Extracts from the topography and vital statistics of Calcutta : embracing observations on these subjects formed at different periods, and officially submitted to the local authorities / by F.P. Strong.
- Strong, F. P. (Francis Pemble)
- Date:
- [1849?-1852]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Extracts from the topography and vital statistics of Calcutta : embracing observations on these subjects formed at different periods, and officially submitted to the local authorities / by F.P. Strong. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![improvement has been gradual, as shewn in the annexed tables. I have added the last remark from having heard that in the reports of the civil authorities forwarding my opinions and tables upon the present ration system, it was observed, by one of those authorities, that at one period, previous to the new system, and when the prisoners had only one meal per day, the mortality was low, I suppose allu- sion was made to the period of 26 months^ which I have specified. I imagine this must have been the case, but as those reports do not come under my cognizance, I cannot speak with certainty to the point. It is, however, easy to understand how persons, who have been working upon only one meal a day for a succession of years, (and a meal too with hardly any animal food), should become healthy and strong when the meal given for 26 months assimilated, almost exactly, to the im- proved ration that has now been distributed for four years ; numerous communications transmitted to me by the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, shewing the food formerly allowed to the prisoners in the neighbouring zillahs, and in which the court remark upon their hardly ever obtaining fish, go to confirm my opinion on the absolute necessity of a certain proportion of some animal food for men who work, and it would in my judg- ment be much better if those prisoners who do not work were also allowed some portion, (say half,) of such nourishing food. I annex a table [abstract only of this table printed here.— Editor.] in addition to, and in continuance of my printed table of six years and eight months, and I venture here to quote the opinion of Sir James Graham shewing how strongly he coin- cides with myself on the subject of dieting prisoners.* “ Sir James Graham, Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Home Department, in a letter to the Chairmen of Quarter Sessions, dated 27th January, 1843, adopts the recommendations of the Inspectors with regard to dietaries, and offers the following very proper observations :— “ I desire to call the especial attention of the magistracy to those rules which relate to the Diet of Prisoners. On the proper adjustment of this particular their health mainly depends ; and I am convinced that * See my former letters to the Superintending Surgeons, and length- ened correspondence for several years, with the Sudder Dewanny Adaw- lut, when the Jails were under the superintendence of that Court. We may here quote an extract we have seen from the Medical Board's Letter upon the state of prisoners in the 2 4 - Pergunnah Jails as relating to Mr. Strong's suggestions: “ We therefore strongly urge the recommendations of the Civil Surgeon “ to he carried into effect, as the results which he has brought forward to “ prove that a nutritious diet did preserve the health of the prisoners in a “ remarkable degree, appear to us to he incapable of disproof (1843.)”—■ Editor.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28988048_0079.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
