QGR2/5/2/4

Medical report of Bedford prison by Robert Couchman to the Bedfordshire Quarter Sessions for the year ending Michaelmas 1868.

20 October 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

Fewer cases of illness than for several years. Amongst the COunty Prisoners, the young, middle aged and able bodied have not as a rule suffered in health from their confinement - and the aged have often improved in their condition. The Middlesex peisoners have, most of them, been here nearly 12 months, and they have been remarkably free from any illness during the whole period of their improsonment, And manu of them have certainly imprived in health. One of the Middlesex prisoners, received from Cold Bath Fields Prison on 17th August 1867 died 23rd November from Phthisis, after an illness of several weeks duration. A County Prisoner, George Tuffnell, received from Biggleswade 22 October, was suffering with smallpox. He was at once removed to the Infirmary and quickly recovered and the disease happily did not spread amongst the other prisoners. Another of the County Prisoners, John Martin, sentenced to two years hard labour in April 1867 - became insane some months afterwards and it was removed to Fisherton Lunatic Asylum in January last. Another prisoner, [Francis O'Rourke] received from Bletsoe 18 July last was in a violently excited state when admitted and was soon afterwards removed to the same asylum.

English

item

Couchman, Robert,
Tuffnell, George,
Martin, John,
O'Rourke, Francis

BEDFORD, BIGGLESWADE, Cold Bath Fields, Middlesex, Fisherton, gaol, justices of the peace, prison governors, chaplains, Quarter Sessions, magistrate, imprisonment, punishment, Bedford Gaol, County Gaol, House of Correction, inspector of prisons, illness, disease, smallpox, DEATH, mental health, lunacy