Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 4.djvu/414



in solitary cells, by diet on bread and water, by putting such convict in irons, or in the stocks; but all such punishments shall be regularly reported to the visiting inspectors at the next weekly visitation, and to the board of inspectors at their monthly meeting; and it shall be the duty of the inspectors to adopt and enforce special rules and by-laws regulating the times, measure, extent and mode of such punishments, in relation to the several offences against the discipline of the penitentiary, and to report the same in their annual report to Congress, whenever they shall be adopted, altered or repealed.

. And be it further enacted, That the inspectors shall appoint one regularly practising physician, to be the physician and surgeon of the penitentiary, whose duty it shall be to visit the penitentiary at such times as may be prescribed by the inspectors, and to render all medical and surgical aid which may be necessary. One apartment, or more, as may be needed, shall be fitted up as an infirmary; and, in case of sickness of any convict, he, or she, upon examination of the physician, shall, upon his order, be removed to the infirmary, and the name of such convict shall be entered in a hospital book, to be kept for that purpose; and whenever the physician shall report to the warden, that such convict is in a proper state to return to the ordinary employment of the prison, such report shall be duly entered in the same book, and the convict shall return to the ordinary discipline of the penitentiary, so far as may be consistent with his or her health and strength. Special rules for the order and government of the infirmary, shall be made and enforced by the inspectors, and nothing in this act contained, shall be construed to forbid any such relaxation of the general discipline of the penitentiary, as may be required for the sick.

. And be it further enacted, That the inspectors shall have power, and it is hereby made their duty, to provide for the separate labour and instruction of any convict under the age of fourteen years, and to make and enforce such rules and regulations therefor, as may, in their judgment, most conduce to the reformation and instruction of such youthful convicts; any thing in this act to the contrary notwithstanding. They shall also have power, and it shall be their duty, to provide for all the convicts the means of religious worship, and religious and moral instruction, subject, however, to general rules, not inconsistent with the discipline heretofore prescribed.

. And be it further enacted, That no person shall be permitted to visit the said penitentiary, without a written order from one or more of the said inspectors, except the President of the United States, the secretaries of the several departments of the government, members of Congress and the judges of the courts of the United States.

. And be it further enacted, That, if any keeper, assistant keeper, or other officer, or servant, employed in, or about, the said penitentiary, shall convey out of, or bring into, the penitentiary, to, or from, any convict confined there, any letter or writing, or shall bring into the said penitentiary, to sell or give away, any spirituous or vinous liquors, or any other thing whatsoever, without the consent, in writing, previously obtained, of the said inspectors, every such person, so offending, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by fine, not exceeding five hundred dollars, and imprisonment in the jail of the county, for any time not exceeding one year.

. And be it further enacted, That the inspectors shall prescribe, and it shall be the duty of the warden rigidly to enforce such rules for the government of the subordinate officers of the penitentiary, as may prevent all tyrannical or violent behaviour to the convicts, or all conversation between them and the convicts, or with each other, within their hearing, except for necessary purposes, and may best preserve order, silence, sobriety, and gravity of deportment throughout the establishment.