The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-27
THE WOMAN WHO LIVES WITHOUT
EATING. .E s.. 4.


In company with two ladies, and under the es-
cort of Mr. Faison, / visitod this anomaly on Tues
day last and will endcavor to describe what saw
and heard OH that occasion. s.e5Tr n zE
On entering Mrs Hays apartment, the first OBJ
ject that met our eyes was portion OF flesh of
transparent whteness partly sunk in the pillow of
the bed, and potrndne from beneath the clothing,
giving one the idea of human body terminated
by long neck instead of head. % 49, q.
On closer examination We found that Mrs
Hays was in spasin, that although reclinina. SUI
pinely and at full length, her head was doubled
back and under her neck IN such wise as to bring
her face into immediate contact with the pillow,
thus giving that awful appearance of a terminal
head-stalk, that so startled us at the first sight
AT this time there outward sign of respra-
ton the only motion Of the person visible being a
twitchine of the left shoulder While VIC were
observing her in tins condition. she suddenly
brought her head forward with powerful motion
of the muscles Of the neck, and commenced throw
ing the upper portion of her body about in the
most violent manner, bringing her head down to
the bed with each conyulson with force sufficient
to have broken it had it met with any hard sub
stance. These motions continued for nearly a
minute, and ended temporarily by her throwing
herself back upon the pillow with her head partial
ly doubled under. BY this time she he'd recover
ed her breath, which she drew with short and quick
successive spasmodic efforts. This condition was
Immediately followed by the most violent twtch-
ngs, whcreupon we all left the room. AS soon as
We outside the door, MIR Hays, who followed
us, assured us that whenever her spaslns left her.
he and all others obliged to leave the room,
inasmuch as the presence CT any one when she
brcathcd rendered her sick In few minutes the
spasus returned with increased violence, followed
by a course Of proceedings similar to that de-
scribed above, and during the quarter OF an hour
that we remained at the house, this programme
was four times repeated When We left Ter she
was lying supinely with her head doubled back
and facing the pillow, and with the exception off
violent twitching Of the left shoulder motionless
During her commissions, she would at times,
while resting her back, elevate her person SO as
to form semi-circlc, the ternlini Of the curve
being her feet at end Of the arc, and her face
buried in the pillow at the other. Whenever she
threw her head Lack in the peculiar manner al
ready described, her face would apFer flushed, and
after her most violent motions her brow would be
moist with prospcration. The appearance of her
skin may be lkCncd to that of an infants, and is
very soft to the touch. She is short in statue,
sli ieht in person, delicate in formation, has small
hands and feet, and is about twenty-cight years of
age Her hair is black, and it is said that neither
it nor her nails grow She has been married about
twelve and a half years and las had four children,
three of whom living. Her illness com
mcnced the Sth of November 1854 and first
developed itself in a lanicl.css of the back and
across the hips. She soon became unable to stand
on her feet.
One day as her nurse was aiding her to get from
her bed to chair, she fell to the floor, and in
consequence Of this accident, was confined to her
bed until July, 1855. She was then taken with
spasms, which continued ever since, but arc much
lighter now than formerly. Those who arc ac-
q1ain.ed with the facts i'll the agree in saying
that she subsisted entirely upon apple sauce and
berry sauce not averaging more than three or four
spocnsful rer day, from carly in June, 1885, to
the 18th of June, 1856, and that from the latter
date to the Goth of February, 1853, her nourish-
ment was i'll liquid form, and consisted chiefly of
lemonade, in the composition ofwhich pound and
half Of sugar and sixteen lemons were used.
During this latter period of eight months she took,
in addition to tie lemonade, twenty drors oflaud-
anum, two tcaspoonstul of berry juice and one tea
$. oonfu of currant juice. This was the whole of
her diet Since the goth of February, 1857, to
the present time, she has eaten nothing and drunk
nothing.
Ifnow you ask me what my opinion is concern
ing this woman, ] reply that [ am inclined to be
lieve that she docs live without eating or drinking.
Several physicians have visited and examined her.
One Of them avows that her heart and lungs
perfectly sound and that her blood is in healthy
state, with a circulation quite perfect. This, he
supposes, is the cause of the comparatively fresh,
healthy and active condition of many portions OF
her system. On the other hand, he declares that
the action Of her stomach and liver is suspended,
and that for this she rejects all nutrincnt.
One question, however, cannot satisfactorily
wcr and that is this Toes the waste and wear Of
her body act OH the fluids of her system the
muscular tissues :? If it is the former then it
may be possible to solve the problem of her exist
ence in her present state from the known laws of
physiology If, on the other hand the muscular
fabric is made to bear the burden Of her trcmen-
dous convu!sons, then the mystery dcoPens and the
explanation becomes more and more involved.
She docs not talk, the only noise that escapes
her being st;fed groan, and many suppose that
she neither sees nor hears. Whatever the truth
may be in regard to this case, one thing is GER
tain, and that is this, thorough investigation of
the whole matter should be made by competent
medical men, and report thereon should DC given
to the world Corrc&. Tray Daily Wig
Our OF ENPLoYMENF-T are more men
out Of employment In Cleveland now, says the
Plaindealer, than there ever were before at this
season. They must live, and are willing to work
cheap. Something should be done Immediately