ABSTRACT
The first legislative result of John Howard’s investigation was the passing, in 1774, of Popham’s two Bills. The more important of these, “An Act for preserving the health of prisoners in gaol and preventing the gaol distemper,” directed the prisons to be periodically cleansed. The prisoners to be washed, separate sick rooms to be provided, and a prison doctor to be appointed, who was to report to Quarter Sessions every three months on the health of the prisoners generally. Meanwhile the intellectual lead in prison reform had been taken by men of larger outlook than Howard, chief among them Sir William Blackstone, then at the height of his influence; and Sir William Eden, afterwards Lord Auckland. The legislation of 1774–91 left the County Justices and Municipal Corporations, the lords of manors and owners of franchises practically as free as before to neglect or maladminister the three or four hundred places of lawful confinement under their several jurisdictions.
