prisoners were put to the severest labour in all sorts of weather；
so that most of them soon succumbed to the extreme hardships which
they suffered； this was supposed to be beneficial in some ways；
inasmuch as it put the country to less expense for the maintenance
of its criminal class； but the growth of luxury had induced a
relaxation of the old severity； and a sensitive age would no longer
tolerate what appeared to be an excess of rigour； even towards the
most guilty； moreover； it was found that juries were less willing
to convict； and justice was often cheated because there was no
alternative between virtually condemning a man to death and letting
him go free； it was also held that the country paid in recommittals
for its over…severity； for those who had been imprisoned even for
trifling ailments were often permanently disabled by their
imprisonment； and when a man had been once convicted； it was
probable that he would seldom afterwards be off the hands of the
country。
These evils had long been apparent and recognised； yet people were
too indolent； and too indifferent to suffering not their own； to
bestir themselves about putting an end to them； until at last a
benevolent reformer devoted his whole life to effecting the
necessary changes。 He divided all illnesses into three classes
those affecting the head； the trunk； and the lower limbsand
obtained an enactment that all diseases of the head； whether
internal or external； should be treated with laudanum； those of the
body with castor…oil； and those of the lower limbs with an
embrocation of strong sulphuric acid and water。
It may be said that the classification was not sufficiently
careful； and that the remedies were ill chosen； but it is a hard
thing to initiate any reform； and it was necessary to familiarise
the public mind with the principle； by inserting the thin end of
the wedge first： it is not； therefore； to be wondered at that
among so practical a people there should still be some room for
improvement。 The mass of the nation are well pleased with existing
arrangements； and believe that their treatment of criminals leaves
little or nothing to be desired； but there is an energetic minority
who hold what are considered to be extreme opinions； and who are
not at all disposed to rest contented until the principle lately
admitted has been carried further。
I was at some pains to discover the opinions of these men； and
their reasons for entertaining them。 They are held in great odium
by the generality of the public； and are considered as subverters
of all morality whatever。 The malcontents； on the other hand；
assert that illness is the inevitable result of certain antecedent
causes； which； in the great majority of cases； were beyond the
control of the individual； and that therefore a man is only guilty
for being in a consumption in the same way as rotten fruit is
guilty for having gone rotten。 True； the fruit must be thrown on
one side as unfit for man's use； and the man in a consumption must
be put in prison for the protection of his fellow…citizens； but
these radicals would not punish him further than by loss of liberty
and a strict surveillance。 So long as he was prevented from
injuring society； they would allow him to make himself useful by
supplying whatever of society's wants he could supply。 If he
succeeded in thus earning money； they would have him made as
comfortable in prison as possible； and would in no way interfere
with his liberty more than was necessary to prevent him from
escaping； or from becoming more severely indisposed within the
prison walls； but they would deduct from his earnings the expenses
of his board； lodging； surveillance； and half those of his
conviction。 If he was too ill to do anything for his support in
prison； they would allow him nothing but bread and water； and very
little of that。
They say that society is foolish in refusing to allow itself to be
benefited by a man merely because he has done it harm hitherto； and
that objection to the labour of the diseased classes is only
protection in another form。 It is an attempt to raise the natural
price of a commodity by saying that such and such persons； who are
able and willing to produce it； shall not do so； whereby every one
has to pay more for it。
Besides； so long as a man has not been actually killed he is our
fellow…creature； though perhaps a very unpleasant one。 It is in a
great degree the doing of others that he is what he is； or in other
words； the society which now condemns him is partly answerable
concerning him。 They say that there is no fear of any increase of
disease under these circumstances； for the loss of liberty； the
surveillance； the considerable and compulsory deduction from the
prisoner's earnings； the very sparing use of stimulants （of which
they would allow but little to any； and none to those who did not
earn them）； the enforced celibacy； and above all； the loss of
reputation among friends； are in their opinion as ample safeguards
to society against a general neglect of health as those now
