The Express.
London, England, 1848-09-01 00:00:00

STATE OF HEALTH IN MILLBANK PRISON

IN 1847.

The following statement, made by the inspectors of
Millbank Prison, in their fifth report, dem aids serious oaten.
tion. The opinion of the hot ecturs that " the present state
of tt,inge is productive of a sacrifice of lift, which might to
• considerable extent be avoided." involves a grave charge
egeinst government and thy legislature :
" The health of the price daring the early part of the
year was as goad as in former years; but during the sutures,
and winter months there Incurred an unusual amount of
sirkeees, and en almost unprecedented mortality. It is not
difficult to account for tbis great increaso of fatal disease.
Fur, besides the increase in Sao number of prisoners, there
were severs: Winn in operation from which no other result
' could follow. One cause was, the abandonment of the
system, which had been in practice Ur s: veal years, of re-
moviug from blink:auk Prima to an invalid hulk at Woolwich
all Woe male convicts who, from infirmity, disease, or other
cause, were not fit either to undergo transportation, to work
is the elocnyar ts of this country, or to be submitted to refor-
matory discipline at Pentonville or Patkhurat. This pre
the was discontinued at the commencement of the year
1847. Fur several months later convicts advanced in
years, or labouring under various chronic dimes. s, were
ant Inn the local gaols en England, Wales, and Scotland, to
Millbank Prison; while of other convicts, app irently healthy
when received at Millbank, a larger number than before,
owing to musts which will presently be adverted to, became
affected with serious chronic disease during their sojourn
there. The consequence was an accumulation of unhealthy
and infirm prisoners, who, for the most part n quired medical
care and the comforts of the infirmary, and who, even if
their original infirmities did not tied to a fatal result. yet
were liable to suffer severely from accidental causes of illness
which would have affected healthy persons but slightly.
Another circumstance which has had considerable there in
the production of an increased amount of serious diseue, and
went particularly of consumptive disease, in Millbank
Mass, den the middle of the yes. 1647, is
the ohms* total discontinuance of the transport.
Min of male convicts, and their consequent deten-
tion et Millbank for longer periods than before. This cause
operated especially in the cans of those convicts who, being
lees robust end healthy, were less well fitted for dockyard
labour; but, in a measure, it affected ell the convicts, and
it nearly doubled the length of the aver doe term of imprison-
ment of the whole body of convicts. Owing to this Mecum.
ranee, disease had time to develop itself in many prisoners
who in envier yews would have lett Millbank in good or
apparently good health; and this development of disci's:: was
the more frequent end rapid trom the mental depression
produced by the sentence ot expatriation being now mops
sued by the aex:ety and doubt which the convicts felt
with respect to their ultimate destination. The 'lichees and
mortality were further increased by the fever and influenza
which during the autumn and winter were epidemic in the
tropolis and 'in other parts of the country. Prisoners
generally, owing to the depressed state of their minds end
uoilify powers, are especially liable to suffer severely from
lever ; and the convicts in Milbank Prism were in the late
epidemic attacked by it in large numbers, in several in-
stances with a fatal result. The intineces did not affect a
disproportionate number oldie prisoners. Only 36, out of a
impulsion of 1,243, required infirmary treatment on account
Of it; and in no instance did it alone arse death, although
it hastened the fatal termination of two eases of consumption.
The teal mortality in the year was 33 deaths, or 28.646
per 1,000 primmer, ; in the previous year the mortality was
only 13 026 per 1,000 prisoners. On referring to the causes
of death, the excess In the tire of mortality during
the year 1847 is seen to be due to the great num-
ber of deaths mused by consumption and fever. Of the 33
deaths, 18 were caused by the termer and 7 by the latter
disease. The remaining eight deaths were severally due to
the following comes : epilepsy, chronic bronchitis with gan-
grene of the lung, diseased heart, dysentery, cholera, diseased
cervical vedettes, Mildbed, and suicide by hanging. Fif-
teen prison's' were pardoned on medical grounds in the
year 1847. Four of these laboured under consumption,
and eight under other chronic bodily diseases or infirmities,
Tenth ring them unfit for transportatioo. Two were the subjects
of mantel delusions ; and one had recently been 'dieted with
inanity, and his pardon was recommended ham the fear
that continued imprisonment night induce a return of his
mental disorder. Ammo* the deaths and pardons there
were 21 instances in which the prisoners at the time of their
reception were evidently affletecl with the diseases which
caused their deaths or formed the grounds of their panto. a.
These 21 prisoners, together with an infirm old man who sank
under • slight attack of fever, would in former years have
been immediately transferred to the invalid hulk. Ot
those, too, who died of consumptive disease de-
veloped in Millbank Prison, several would likewise have been
sent to the hulk; sod the result of this would have been not
merely to transfer mortality from one piece of imprisonment
to another, but really to prolong and even same lives. For
undoubtedly many instances have occurred where disease,
tending progressively to the destructioa of life, ha been
wholly arrested, and health been restored, on the patients
being transferred to the hulks, where they have had the
advantage of a purer and firer atmosphere, and where *dr
minds have been in some measure relieved tram do
depression and anxiety which bad before exerted so ilejniene
an ii.fluence on their bodily health. The urgent maw
city that exists for a healthily situated and well-ordered
criminal invalid establishment is shown by the fast think
since the commencement of the present year, 18 d.
have already been caused by pulmonary comunaptimm
other forms of internal scrofulous diereses, and that
have been granted to eight other prisoners who in al p=aba-
bihty would have died of the same disease had they remised
in prison. It would be eivy to show that this groat nor-
tality from consumption is not peculiar to the Minna
Prison ; that the same disease is everywhere proadnosil by
imprisonment sufficiently prolonged, mom espeslallf when
the imprisonmest isattended with circumstancessil le
produce much mental depression ; and that the proportiond
mortality from all diseases must be exceseive in • prim
serving, like Millbank Prison, as a depot from Whisk
only the healthy convicts are taken for distribelie
other places of confinement. It is not, therefore. bee
the desire of diminishing the apparent mortality at Milbank
that the evil results of detaining convicts long in this 'stab-
lament in estate of aspens., and the desirableness of an
invalid criminal establishment, have been initiated on, but
simply from a touviction that the present state of thing., is
productive of a sacrifice of life which might to • considerable
extent be prevented."

