Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-12-14
REMARKABLE CASE OF suBsIsriNG WITH
OFT FOOD.


occurred in the reign of Edward III. She was
condemned for the murder Of her husband.-
She remained forty days without food or drink.
The king granted pardon-h,r abstinence
was considered miraculous. .,
The Cambridgeshire farmers wife was
buried under the snow for len or twelve days,
during which time she swallowed nothing ex-
cept little snow which covered her. l..
In medical essays for 1920, the case of
young girl is recorded, who, in consequence
OF the sudden death of an indulgent father,
fell into a state of lelanus. could not swallow
food or drink for thlrty-four days. and subse-
quently for period of ffiy-four days-yet
she had not ost much flesh
Hildamus, Haler, and other Psychologists,
have collected great number of similar cases.
though the abstinence was often of longer
duration, some of them extended 10 sixteen
years. But their case was so loosely written
aud attested, that we cannot place much rel-
ance on them.
The different volumes of the Philosophical
Transactions contain numerous cases of the
same character, apparently drawn up with
scruphulous accuracy, and supported by the
best kind of evidence. We there read of
four men who we're suddenly buried by an ex-
cavation of earth under which they were en-
ployed. The earth covered them in man
ner which left them free TO move about for
some little distance. They had free access to
spring Of water, and were not extricated for
twenty-one days, during which time they
tasted nothing but water. They all lived.
The same Journal records the case of
young man who drank very freely of cold
water when in violent perspralion, and was
thereby thrown into an inhammatory fever
from which he with difficulty recovered
But the fever left him with dislike for food
of all kinds AT the time the account of this
case was drawn up by his physician, it is sta
ted that he had not tasted anything but water
for eighteen years. Several persons who saw
the young man, suspected imposition. To
test the correctness of their suspicious, it was
agreed that he should be confined closely for
twenty days, having access only to water
AT the expiration of the time no change was
manifested in disappearance, which, it said,
was uniformly good. ...
In most of these cases it appears that water
was used but Hidmus mentions case where
both solids and liquids were absained from
for rs years.
But one Of the most singular, and at the
same time the authenticated cases on re-
cord, is that of Jane NJ Leod published in the
Philosophical Transactions By DR.. Mackenzie
She was 33 yeats old at the time the case
was recorded, and had had epilepsy and teta
MIC affections for the IS proceeding years. =
The power of speech and swallowing was lost
aud with it all desire 10 eat or drink. She
was confined 10 her bed, slept much, passed
nothing from her system, except some blooC
from he: nostrils which seemed 10 come from
the lungs She had occasional periods of relax
alton, when the muscles employed in swallow
ing would be disposed 10 act. On few o
these occasions, and after seveial intervenin.
months of abstinence, she would be prevaie'
upon to swallow few crumbs of bread soak
ed in water, in the hollow Of her hand. Wit
these few exceptions, and even those case:
most Of what she swallowed was immedatel
elected. She lived many years without foo
/ or drink. She lay mOtionless most of tn
time, thought she lost none of her FRESHNESS
A r 1
I pulse, and fulness of muscular develop,
ment. - .......
r Doctor Mackenzie visited her for abor
: nine years, at the end of which time she ha
slightly improved. Before The history of tn
case was sent TO the Royal Society, it wi
read 10 The parents of the patient and cerii
y ed to by the minister of the parish, all
u whom were persons noted for their excele
y cy Of character !; also, by several persons, il
{ Guiding the sheriff and justice of the peace
u the place
!. We have not mentioned the case Of Ar
d Moore, who was called the 'iasiing womi
i ofTutbury." There was no doubt of deceptit
. or imposition in this case. 1t was ascerlain'
that her daughter conveyed little tea al
water TO her occasionally, although she pr
tended neither TO eat nor drink, Her obje
;" was to obtain contributions from vsiters.
~ Yet the committee who investigated her cas-
y reported that the detection of the frand Il
the case almost as remarkable as before.
> They watched her for ten days, aud she To-
ID neither fool nor drinks !; but at the end of h
c. time her daughter stated that her moth
,e had drank either tea or water at int
Of walls Of about ten days so that the impostu
was proven, though the committee assert tn
Ann Moore could endure prvation long
than il would be supposed compatible wi
life, 3 ai ..... D..
I A great multitude Of hypoiheses conjecture
III and opinions have been offered in explain
'e ton of those wonderful phenomena or anon
a lies. The medical world has never given a
re satisfactory explanation of them. Suppo
we Try to give one. If il be incorrect il "
do no harm. II will be observed that in M