§ MR. BARKER (Penryn and Falmouth)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of an inmate of Coxheath Workhouse Infirmary named Smitherman, who died two days after being admitted from Maidstone Prison, where he contracted bed-sores and paralysis, as well as verminous disease; and whether he will take steps to secure an improvement in the methods of treating and discharging sick prisoners.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The Prison Commissioners have already made inquiry into this case, and they report to me that there was carelessness on the part of the prison officers in not sooner discovering the presence of vermin in the prisoner's hair, and in not reporting its condition to the medical officer of the infirmary to which the prisoner was removed on discharge from gaol. The Commissioners inform me that they are making further inquiry into this point. Apart from this, all proper care was taken of the man; he was attended day and night, and the medical officer visited him daily.