ENFORCED TREATMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17351, 16 May 1924, Page 12

ENFORCED TREATMENT.

HEALTH AUTHORITIES INVADE RELIGIOUS COLONY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrisiit Australian and N.Z. Gable Aseociation. (Received May 15, 7.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, May It. A telegram from Beunsylyauia. says that, following on ravages of diphtheria, within the Faith of the Tabernacle, a small sect that believes in healing by prayer, State medical authorities entered the colony, forcibly administered anti-toxin to the affected persons, established si quarantine and arc now hopeful of soon checking the disease which, within three weeks, had caused nine deaths, five in a single family. The authorities endeavoured to persuade the mother of this family to receive medical treatment herself, with her four surviving children. She at first declined, but eventually submitted to treatment, although she refused to give verbal consent. The officers were obliged to use force upon several other resistant parties, one offering opposition so strenuous as to oblige the officers to initiate a formal prosecution to compel him to submit to treatment, because of the danger of infecting his neighbours.