September 1784

"To the Prisoners in Maidstone Gaol.

"It is well known that when a Number of Men are
confined in close Places, that their breathing Air so confined
renders it unfit to support Life, and that they frequently die
very suddenly; which alarming Circumstance ought to Caution
those deprived of their Liberty to use such Methods as are known
to purify the air. And as it is the indispensible Duty of every
Man to prolong that Life which is given him as a State of Trial
on which will depend his future eternal Happiness or Misery
it is hoped no rational Man will neglect to make use of these
effectual methods which are here offered him.

As Lime Water is well known to purify Air that has
been rendered noxious by being too often breathed in the
Shower Machine by letting it fall as Rain, purifies what Air
it comes in contact with, of one bad Quality it has acquired
from its being too frequently breathed; and another Quality
that has been given to it, from the Pestilential Disease now
prevalent in the Gaol, will be corrected from Showers of
Vinegar impregnated with antisceptic Herbs falling through
it and letting in fresh Air.

Therefore it is earnestly recommended, that Lime Water
and Vinegar so impregnated be suffered alternately to fall as
showers in all parts of each Room Passage Etc that this Machine
can be wheeled to; and over each Bed, and such parts as it
cannot reach it is advised that a Man force away by the Fan
the Air of such places towards the purifier to make room for
that which has already been corrected

"To purify uninhabited Rooms

"Boiling Vinegar, impregnated with the Herbs above
mentioned is to be thrown to all parts of the Rooms, (vizt.
Cieling, Walls Etc) by the Engine, while the Door and every other
opening next the Passage or other part of the Gaol, is close stopped
and the window, and every opening next the external Air is
open. Afterwards boiling Lime Water is to be thrown in the