When the life or health of any prisoner, who is not confined under process from any court of the United States, may be seriously endangered by longer confinement in jail and that fact is made to appear clearly to any circuit court judge, such judge must, by an order in writing, direct the sheriff or jailer to remove him to some suitable place or hospital, as near as may be to the jail, and there safely keep him until his health is sufficiently restored to authorize his recommitment to jail.