The board of health may cause houses, districts or parts of districts, where cholera, smallpox, diphtheria, typhus fever, meningitis or any other infectious or contagious disease exists, which, in the opinion of the board of health, should be kept under quarantine to be so quarantined as, in the opinion of the board of health, will best prevent the spread of the disease in the neighborhood; and no person shall interfere with or attempt to break such quarantine. The board of health may also in such cases, with the approval of the mayor, furnish such sustenance and clothing to persons confined in such quarantine, who are too poor to maintain themselves during such confinement, and the mayor and aldermen may order their support out of any fund under their control which may be available for such purpose. (Code 1953, § 8.4)