FLOGGING, the infliction of stripes or blows with a whip, lash or scourge, especially as a judicial punishment. In Britain it long existed as a punishment in the army and navy; but it was totally abolished in the former in 1881, and in the latter it is practically extinct. It was made a punishment for certain violent crimes, such as garrotting, in 1863; and for juvenile offenders in 1847 and 1850. In these cases, however, the number of stripes is lim ited by law, 50 being the maximum in some instances, 25 in others and so on. A judge in sentencing a prisoner to flogging must specify the instrument and the number of stripes. In the case of juveniles under 14 years of age the instrument must be a birch rod, and the num ber of stripes must not exceed 12. As a pun ishment -for school children it has been abol ished in most civilized countries, although many people still believe in its efficacy. In
many parts of the United States it is illegal to use it in schools. In English schools, especially in some of the old public schools, it still sur vives. The punishment of the knout in Russia and of the bastinado in the East are severe forms of punishment. In the United States flogging was discontinued in the navy and on merchant vessels in 1850. In the army, it was abolished 1861. As a means of prison disci pline, it has been used till very recently, but has no longer any official standing. For the subject of its use as a legal punishment for certain offenses, see CORPORAL PUNISHMENT; WHIPPING POST. Consult Napier, Sir C. J., (Remarks on Military Law and the Punishment of Flogging' (London 1837); Salt, H. S., 'The Flogging Craze, etc.' (London 1916).