Report on Congrès international de médecine et de pharmacie militaires / by William Seaman Bainbridge.

  • Bainbridge, William Seaman, 1870-1947.
Date:
1922
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report on Congrès international de médecine et de pharmacie militaires / by William Seaman Bainbridge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    attention was called to the fact tliat tlie protection of society mnst cover both the présent and the future; at the time of his release, the chastened prisoner should be returned to society a better man and a more useful member of the community. Otherwise, society will be contaminated and endangered by the unconverted and ernbittered reprobate. Men who are kept caged in solitary confinement for years often lose their minds, as admittedly happens in 10 per cent of the cases, while others become so profoundly depressed and disheartened that at the expiraiton of their terms they become helpless fuirdens on the communit}^ The majority, however, are thrust back into society to act as more dangerous éléments than before their incarcération, moved by a spirit of revenge and despair, predestined ringleaders, as it were, in the surreptitious work against the Government and the established social System. From the viewpoint of a broader humanity, it was argued that some considération should be shown these unfortunates, and suggested that the prisoners be permitted to work together, as far as their behavior warrants the privilège, that they should eat together, enjoy gaines in the open air, and be given the benefit of lectures and entertainments, in groups. Two large prisons in Brus- sels, which were included in the tour of inspection, are conducted in a general way on the same plan as the Louvain Prison—including careful mental tests on admission—but the prisoners are here allowed in some cases to work together. The Louvain officiais were evidently grateful for ail suggestions, and expressed their intention of per- mitting the convicts to work in a cominon room. The plan of serv- ing meals to the prisoners together was to be taken into considéra¬ tion. It is probable that a commission will be sent before long to this country, in order to inspect the American prisons and to study its methods of penalization. The treatment of the otfender and the ad¬ ministration of penal institutions présent many complex problems, more or less difficult of solution, and of fmidamental importance to the welfare of the community. The First “ Congres International de Médecine et de Pharmacie Militaires ” may be described as one of the epoch-making moments in the advance of military medicine and internationalization of medi¬ cal interests. May it not be considérée! in the da3^s to corne one of the factors in bringing about a permanent peace?