Thoughts on prison labour, &c. &c. ... / by a student of the Inner Temple.

  • Student of the Inner Temple
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thoughts on prison labour, &c. &c. ... / by a student of the Inner Temple. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    27/488 (page 25)
    ‘‘ By this statement you will perceive, that, with very fevo * exceptions, the women have gained considerably in weight, and of those who have lost weight, two, viz. riiL TON and Harris, w^ere labouring under disease at the time of admission, on which account they xvere seldom j)Ut upon the Wheel. I beg leave to add, that I have witnessed none of the bad effects of the Wheel on the hands of the female prisoners, as mentioned in Sir John Cox Hippisley's work ; and with regard to the dreadful consequences described by Dr. ]\Iason Goon as lilcely to result from the labour of females on the Tread-wheel, I most positively declare, that no such consequences have existed here. The prisoners, and more especially the WOMEN, are in good health—the few cases of sickness which have come under my care have been generally chronic diseases of long standing, and were so at the time of admission into this place; and / do xnost solemnly declare that I have as yet witnessed no bad effects on the legs, arms, or bodies of the prisoners from the use of the Tread-mill. “ My object in troubling you with this is to elicit truth, and to do away what appears to me, judging from its effects in this place, a groundless objection to a humane, useful, and harmless instrument of punishment. If the above be deemed worthy a place in your Paper, you will oblige me by inserting it. I am. Sir, your obedient servant, EDWARD JACKSON, “ Surgeon to the House of Correction, Guildford. Sej)t. 2, 1823.” * How could this assertion be correct when the numbers were all but equal—eight having gained weight—seven having lost—and two remaining in statu quo” The gained and lost” column in the above table is added as a key to Mr. Jackson’s Staticks.