cash fine, as prescribed by the
regulations.

Two: Any ships or sailing vessels on which there have been incidents
of cholera, whether coming from the Black Sea or the Mediterranean
Sea, must stop at the quarantine posts or they will not be allowed to
proceed.

Three: All ships and sailing vessels coming from an infected place
and heading for an Ottoman port must stop at the respective quarantine
posts, even if there has been no incident of cholera on board.


The Bosphorus.  Anadolu Kavağı is near the Black
Sea, upper right.

Four: All ships and sailing vessels coming from an infected place must
take on board two guardians for the straits transit and leave off these
guardians at either Anadolu Kavağı or Kale-i Sultaniye at the end of
the straits transit without stopping at any place in between. 

Five: Sailing vessels, coming from an infected place but having no
cholera incidents onboard and heading for a foreign (non-Ottoman) port
may pass through the straits, in accordance with the following
conditions:

     1. Sailing vessels coming from the Black Sea must be towed by a
         ferry from Anadolu Kavağı to the Sea of Marmara with two
         guardians and then proceed by sail to the Kale-i Sultaniye
         quarantine post, where the two guardians will disembark;

     2.  Similarly, sailing vessels coming from the Mediterranean Sea en
          route to the Black Sea must take on two guardians at Kale-i
          Sultaniye, sail to Yenikapı (Istanbul) and then be towed by a 
          ferry to Anadolu Kavağı quarantine post;

     3.  Ships that comply with these conditions may count the straits
          transit time toward their quarantine time at either Anadolu
          Kavağı or Kale-i Sultani, as per the fourth paragraph of the
          cholera regulations;

     4.  Other than in extraordinary circumstances, all ships and sailing

          vessels that comply with paragraphs four and five of this

           regulation must proceed through the straits without stopping 

           anywhere other than at the quarantine posts at Anadolu Kavağı 

           and Kale-i Sultaniye; 

Six:  Any and all ships and sailing vessels with infected passengers must

fly a yellow flag at least three 'arşin' (one arşin = 28 inches) square from 

the mainmast when passing through the straits.  

Seven: Any infected ship that has contact in the straits, along the shore

of the Sea of Marmara or with another ship must pay a fine of 10 kuruş

in 'mecidiye' (silver) for every ton of its weight.

//END of PART III//