Alexander Popham, M.P. for Taunton, and the Bill for the Prevention of the Gaol Distemper, 1774 : a hygienic retrospect : presidential address delivered before the Annual Meeting of the West Somerset Branch of the British Medical Association at Taunton, on Thursday, June 28th, 1894 / by Arthur Durant Willcocks.

Willcocks, Arthur Durant.

Date:: 1894

Credit: Alexander Popham, M.P. for Taunton, and the Bill for the Prevention of the Gaol Distemper, 1774 : a hygienic retrospect : presidential address delivered before the Annual Meeting of the West Somerset Branch of the British Medical Association at Taunton, on Thursday, June 28th, 1894 / by Arthur Durant Willcocks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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lO The Taunton Bridewell was somewhat superior to Ilchester Gaol in its arrangements. It was indeed in Howard's time a comparatively recent structure, having been built in 1754, some twenty years before his visit. The rooms are reported to have been convenient. The prison had a court-yard and a pump, and also two inconvenient bathing tubs, never used. There was a ward for the sick. It had only a common day room, and at Howard's visit in 1779 he found that all the prisoners were in irons. It was obviously not in a good sanitary state, for in his report Howard says, If the windows, especially that in the sick ward (lately added) were enlarged, and the prison be constantly kept as clean as it was the last time I saw it, they would have little to apprehend from the gaol fever, which six years ago, for want of an infirmary, and separation, infected the whole prison so that of nineteen prisoners, eight died. This local outbreak of gaol fever must have taken place about the time Mr. Popham first became Member for Taunton (1768). Taunton had also another place of deten- tion, known as the town gaol, which is reported to have consisted of two insecure and offensive rooms in an old house rented by the keeper. There was neither court, nor sewer, nor water accessible to the prisoners. The keeper had no salary, and presumably made what he could out of his prisoners. In 1782 there were only three prisoners, one being a prisoner of war. At Shepton Mallet Bridewell the same insanitary state of things existed. This was an old structure, with the date 1625 over the door. There was one common day room, and the keeper had taken off from one of the night rooms, already too small, a portion out of which to make his malt loft. The prison had no infirmary, and some years before had been so unhealthy that the keeper told Howard he buried three or four a week. These are only instances drawn from our own

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