FORCIBLE FEEDING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144429, 17 July 1914, Page 7

FORCIBLE FEEDING.

TREATMENT OF INSANE PATIENTS. Dr. Williamson, medical superintendent at the Hospital for Insane at Parramatta, stated at an inquiry at the hospital last week that there was one patient in tho institution who had been forcibly fed every day for eleven years, by a tube being placed through his nostril into his stomach. Later on Dr. Williamson explained to a party of pressmen exactly . what happens when a patient is subjected to this treatment. A soft rubber tube is well oiled, and after the patient has been securely held the tube, is placed through tho nose into the stomach. Liquid, in the form of milk with beaten egg, plasmon, beef extract, thin soup, and orange juice is poured into the mouth of tho tube, and it is syphoned direct into the stomach. Little force is used with the patient —sometimes only one man is required, sometimes four are necessary. In the latter case the man is placed on his gaok, and an attendant puts his arm inside his leg and holds one hand, the other leg and hand being secured in a similar manner. The third attendant helds the head of the patient steady, and a fourth, is available for emergencies. The tube is placed through the nostril in order to avoid interfering with, or being interfered with by tho teeth.

The pressmen were given an opportunity of seeing the patient who had been fed three times daily for 11 years. The man has only spoken once during that period. No efforts which can be made will induce him to speak. Ho will give a direct negative or affirmative by nodding or shaking his head, but under no circumstances will he express his opinion about anything, or make the slightest remark. Ho appears to thoroughly understand all that is said to him. Ho makes no resistance when ho is being fed. There is another patient in-the institution who has also been fed daily for two years. He, too, is silent, and never speaks. Both men have certain delusions, but the authorities-are not ablo to state what they are, because the men never speak about them. It may be that they think all their food-is.poi-soned.