Bill of health, 'a certificate or instrument, signed by consuls or other proper authorities, delivered to the masters of ships at the time of their clearing out from ports or places suspected of being particularly subject to infectious disorders, certifying the state of health at the time that such ship sailed. A clean bill imports that at the time the ship sailed no infectious disorder was known to exist. A suspected bill, commonly called a touched patent or bill, imports that there were rumours of an infectious disorder, but it had not actually appeared. A foul bill, or the absence of a clean bill, imports that the place was infected when the vessel sailed.'-McCull. Com. Dict. see QUARANTINE.
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