IRISH WASTE LAND IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.—
Yesterday the half-yearly meeting was appointed to take
place at the offices, 6, Mildred's court, Mansion-house, but
no business was transacted because a sufficient number of
proprietors did not attend. In the report which was pre-
pared for presentation to the meeting the directors called
attention to the sixth call, on which the sum of 1,8251. rill
remained unpaid. The unsettled state of Ireiand and the
recent conunereial distress would, no doubt, account for the
&Gamey. The anew- were, notwithstanding, in course
of payment, though but slowly. Tee proposed lean from
the government had not as yet been realised, being impeded
by legal preliminsrire, which, however, were drawing to a
conclusion. The ametructinn of the pier and mill at Kil-
herein was proesedlng rapidly, and the second instalment of
repay sent from the Board of Works on account of the pier
was now due, and expected to be shortly paid. There
appeared too moth reason to credit the unfavourable
accounts reeposting the return of the potato disease ; but
they (the company) were confident that the provision they
had made hi the planting for other crops would in a great
measure compensate for any loss which they might sustain
by the re appearance of the disease. Colonel Robinson, the
msnaeing dlreMor, was now in Inked, making his annual
inspection, a report of which would be laid before the
directors at tits general meeting in February next. From
the amounts for the half year ending the 30th June last, it
appeared that the balance ist mak then in hand was 8081.4 x.,
and the assets 14,9241. 10s.
FURNITURE BROKERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.
—Yesterday the eighth annual general meeting of the above
charity was held at the Freer/worts' Tavern, Great Queen-
street, J. Winter. EA., in the choir. The report announced
that the Institution was progressing favourably; the receipts'.
were stated at 1211. 161., and the disbursements at 901. 12'.
The funded stock in thi Tbree.and-a.Clauter per Cents.
amounted to 1,2761 le. BJ., and the committee intimated a
hope of being soon in a position to erect an asylum for aged
and infirm members. The report was unanimously adopted.
EMIGRATION.—Yesterday the following now's,
each earning front 150 to 200 palmate( on, foe Australia, were
hauled out of the London and 8:. Komarine's Docks, and
are expected to sail this day : The Johnstone, King William,
Waveriey,Waterloo, and Duke of Portlind. On Monday the
Ajax. New Zealand Com'uany'a ship, sails with 200 emigrants
for Otago and Wellingt n. Six government vessels mil
during the resent month for Bomb Austreit.
THE SALE AT STOWS RECOMMENCED YESTERDAY.
—Tie lots sold during the day, consisting entirely of house
hi I t fuiniture and win, 1, onl of which none demand parti-
cular =Attie% realised the sum on 1,20 a. 10r.

