300.—(1) The owner or charterer of every emigrant ship shall provide for the use of the steerage passengers a supply of the following things (in this Part of this Act referred to as medical stores), namely, medicines, medical comforts, instruments, disinfectants, and other things proper and necessary for diseases and accidents incident to sea voyages and for the medical treatment of the steerage passengers during the voyage, with written directions for the use of such medical stores.

(2) The medical stores shall, in the judgment of the emigration officer at the port of clearance, be good in quality and sufficient in quantity for the probable exigencies of the intended voyage, and shall be properly packed, and placed under the charge of the medical practitioner, when there is one on board, to be used at his discretion.

(3) If any of the above requirements of this section is not complied with in the case of an emigrant ship, the master of the ship shall for each offence be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

(4) An emigrant ship shall not clear outwards or proceed to sea unless a medical practitioner appointed by the emigration officer at the port of clearance has inspected the said medical stores, and certified to the emigration officer that they are sufficient in quantity and quality, or unless the emigration officer, in case he cannot on any particular occasion obtain the attendance of a medical practitioner, gives written permission for the purpose.

(5) If an emigrant ship clears outwards or proceeds to sea without such certificate or permission, the master of the ship shall for each offence be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.