Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 1.djvu/73

 FORTY-THIRD

AN ACT

To revise and consolidate the statutes of the United States, in force on the first day of December, anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

TITLE I.

GENERAL PROVISIONS.

CHAPTER ONE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, In determining the meaning of the revised statutes, or of any act or resolution of Congress passed subsequent to February twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things; words importing the plural number may include the singular; words importing the masculine gender may be applied to females; the words "insane person" and "lunatic" shall include every idiot, non compos, lunatic, and insane person; the word "person" may extend and be applied to partnerships and corporations, and the reference to any officer shall include any person authorized by law to perform the duties of such office, unless the context shows that such words were intended to be used in a more limited sense; and a requirement of an "oath" shall be deemed complied with by making affirmation in judicial form.

. The word "county" includes a parish, or any other equivalent subdivision of a State or Territory of the United States.

. The word "vessel" includes every description of water-craft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.