Extract from an article by Fanny Parker, alias Janet Arthur, published in ‘Votes for Women’, 1914, describing forced feeding (National Records of Scotland reference: HH16/43/6)

Transcript:

Six wardresses held me down, and one of them reached forward and slapped my face with, I suppose, the approval of the doctor, as he said nothing. The assistant doctor held my head in a most painful grip.

Steel Gag Used

Dr Watson then tried to force my teeth open with the steel gag, and said 
that if he broke a tooth it would be my own fault. As he was unable to open my 
mouth he called for the nasal tube. He tried to force it up one side which is de-
fective, but with all his strength could not force a passage. He succeeded in forcing it down the other nostril, and left it hanging there while he went out of the room. As it was extremely painful, I asked the assistant to remove it, but he only laughed.

Dr Watson returned and fed me. The wardresses continued holding me down so that I couldn't move, and the assistant doctor continued to hold his hands over my mouth and whenever the food came up tightened his grip to prevent me letting it out.