Final answer:
Treadmills in early prisons were a form of punitive labor, meant to reform inmates through hard work and discipline, rather than serving as a means for exercise.
Step-by-step explanation:
In early prisons, treadmills were not designed for exercise, but as a form of punishment and as a way to reform the incarcerated individuals. Prisons during the 18th and 19th centuries adopted a philosophy of reforming criminals and debtors, who they believed could be morally redeemed through hard work, religious instruction, and isolation.
Penitentiaries aimed to transform these individuals into law-abiding citizens. The treadmill was part of this regime, but unlike the exercise equipment we know today, these early treadmills were arduous and monotonous machines that sometimes even generated power for the prisons. The goal was to provide a punishment that would discourage idleness and encourage the development of a strong work ethic, aligning with the ethos of the time that idleness was a root cause of criminal behavior.