resorted to。 A man； therefore； （so they say） should carry his
profession or trade into prison with him if possible； if not； he
must earn his living by the nearest thing to it that he can； but if
he be a gentleman born and bred to no profession； he must pick
oakum； or write art criticisms for a newspaper。
These people say further； that the greater part of the illness
which exists in their country is brought about by the insane manner
in which it is treated。
They believe that illness is in many cases just as curable as the
moral diseases which they see daily cured around them； but that a
great reform is impossible till men learn to take a juster view of
what physical obliquity proceeds from。 Men will hide their
illnesses as long as they are scouted on its becoming known that
they are ill； it is the scouting； not the physic； which produces
the concealment； and if a man felt that the news of his being in
ill…health would be received by his neighbours as a deplorable
fact； but one as much the result of necessary antecedent causes as
though he had broken into a jeweller's shop and stolen a valuable
diamond necklaceas a fact which might just as easily have
happened to themselves； only that they had the luck to be better
born or reared； and if they also felt that they would not be made
more uncomfortable in the prison than the protection of society
against infection and the proper treatment of their own disease
actually demanded； men would give themselves up to the police as
readily on perceiving that they had taken small…pox； as they go now
to the straightener when they feel that they are on the point of
forging a will； or running away with somebody else's wife。
But the main argument on which they rely is that of economy： for
they know that they will sooner gain their end by appealing to
men's pockets； in which they have generally something of their own；
than to their heads； which contain for the most part little but
borrowed or stolen property； and also； they believe it to be the
readiest test and the one which has most to show for itself。 If a
course of conduct can be shown to cost a country less； and this by
no dishonourable saving and with no indirectly increased
expenditure in other ways； they hold that it requires a good deal
to upset the arguments in favour of its being adopted； and whether
rightly or wrongly I cannot pretend to say； they think that the
more medicinal and humane treatment of the diseased of which they
are the advocates would in the long run be much cheaper to the
country： but I did not gather that these reformers were opposed to
meeting some of the more violent forms of illness with the cat…of…
nine…tails； or with death； for they saw no so effectual way of
checking them； they would therefore both flog and hang； but they
would do so pitifully。
I have perhaps dwelt too long upon opinions which can have no
possible bearing upon our own； but I have not said the tenth part
of what these would…be reformers urged upon me。 I feel； however；
that I have sufficiently trespassed upon the attention of the
reader。
CHAPTER XIII： THE VIEWS OF THE EREWHONIANS CONCERNING DEATH
The Erewhonians regard death with less abhorrence than disease。 If
it is an offence at all； it is one beyond the reach of the law；
which is therefore silent on the subject； but they insist that the
greater number of those who are commonly said to die； have never
yet been bornnot； at least； into that unseen world which is alone
worthy of consideration。 As regards this unseen world I understand
them to say that some miscarry in respect to it before they have
even reached the seen； and some after； while few are ever truly
born into it at allthe greater part of all the men and women over
the whole country miscarrying before they reach it。 And they say
that this does not matter so much as we think it does。
As for what we call death； they argue that too much has been made
of it。 The mere knowledge that we shall one day die does not make
us very unhappy； no one thinks that he or she will escape； so that
none are disappointed。 We do not care greatly even though we know
that we have not long to live； the only thing that would seriously
affect us would be the knowingor rather thinking that we know
the precise moment at which the blow will fall。 Happily no one can
ever certainly know this； though many try to make themselves
miserable by endeavouring to find it out。 It seems as though there
were some power somewhere which mercifully stays us from putting
that sting into the tail of death； which we would put there if we
could； and which ensures that though death must always be a
bugbear； it shall never under any conceivable circumstances be more
than a bugbear。
For even though a man is condemned to die in a week's time and is
shut up in a prison from which it is certain that he cannot escape；
he will always hope that a reprieve may come before the week is
over。 Besides； the prison may catch fire； and he may be suffocated
not with a rope； but with common ordinary smoke； or he may be
struck dead by lightning while exercising in