An Authentick Account of the Measures and Precautions Used at Venice By the Magistrate of the Office of Health, for the Preservation of Publick Health

This early‑modern report offers a rare glimpse into Venice’s meticulously organized health bureaucracy at the height of the plague threat. Written by a senior magistrate, it outlines the extensive powers granted to the Office of Health, the ranks of officers tasked with inspection, and the legal mindset that treated every Ottoman‑linked cargo as potentially infected.

Listeners will travel alongside the city’s guardians as they intercept incoming ships, signal quarantine, and escort vessels to distant canals guarded by armed galleys. The narrative details how “Fanti” and other officials examine captains, manage cargo purification, and enforce strict isolation rules, revealing the practical challenges of protecting a bustling republic from contagion. The account reads like a living manual, illuminating the blend of caution, authority, and daily ritual that kept Venice’s streets comparatively safe for centuries.