POOR HATE AND POPOLATIOS.—A return has jest
been made to a motion by Sir Robert Fergana in the
House of Connaolll. It thence appeals that the population
in England, according to the last ceases of 1841, was
15,908,741; the amnia value of property rated to the poor
rate was 67,291,171 e, the rate in the pound being oa an
avenge le. 7d. The expenditure for the relief of the poor
in England from Use year ending Lady-day, 1847, was
6,298,7876; the total eumber of paupers relieved bang
1 721,3.50, and the avenge relief afforded to seek beteg
35 Is. 61d , and the prop .rtion per not, of the number of
the paupers relieved to the population 10.8 per mot.
In Ireland the population, in 1841, was 8,176,124, and
the annual value of the property rated to the poor's rate,
13,187,42 U. The tate in the pound was, on an average,
101 d.; and the eat enditure for the relief of the pane,
657,8971. The total nuttier of peepers relieved, including
casual poor, was, 333,019, and the per tentage of paupers re-
lieved out of the entire populetioe 4 p.r cent., the rate per
heal expended on each peeper on an average being
U. 14s. Ild. In Scotland the population was 2,620,218, and
lbw property rated to the poor rates, 9,320,7341., at a rate of
11d. in the pound. producing in the year ending the 2.511 of
May, 1547, 146,3705 The preportion of the population re.
Hatred was 6.6 per mat., aura the relief afforded on an aver
age to each individual was U. 19s. 31d.
A PARISH DEPAULTER.—Yesterday large bill.
were posted on the Surrey side of the river offering a reward
of 201. for the apprehension of Mr. Themes Woodward, of
the Wandsworth-road, who has been for many years a eel-
lector of the poor rate for a large district of the parfeh of
Lambeth, and who has Amended. The defalcations of Mr.
Woodward are maid to be considerable. Tree affairs of this
extensive parish, in so far as the rates are concerned, have, it
le said, been somewhat confused. le. some ma s the pour
rates were allowed to be as many as fin or ex years in
arrow, but the present defaleeti an will, it is believed, lead to
a general change in the parish government. Woodward has
given sureties to the parish to the amount of 2,0005 it is said,
but it will be some time be the sureties can be made to
pal** amount of their respective hail heeds.
INQUEST. YESTERDAY. TREATMENT OP THE
PAUPER CHILDREN AT SURREY LODGE, TOOTV4o.—Be-
fore Mr. Mills, at the Fitzroy Arms, Carrington street,
Hampstead-read, mien H. Siberrard, aged 9, a pauper child
farmed out by the St. Pancras pati•oh to the foamy Lodge,
Tooting, of which Mr. Beeson is the proprietor.—Elizab sate
Quinn, aunt of deceased, stated that the demesnes father
had six children, and, not having the means of supporting
them, he deserted biz wife and family, as he eeuld cot see
them die from want. For this ho was arrested, and sen-
tenced to a mouth's imprisonment. His wife and children
were compelled to become inmates of the werkhouse.
Demand and hie Trotter, aged 11, were sent to Tooting.
.vine been informed on Thursday week that deceased
was dangerously ill, witness and his mother went to
Tooting, when they found him .it ill that tht y did
not know him. He complained of great FirkflEßP, and
said that the nurse treated him moat cruelly, by kicking hint
ant kr.ocking his head against the well, bemuse front weak-
ness he lay on the ground. He olio said that he had not
enough food. His brother was also ill, and charged the
schcolmuter with having struck him on the head wit,, the
brar.ch of a tree. When she sow the latter his head was
plastered, and he was suffering from the effects of the wound.
The two brohen were brought to her house co Saturday
week. As they were leaving Tooting Dread and cheese were
given deceased, which he could not eat. The muter then
gave him wine and water. Deceased lingered untl
Friday night, when he died. Before his death
he said be would not have been in that condi-
tion hut for the treatment he experienced in Surrey-leer..—
.Ur. Johesen, district surgeon, attended the child at its
aunt's residence OR Monday week. He was emaciated, pale,
and very ill. He was suffering tram meseuteric disease,
which required generous treatmeut and good food. He
gradually sank until Friday, when he died.—lame. Sherrard,
aged 11, deceased's heather, who was so exhausted that he
had to be carried into the room, raid that at Tooting they
had not a sufficiency of food, and that the schoolmaster was
in the habit of beating them about the head and arms with
pieces of wood and anything that came in his way, and that
he would twist their UM round wed they roared with
pain. When he (witness) was ill with an abscess he was
showed a mutton thee and half a alma of porter a day.
But the chop was so fat he could not eat it. Wnile ill in bed
the nuns struck him Arran the finger with a rod.
The nurse treated his brother most meetly by kicking him
and knocking his head against the wall —Mr. West, house.
surgeon to the University Called Hospital, performed a
port mortars examination of deceased's bady. If ha had had
proper nuirimeat his life might have been prolonged. But
death would have eve ntuasly resulted front the diseue with
which he woe of lierd.—Churchwarden Healy, Mr. Smith,
one of the dirt eters of the poor, and several gentlemen,
lauded Mr. Dre wett's humanity, and tall that the dietary of
his house was amply suffiAent for the chidren.—The jury
return:d the following verdict : We find that the d ceased's
death took piece from natural muse ; but we cannot sepa-
rate without requesting Mr. Dreerett to me fa person the
mulled saes WOWS strietly attended to ha fanny."