§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he had received a copy of the opinion given by Dr. Forbes Ross that forcible feeding by the methods employed in the case of the women suffragette prisoners in Birmingham Gaol is an act of brutality beyond human endurance, that it is frequently followed by an intractable disease known as chronic pigmentary colitis, and that asylum patients who have to be fed in this way die, as a rule, of the treatment; and whether, in view of the risks involved to the prisoners who are being so treated, he would give orders for the practice to be discontinued?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone)I have found the statement referred to, which I had not previously seen, in a Sunday newspaper. I am advised that it can only refer to a method of feeding employed when feeding by the stomach is impossible; and that it has no bearing on the methods of feeding adopted at Birmingham.
§ Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can state how many of these ladies are being fed 2000 in this manner at the present time, and whether, in view of the very widespread feeling, amounting to revolt, against such feeding, he cannot see his way to alter it?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI have answered several questions upon that point before.
§ Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDNot from me.
§ Mr. GLADSTONENo prisoners are being fed by the methods indicated in the question. I think at the present time two are being fed by the tube.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEIs it not true that this opinion of Dr. Forbes Ross was given on the assumption that the food was being administered by a tube passed down the throat, and is he aware that other medical men have also published similar opinions in "The Times" newspaper?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI was very much surprised indeed at the opinion expressed by the doctor in question. It would have been very desirable if he had made some inquiry before committing himself to such an opinion.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Prime Minister whether he had received a memorial signed by Sir Victor Horsley and 116 other medical practitioners pointing out that the compulsory feeding of women prisoners is attended with the gravest risks, that unforeseen accidents are liable to occur, that the subsequent health of the person so treated may be seriously injured, and that, in the opinion of the memoralists, the action is unwise and inhuman, and praying him to use his influence to prevent the continuance of the practice; and whether he was prepared to accede to the prayer of the memorialists?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI beg to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend. The Memorial has been received. Though the statements it contains are not borne out by the prison medical authorities, whose experience of artificial feeding is necessarily much wider than that of the memorialists, I thought it right to refer the Memorial to the President of the Royal College of Physicians, and I have this morning received the following letter from Sir Richard Douglas Powell:—
I beg to state that I do not agree with the opinion expressed in the Memorial signed by some medical, practitioners in protest against the artificial feeding of certain prisoners who refuse to take food in the normal manner. The statements contained in the Memorial are inaccurate and greatly exaggerated. The method of artificial feeding is largely employed amongst those 2001 who, from mental aberration, refuse to take nourishment otherwise, and also with those who are physically unable to take it.It would be an exaggeration to say that the method of artificial feeding is wholly free from the possibilities of accident with those who forcibly resist, but no such cases have come to my knowledge. Nor can it be said tha the method is as convenient or as free from possible digestive ailments or discomforts as a reasonable diet taken naturally would be. But it may be remarked that patients have been so fed successfully for years. It is the only measure that can be adopted to maintain the health and preserve the lives of persons who persistently refuse food.I am assuming in my reply that the feeding of these patients is entirely carried out by skilled nursing attendants under careful medical observation and control.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWere temperature charts taken, and have they been kept?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEThe feeding is carried out by medical officers, who are perfectly competent, and I have no doubt all the necessary precautions were taken.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEIs the feeding always carried out by medical officers, or is it not sometimes administered by nurses?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI am informed that it has been carried out up to now by the medical officer.
§ Mr. DILLONWill the right hon. Gentleman see that, in view of the great public interest taken in the matter, there is an independent medical officer?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEAs a matter of fact an outside medical officer has been called to the assistance of the medical officer of the prison.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI admit that feeding by tube is done by the medical officer, but where the system of feeding by cup is employed, is that not done by nurses?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEThat is a detail of which I should not like to speak with perfect certainty. I imagine there would be no pain in administering feeding by cup. I am under the impression that where feeding by cup has been had recourse to the prisoner has drunk from the cup.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire as to whether, when feeding by cup has been employed, the nostrils and the throat are not held while the liquid is forced into the mouth?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEAll I can say is that I am absolutely satisfied that whatever has been done has been done in a proper and most humane manner.
§ Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDIs it not a fact that all this trouble and revolt might have been avoided if the Prime Minister would only be reasonable and receive a deputation?