The Evening critic., 1883-02-07

four per cent. of them died. The inspectors
Of the ponitentiary in their report say of
the treatment of the convicts at the mines
at New Castle.
Tho beds and blankets were filthy, partlcu-
larly at New Castle. The prisons wore In
tested with vermin and not ample for tho ac'
commodation OF tho convlcts. Tho squad
worked on the railroad was In n worse condl-
ton. They were packed in small weather
houses, tho sick and well together. Their
clothing and persons were infested with Ver-
min. They seldom had vegetable diet. The
average number OF this squad did not exceed
forty. Twelve have died. What has been
said Of the prisoners ut Coketon ana new
Castle as to uncleanllncss and vermin may DO
said OF nearly all the prisons, except thot
elsewhere these evils and abuses eSist In
modified form.
The warden more than corroborates
the inspectors, while the Rev. j. B. Ander-
son, the chaplain, in his righteous wrath
Indignantly exclaims:
The neglect of and cruelty to convlcts may
go on for a time yet, but sooner or later the
curses OF Almighty God will be showered down
upon the proud commonwealth. Unless the
present system is changed, the Judge of all
tho earth will see that retributive justice is
meted in due season to the State OF Alabama.
Under the present modus operandi the Ala
bama Pepitentiary, as n reformatory insttu-
uon, is one OF the grandest farces and one of
the most sublime humbugs that human in
telligence could possible imagine. The whole
OF the present regime Is palpable falsehood,
and the state Penitentiary is Itself q lie.
These two instances of the barbarism
which obtains in prison management ap-
pear to us to open new field for genuine
reformers. Who will be the John Howard
to lead new reform in prison life?
THE revised code of the New York State
Medical Society (allopathic) allows its men,
bers to consult with physicians of the ho.
meopathic school. The clause of the re-
vised code allowing this reads as follows:
"Mt mbers of the Medical Society OF tho
State of New York, and Of the medical socie-
ties In afllllation herewith, may meet IN con-
sultation legally qualified practitioners OF
medicine. Emergencies may occur In which
all restriction SHALL In the Judgment OF the
practitioner, yield to tho demands OF human
ity."
And was adopted in 1882. At the meet
ing of the American Medical Association at
st. Paul last June, the delegates of the New
York Society were denied admission on the
ground that the clause of the State code
quoted above is in violation of the follow
ing clause in the code of the American Asso-
| citation:
"But no one can be considered as regular
| practitioner or TT associate in consultation
| whose practice iA based on an exclusive dogma
| TO the rejection o! the accumulated experience
Of the profession and Of the age actually fur
nished by anatomy, physiology, pathology
| and organic chemistry"
| And now certain reactionists are endeav
oring to have the New York society repea
the liberal, humane and common-senst
clause above quoted. Aside from the claim
of humanity, it looks as though the medi
cal profession, of whatever school, should
be content to assimilate their codes to tn,
requirements and provisions of the law tt
which they all, no matter what "pathy'
they represent, owe their regularity" o
all the professions, that of medicine is tn
one which touches humanity the closest
and is the one where professional pride ant
jealousy, whether of individuals or schools
should enter the least.