sion into the cell, has not been of a reflective character, and capable of exercising itself on abstract subjects, imbecility is soon manifested, which leads him to amuse himself in the most childlike employments. If this confinement were continued for many years, such individuals would, no doubt, become permanently injured in their faculties."

The Inspectors, however, think differently, and their remark upon the subject is this:

"The influence of close confinement, and the expulsion of the sun's rays on the health of the prisoners, is a subject which has particularly engaged the attention of the physician, and to his report we respectfully refer you for the result of his observation. On this subject we will remark, however, that we have seen no evidence of the ruinous effects on the constitutions of the convicts, which have been ascribed to this mode of imprisonment. The prisoners generally present a pale and rather unhealthy appearance; but this, we believe, is in consequence of living entirely in the shade, and not an effect of disease. In corroboration of this, we have observed that some who present this appearance most strongly, enjoy uninterrupted health."

In the third year the Report of the Physician contains the following observations:

"There are some among the convicts, who came from the old prison. While there they were in strong health, and for the first two years, in this penitentiary, complained little. Now they have become debilitated, are languid, and exhibit decided symptoms of a decline of their physical powers.

"Among the prisoners are many cases of insanity. Some on their admission showed symptoms of derangement, and since then have continued in the same state."

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And again;

Among the prisoners there are many, who exhibit a childlike simplicity, which shows them to be less acute than when they en

tered. In all who have been more than a year in the prison, some of these effects have been observed. Continue the confinement for a longer time, and give them no other exercise of the mental faculties than this kind of imprisonment affords, and the most accomplished rogue will lose his capacity for depredating with success upon the community."!!

In the report for the fourth year we have the following statements of the physician :

"The effect of solitary confinement on the prisoners in this institution is well determined, however different it may seem from what is reported of other similar establishments. As the punishment is carried out in this place, the result upon the convict is a diminished force of his organs generally; and particularly a weakening of the muscular fibre; obstruction of lymphatic glands, and vitiated nervous action. The mind suffers, in this state of the organs, when absolute derangement does not take place.

"In this prison, as much attention is paid to the health of the convicts as the nature of their confinement will admit. Wholesome food, abundantly supplied, sufficient clothing, cleanliness, kind treatment, all tend to make their situation as comfortable as possible. When sickness requires a departure from the law, the convict has a nurse in his cell, or he has the privilege of taking the air in the yard. As far, then, as this mode of treatment extends, every opportunity is afforded to make the system of punishment tolerable. But still the injurious effects are a constant cause of complaint among the prisoners; and as they are making applications for pardon on this ground more than any other, the physician is constantly solicited for certificates of health, under the belief that his statements will go far to induce the court to suppose a further confinement will destroy the life of the petitioner. Some have been pardoned for this reason, who have died soon after they left the prison.

"As the tendency of the present system is injurious to the health of the convict, such alterations ought to be made in the arrange.

ments of the prison as will insure the greatest degree of health, consistently with the plan of solitary confinement. Some change ought to be made in heating and ventilating the cells. This is imperiously demanded. Confinement in a small, unventilated room will produce anywhere, and on almost any animal, the very effects which have been observed in our penitentiary. Some pathologists have lately been trying experiments on animals to prove the defects of a sufficiency of air and light, and the results of all their trials have been a development of tubercles in the lungs, and glandular obstructions the very state of the organs that is produced in our prison. It was said in a former report, that post mortem examinations had shown excessive glandular obstructions; and also, that of all diseases, those of the chest were the most unmanageable.

"There are now amongst the 152 prisoners, 12 deranged men. More than half of these were fit for a Lunatic Asylum when they were received. Instead of receiving any benefit from their confinement, they became confirmed in their malady."

In the sixth report of the physician we have the conclusion of the whole matter.

"Knowing the circumstances, under which mind and body suffer most, care is taken to avoid all such evil, as far as practicable. And now, while we admit the enervating tendency of solitary confinement, we can report for the last year no death amongst an average of 141 prisoners. There have been but a few on the sick list at any time during the year, and no case of insanity has originated in the house during this time."

The cause of this great and extraordinary change may be learned from the physician himself.

"These very favorable results are to be attributed to the constant employment furnished the convicts, and also to the treatment the prisoner receives on the first appearance of disease. If his mind begin to fail, and he shows symptoms of derangement, another convict is put with him in his cell. THIS INVARIABLY RESTORES THE PATIENT."

The uniform success of the remedy shows the true cause of the evil; as the nature of the remedy shows its extent. Enormous, indeed, must that evil have been, if the remedy was not worse than the disease. It is certainly a striking instance of blind attachment to a theory, of obstinate adherence to a single idea, that,in order to prevent the corruption, which is assumed to be the result of the few stolen words, which may be exchanged, during social labor, under vigilant inspection by day, convicts should be allowed unrestrained, unwatched, unlimited intercourse during the whole night.

It will be said, however, that this indulgence in cases where alarming symptoms appear, is not the system itself, but only an exception from it. This is admitted, but even as such, it is liable to these objections:

1. That depending on the arbitrary discretion of an officer, it must lead to individual preferences, and to inequalities of punishment, at different times and places under the same government, which would be inconvenient and unjust.

2. That it is an exception; and provides only for cases in which alarming symptoms threaten the reason or the life of the convict, and not for the far greater number, who exhibit no terrific indications of disease; but whose nerves and bodily and mental faculties, lose all their firmness, elasticity and vigor, and are reduced to that state of depression and debility which, though it has sometimes been deemed one of the best results of this system, tends in fact to disqualify them utterly for the active duties and labors

of life, by rendering them incapable of firm purposes or persevering efforts of any kind.

3. That the most artful and inveterate criminals, those most disposed to boasting of the past, to immediate corruption, and to schemes of mischief for the future, will find it easy, by simulating insanity or disease, to obtain intimate and unrestricted intercourse with others by night; for after the general rule is once dispensed with, the scrutiny in each particular case is not likely, on such a question as this, to be very searching; and thus such intercourse will in fact take place, in those cases where it will be the most pernicious, and be precluded only where it would be the least so. 4. That a system, which requires any exceptions at all of this nature, is in itself an intolerable system.

In the State of Rhode Island, the system of solitary labor was once established, but after about four years trial, was abandoned. There, as in other places, high expectations of success were indulged in the outset, and apparently confirmed by the first year's experience, although they were not expressed with the entire and unqualified assurance so often noticed elsewhere. Prisoners were first admitted in November, 1838. The first report of the inspectors contains nothing touching the effects of the system upon the convicts; the second, made in October, 1839, has the following remarks:

"It is as yet but the very commencement of an experiment in this State to diminish crime and reform criminals. There is good reason to anticipate successful results, and to believe, that it may be carried on without pecuniary loss to the State for the support of its convicts."