since those exposed to smallpox (including recently inoculated) are not contagious for 10 days, visitors were allowed during this time. a newspaper article at the time notes, the patients "are indeed confined to a strict regimen; but they may every day be seen walking the island, shooting wild fowl, playing at quoits, etc." on november 5, 1773 the patients and staff on the island celebrated pope's day (a colonial variant of guy fawkes day) by lighting tar barrels "and a large fire displayed from the middle of the island; the hospital was likewise illuminated, and made a most beautiful appearance here. rockets were ordered from boston ... a number of gentlemen, who spent the evening in the assembly room, had them played off from their quarters, and spent the evening after very jovially, as did their friends and acquaintance under inoculation."