294 APPENDIX TO REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE, & c. Appendix, No. 20. LETTER from Inspector General of Prisons in Ireland to the Chairman of the Committee, enclosing Plan for Reduction of Expenditure in the Medical Depart- ment of the Dublin Prisons. 1, Fitzwilliam- square, Dublin, Dear Sir, 15th June 1823. IN compliance with my promise to your Committee, I hasten to inclose our plan for the reduction of expenditure in the medical department of the Dublin prisons, which I trust will be found satisfactory. The salary for the resident surgeon may appear small, but we know a proper person can be had for it; and if advertized for, numerous applications would be made for it from numbers of the College of Surgeons of Dublin, whose talents would not for a moment be disputed. Residence, with coals, & c. would make it a desirable thing: the duty would be moderate, when compared to that of a regiment of 1,000 men, to which there is not a greater medical staff than we allow for the Dublin gaols. The resident or his assistant, should be bound to attend the sick debtors in the sheriff's prison and city mar- shalsea, and provide them with medicines from the hospital; and we do not hesitate to say, that if this plan is adopted, it will not only produce a considerable saving, ( perhaps fully two thirds,) but secure to the prisoners in hospital that constant attendance at all hours, which the present system and legal enactments, I may say, almost precludes, however zealous the medical officers may be. At present, if a prisoner is suddenly taken ill, or an accident occurs, it is necessarily some time before the medical officers can be procured, even if at home when sent for, and then a delay is occasioned in sending for the prescription to the apothecary, all which is involved in the present system, notwithstanding the ut- most energy and exertion on the part of the medical men. I have the honour to be, dear Sir, Your obliged and faithful servant, T. Spring Rice, Esq. M. P. James Palmer, & c. & c. & c. Inspr Gen1 of Prisons. P. S. If practicable, I think I should have my expenses paid as well as others; literally my visit to England was to visit the gaols ; and our salary is but moderate when our tra- velling officer and clerk is deducted from it; I, however, do not press it, though you cer- tainly would have summoned me, had you known the testimony I could give, free of all local or party prejudices. HALF YEAR's Account of Medical Salaries and Expenses, ending Michaelmas 1822. NAMES. William Harty - Alex. Read Craven & Nicholls Geo. Richardson Thomas Connor Marg. Byrne Anne Warren Anne Warren Andrew Carthy - Medicines - Necessaries Medicines - Necessaries SITUATIONS. Physician Surgeon - Apothecaries - Hospital superintendent Surgical - - d° - - D° - - d° - - D° - - d° - - D° - - d° - - D° - - d° - - Physician D° Surgeon - D° WHERE. all Dublin prisons - D° - D° - - - Newgate D° - Sheriff's prison City marshalsea Bridewell D° - - - all the prisons D° - D° - D° - Half- year - - £. Per annum - - £. New plan, as below,*! for one year - - J Saving - _ - . HALF- YEARS. Observations. f this man now ^ discontinued. { not the same person. IT