National Republican., 1883-11-14
THE DISTRICT JAIL.
Report Of DR.. McWilllamS, the Medical Officer
in Charge
General Sanitary Condition Good-Ite-
marks About the Smallpox Hospital.

The medical officer of the district jail, Dr.
Alex. McWilliams, has submitted his annual
report to the attorney general 1t states that
the excellent sanitary condition prevailing at
the Jail is subject of congratulation. Only
one death has occurred and that was the re-
suit of n chronic affection of long standing
The majority OF cases reporting for medical
aid are almost exclusively among those re-
Gently admitted, and result from the reckless
and dissipated lives led by the prisoners
before their entrance. In the numerous
cases of delirium and illness from
excessive indulgence in drink, | seldom
find il necessary to resort TO stmulants The
use of bromide to procure sleep. and food as
soon as the stomach will tolerate it, is the
only treatment | find necessary. We havo
had but two cases of opium habit in the prison
within the last year. One was an opium
smoker, who remained but a few weeks and
did not once indulge the habit during that
time. What the result has been since he left
the prison cannot state. The other was an
opium eater who had used the drug to an
enormous extent. She has now been without
IL for several months and Is to all
appearance in perfect health. l am sorry
to say that in most of the cases have
had an opportunity of observing their mode
of existence alter leaving the prison almost
certainly leads to resumption of the old
habit.
The ventilation and cleanliness of the male
department of the Jail are all that could be
desired, as it is perfect and has received high
commendation from gentlemen of superior
scientific attainments. The great defect is
in the female department., the cells being so
constructed that it is impossible to ventilato
them properly, and the facilities for exercise
being of the most limited character. 1t requires
all possible care and vigilance to preserve
the health of the inmates of this department,
and 1t is to be hoped steps will soon be taken
to remedy the evil. The food of the prison.
ers is excellent in quality and abundant in
quantity, and is varied several times during
the week. 1t is daily inspected and under
no circumstances is it given to the prisoners
unless perfectly pure.
i must now call your attention to the city
smallpox hospital, which stands within few
hundred yards of the Jail. Not winter has
passed since the Jail has been in its present
position that cases of smallpox have not
been taken to this hospital In two
instances patients from the hospital in
q delirious condition have escaped
from that building and come to the Jail, and
the disease has twice made its appearance in
the Jail, and in no possible way could have
been introduced, unless from the hospital, as
the prisoners who took it had been confined
for months, and had no intercourse with per-
sons outside. During the last two winters
we have kept up rigid system of vaccina-
tion with both prisoners and officers. Every
prisoner is vaccinated on his entrance. He
is bathed and his clothing subjected to
steaming process at very high tempera-
ture. Nothing but strict enforce
ment of these rules and rigid
quarantine of the building could have saved
us from this terrible scourge. 1t is to be
hoped that before the city is again visited by
it, steps will be taken to remove the hospital
from its present location.
The treatment of tho prisoners by the Off
GERS is kind and indulgent, as far as is con-
sistent with their safekeeping. The report
concludes by thanking the officers of the in
stitution for their prompt assistance and
obedience