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QUABLES 395 QUARTER SESSIONS Qiedical inspection of alien immigrants, which, under the law of March 3, 1891, is conducted by the miedical officers of the Marine Hospital Service. Under the act of Feb. 15, 1893, he is charged with the framing of reg^ulations for the pre- vention of the introduction of contagious diseases and the prevention of their spread; and he is also charged with the conduct of the quarantine service of the United States, He has the direction of laboratories established to investigate the cause of contagious diseases, and pub- lishes each week, under the title of "Public Health Reports," sanitary re- ports received from all parts of the United States and (through the State Department) from all foreign coun- tries. See Bubonic Plague; Cattle- Plague. QUARLES, FRANCIS, an English poet; born near Rumford, England, in 1592; was educated at Cambridge, and entered at Lincoln's Inn. In 1621 went to Dublin, where he became under-sec- retary to Archbishop Ussher. He was driven from Ireland, with the loss of his property, by the rebellion of 1641, and was appointed chronologer to the city of London. At the commencement of the civil wars he wrote a work entitled the "Loyal Convert," which gave offense to the Parliament. Of the works of Quarles, in prose and verse, the most celebrated is his "Emblems," a set of designs illustrated by verses. Among his poems are "Divine Poems," and "Argalus and Parthenia." His "En- chiridion" is a collection of brief essays and aphorisms. He died Sept. 8, 1644. QXJARNERO, GULF OF, in the Adri- atic Sea, between Istria and the Croa- tian coast, 15 miles in length and breadth. It is nearly inclosed to the leeward by the islands of Cherso and Veglia, and communicates with the Adriatic by three channels. QUARRY, a place, pit, or mine where stones are dug out of the earth, or are separated from the mass of rock by blast- ing. The term mine is generally con- fined to pits or places whence coal or metals are taken. QUART, the fourth part of a gallon; two pints; the United States dry quart contains 67.20 cubic inches, the fluid quai-t 57.75 cubic inches; the English quart contains 69.3185 cubic inches. QUARTER, a measure of weight, equal to the fourth part of a hundred- weight — i. e., to 28 pounds avoirdupois. As a measure of capacity, for measur- ing grain, etc., a quarter contains eight bushels. QUARTER, that part of a ship's side which lies toward the stern, or which is comprehended between the aft-most end of the main chains and the sides of the stern. In heraldry, one of the divisions of a shield, when it is divided into four portions by horizontal and perpendicular lines meetmg in the fesse point. QUARTER DAY, in matters influ- enced by United States statutes quarter days are the 1st of January, April, July, and October. In the relation between landlord and tenant in some of the States they are the 1st of May, August, No- vember, and February, respectively. In England it is the day which begins each quarter of the year. They are now Lady day (March 25), Midsummer day (June 24), Michaelmas day (September 29), and Christmas day (December 25). QUARTER BECK, in nautical lan- guage, a deck raised above the waist and extending from the stern to the main- mast. QUARTERMASTER, in military af- fairs, an officer who superintends the is- sue of stores, food, and clothing, and ar- ranges transportation for a regiment when necessary. In nautical affairs, a petty officer, who, besides having charge of the stowage of ballast and provisions, coiling of ropes, etc., attends to the steer- ing of the ship. He is appointed by the captain. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL, in the United States a staff-officer with rank of Brigadier-General. He is chief officer in the quartermaster's department. In England a staff-officer, specially ap- pointed for duties connected with quar- tering, encamping, embarking, and mov- ing troops. In both armies in the field he is responsible for the surveys and re- connaissance necessary for the conduct of the army, and has the general direc- tion of the railways, postal, signaling, and telegraph services. QUARTERN, a term sometimes used to designate the fourth of a peck, or of a stone; as the quartern loaf. In liquid measure it is the fourth part of a pint. QUARTER SESSIONS, in England, a general court of criminal jurisdiction held in every county once in each quar- ter of a year before two or more justices of the peace, and before the recorder in boroughs. Its jurisdiction is^ confined to the smaller felonies and misdemeanors against the public, and certain matters rather of a civil than a criminal nature. In Scotland, a court held by the jus- tices of the peace four times a year at the county towns. These courts have the power of reversing the sentences pro- nounced at the special and petty ses-