§ MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to a case reported in The Freeman's Journal of the 12th instant, in which it is stated that a man named Lambe, recently an inmate of the Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Dundrum—
Was punished by administering to him a cold plunge bath, and by solitary confinement;whether he is aware that punishment by ducking in a cold bath is frequently resorted to in the Criminal Asylum; 1755 and, whether he will put a stop to this practice?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH (Bristol, W.)The newspaper paragraph referred to mentions that an action arising out of this case is pending, and will be heard at the approaching Quarter Sessions at Kilmainham. This being so, it would be obviously improper to enter into any discussion of its merits. But I understand that this punishment, under careful regulations, has been sanctioned in the Asylum since its opening.