TORTURE FOR CRIMINALS.
150 THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECIATOR."J SIR,—Mr. Ernest Bell's quotation from the " Unseen Universe " in his letter to you last week on the " absolutely indescribable torture, thrilling through every fibre of the frame," caused by electricity, brings to my mind the ordeal I underwent a short time ago at a hydropathic establishment, for the cure (P) of rheumatism by the electric bath.
The physician was present, and the operator, a most intelli- gent man, went on with his duty in a cool, calculating way, whilst I writhed in excruciating pain. A day or two afterwards, on entering the bath-room, to Tesnme my self-imposed torture, I observed my operating friend rocking himself, and holding his jaw from the terrible pain which he said he had from the extraction of a tooth. 1 could not help laughing, though at the same time pitying the poor fellow. He soon, however, was by my side, operating upon me for the third time, but, as I thought, with rather less severity, owing perhaps more to his own suffer- ing than to the prolonged howls which I gave vent to.
There can be no mistake about the power of punishment which can be inflicted by electricity ; but whether it would.
"delight the physiological world," and be more demoralising to the community than the use of the ' cat,' " I forbear to express an opinion. My testimony is to the "absolutely indescribable torture" for a " specified time," which Mr. Bell asserts is now for the first time confessed to by scientific men.—I am,
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