The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-07-27 00:00:00

THE ATALANTA.

At the Atalanta enquiry on Wednesday, Earl Clan.
william approved of everything connected with the
vessel, and thought her perfectly trustworthy. Sir
Thomas Symonds, Commander-in Chief at Devonport,
said the ship was period, but age would have made
him hesitate before using her sea sea-going ship.

THI nstrria DOCTOR.
Dr. Tanner, the fasting doctor in New York. passed •
restless night on Wednesday, and next morning com•
plainest of cramp. in the stomach and nausea. Some of
the physicians who are on the watch holies° that he is
approaching • crisis like thst of last week. When he had
"fasted, or wo•tued to fast,'' as the Lsureate might earl
for about ten days he seemed very near his death. Teen
he took to drinklnz water, a cup which, for a time,
cheered to an extent that would gratify Sir Wilfrid Law.
son. The doctor says that "the human organism can I*
run by water power" alone. This is a respectable Joke for
• man who has tasted nothing but water for nearly •
month. The doctor would have puzzled our old inflictors
of the cruel penalty of pressing. With • quantity of iron
on his breast, en d with three bits of bread, and three
rnouthfula of water • day, or even on a less sumptuous
diet, Dr. Tanner would have fared very welL He would
be inealuable in Chins, where starvation is (or was) a
recognised punishment, and where people are allowed to
purchase substitutes A person ordered to be executed by
starvation would pay Dr. Tanner to much to act as his
Proxy, and People would get tired of trying to starve the
doctor. If he eurvives he will be for life a shorter if not
• wiser man. lie stood live feet five inches and a half
when he began his fast, and now he js but five feet three
and • half.

On Thursday Dr. Tanner's sleep was usually hewn'.
like that which follows exhaustion. On Wednesday
night it was realms and disturbed, so that he did
not seem refreshed when daylight came. While
dressing he was attacked with cramp in the stomach, and
he complained of nausea and weakness. This was the first
Urns he has been sick at the stomach since he began the
water diet. His drive served to revive him, but when he
reached the hall he still complained of feeling sick. His
pulse was saventy-two and weak- his temperature
ninety-eight and threiafilths ; his respiration sixteen.
During this forenoon he was less talkative than usual,
sleeping when he could. At two o'clock he seemed better.
His pulse was seventy, weak, and somewhat irregular,
and his temperature la The dynamometer showed a
pressure of P 4 kilogrammes with the right harol and RR
with the left. His weak pulse, with the continued sick-
ness, caused the physicians to apprehend the approach of
• crisis. He has been drinking over twenty ounces of
water daily. He dislikes the Croton water, and prefers
water from • bubbling spring, which he visits every
morning. A force of watchers of the regular School of
Practice has been reorganised. The physicians feel the
necessity of incessant vigilance lest intervention may be
deferred too long. Dr. Tanner himself is not despondent
Ile ascribes his reduction in height to the relaxation of
his abdominal muscles, and says that the difference of
measurement" is not so great am two inches. He also
denies that he lost a pound and a half on Wednesday,
declaring that his loss was only one pound.
This is how life tom on with him:—
(live me some waist, " he said, shortly.
A physician took up the water pitcher and partly filled&
mcasunng glass. This was handed to several physicians,
one of whom tasted it, and then to Tanner. Throwing
' back his head the faster took a generous mouthful and
gargled his throat When he had done this he spat it out
Into • bowl, from which ,t WWI poured hack into the glass
and measured again. The difference was the amount
absorbed by the parched mouth. Tanner then turned again
for the cot. His face seemed ghastly in the dim light, and
he red a little as he walked. The lines of his face
were s ly drawn, hut the defiant air wee as plainly
seen as ever. He reached the cot and threw himself
wearily upon it, and in a moment seemed to be asleep.
The little stagger was noticed by the watchers, and when
the doctor stirred again Drs. Wu* and Gunn approached

" Let us feel your pulse, doctor," said Dr. Wark.
" Oh, I guess I am all right," replied Tanner, faintly,
but smiling.
His put-e was grasped, and the examining doctor's face
seemed a barometer to the others, who watched intently.
There was a moment's hurried consultation, and then the
pulsation was taken at the temple artery.
"I think I will lie down again," said 'fanner, wearily.
The physicians were gathered together in a little
crowd.
" From R.l to 142," said one.
" Couldn't get it at the wrist at all," said another. "It
had to be taken at the temple," he continued.
"Me God ! said another, "that is starvation of the
_

" "Oh, gentlemen," quietly interposed Tanner, who had
msantime risen unnoticed, and stood listening, "1 think
will take • little fresh air." And then. accompanied by
two of his watchers, he went out to the little hedge over
the front door of the hall. laid himself at full length on the
stone, and seemed to drink in the air in great volumes.
His pulse was normal again, and so was his temperature
and skin. _

" Extraordinary man I" said • witness. "Extra-
ordinary !" was echoed from all.
The faster never remains long in one place, unless it is
in his cot, of which he is very fond. So about eleven
o'clock he left his stone perch antl, after taking another
gargle. compoeed himself to rest on the cot. He was soon
fast asleep, with as calm • face as a child and with less
dreams than if he had eaten a hearty supper. The visitors
dropped off one by one, and the watching physicians, after
making their official entries in the diary, composed them-
selves to pass the dreary hours.
T ere was little change in Dr. Tanner's appearance on
Friday. He lost one pound in weight on Thursday. He
has gradually reduced his consumption of water, as he
thinks drinking disturbs the stomach.