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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1997
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1992-09-02
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Popular name for the Prisoners, Temporary
Discharge for Health, Act 1913; an attempt by
the UK Liberal government under Herbert
Asquith to reduce embarrassment caused by the
incarceration of suffragettes accused of
violent offences against property. When they
embarked on hunger strikes, prison
authorities introduced forced feeding, which
proved humiliating and sometimes dangerous to
the women. Following a public outcry, the
hunger strikers were released on a licence
that could be revoked without further trial.
The government was accused of playing cat to
suffragette mice by its adoption of powers of
release and rearrest.