December 1799

By adjournment same Day

The following Report from Mr.Webb the Surgeon
of the House of Correction being Read Vizt.

To William Mainwaring< no role > Esqr . and the rest of the
Magistrates for the County of Middlesex

Gentlemen

I think it a Duty incumbent on me
to lay before the Court the very unhealthy state of
the Prisoners for some time past both in the House of
Correction and New Prison Clerkenwell , Several have
Laboured under the same kind of Fever that is so
prevalent througout the Town the more Particularly
in the Habitations of the poor within or adjoining
the City in many instances the Infection has Extended
to every Inmate and Proved in many Places very
Fatal it being of the Putrid and Malignant Kind
I have the Pleasing Satisfaction to say that out of
about Thirty Persons in the two Prisons and Several
of them in the Worst stage of Disease and having
Severe Venereal Complaint Itch Etc. on them at the
same time, none have Died, the Nurse's at Cosh
Prisons who attended on the Sick received the Infection
and nearby proved fatal to them both, at present
the Prisoners in Clerkenwell Prison are free from
Disease but in the House of Correction five have fell
ill Since the Meeting of the last Committee, tho'
every means has been taken to prevent it extending
among the Prisons by placing the Sick in apartments
by themselves having them Washed twice a Day with
Vinegar mixed with Water using fumigations with
Jar, Vinegar Gunpowder Etc. Etc. - It may not be
improper to remark that this Fever has not arose
from any unhealthy situation of the Prisons or for
want of Cleanliness among the Prisoners, for I am
fully of opinion that the state of the atmosphere must
undoubtedly caused the Great extention and aggrivated
symptoms ; for this kind of Fever has much increased
since begining of September and still Continues