Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-06-29
G We clip the following letter from the South Arkansas Democrat:
 The Woman who lives without F:atinp


 The Woman who lives without Eating.
 The following interesting letter was handed us the other day by our friend, Mir. Harmon Bishop. We have no doubt but that it will be read with the greatest interest. The fact of which it treats is a most singular one indeed. We thank MT. Bishop for permitting us to lay it before our readers:
 CHEsTERTowN, WARREN Co.,, N. Y.
 April 30, 1858.
 MR. R. P. SMITH, OR HARMON BISHOP Nashville, Arkansas SIR-Your letter of the Sd instant, to MT. Simeon Hays of this village, is now laid on my table with request that answer the same. l Dear Sir, very willingly consent to answer your very laudable inquiry in regard to the "Wo- man who lives without eating" etc.: but my professional engagements at present will but allow me to be brief Mrs Simeon Hays. Betsey, Qot Rebecca) was born nearly ten wears after commenced the practice of medicine. and was brought up in our vicinity; she has | now resided six months in our village, within twenty rods of my office She is, or was. 2S years old this present month, (ApriD and has been married to MT. Hays 12 years, and has had four chldren--the first not living. Now ''"Sii 'S' tO"iiooot \h SoH was UpIil uti became less firm, (which was formerly good. ] and on the 1st of November, 1854, when that child was about one and half years old, she by the moving of some heavy piece of furni- ture brought on herself severe case of Pro- cidentia uteri Calling of the womb. This Hays family then lived in an adjoining town or township, Horizon, some eight miles from this place. Their family physician was then called, who made her some visits; but when. on not satisfying the family and friends of his fully comprehending the nature of her case, was called upon, and made my first acquain- tance with them Gas their family phvscian) on the 18th of November, 1854, 1 found her as described. And from this time I have kept myself informed of all the particulars of Mrs Hays case. She then amended some, but on the last Thursday in June following, (1855) while her nurse was leaning over her bed ren- denng her aid, her (the nurse'S) foot slipped. and she fell over on Mrs. Hays, which seemed to operate on this patient as if it were most l powerful electric shock and seemed to have wrought an entire change of action in he ner- vous system From this tme she gradually lost her speech. On Sunday following. evi- | denced ndistlnctness Ds vision and in three or | four days more became entirely blind; so much so, that night and day was, and ever since has l been, all the same to her. On the 9th of July, l was called to see her, and found her in this situation, very much prostrated Her family ard friends from her being so broken dOwn) thought she must die immediatev; but gave them my opinion that the case appeared to me. not to be directly fatal: but that she was on the commencement of singular nervous de~ange- ment. She soon after went into spasms, and not many days after, she would throw herself. or the spasms would (whil, lying on her back ln bed) m such manner or form backwar Is, ss to bring her head and hells nearly or quite together, and then forwards as to bring her face | forward down over her knees. She has been known to make, of these double revolutions. | Backward and forward) three hundred and l hlteen by count at one time. 1 have seen her make great numbers of these myself at a time, and she would make from twenty to for ty of these double revolutions in minute.
 After the last of June, 1855, her nourish- ment for about one year was baked or stewed apples, and stewed berries and their juices And from June, 1856, to the 20th of Fe- bruary, 1857, she took only little clear water, little sweetened water with vinegar. a little lemonade, and two teaspoonsful of berry juice. So you will see that June, 1856, is the last of her eating anything, and February 20.h 1857, IS the last of her drinking, of her taking an4 thing:-she don't seem to swallow even spittle She has had since, and during her fasting, no evacuatlons, passages or discharges of any kind save an occasional discharge of little bloody matter from her nose and eyes q should say here, that she has had some year ago discharge from her ear of pus or matter, and number of pieces of bones have come away at the same l time.
 She is now almost constantly in spasms. but nearly clear of them in the middle anl latter part of the night; but her spasms have varied in their manner of operations; they are not car rled to that extent, nor do they continue so long III any one given manner
 Any inquiries will be freely answered. Yours truly,
 M. w. PRITCTIARD, M D., Chestertowu. Warren CO.,, N Y. ?. S.-Although this case may excite or sur. prise, and cause inquiry yet there are cases nearly analogous taken place before and of much lon ger duration. See standard works on medicine. under head, '" Fastining," and Long Fasting and likewise see "Goods's Book of Nature" "
 M. w. P. ?. S.-Again, should say that this woman's breathing Is very frequently suspended for a long period: has been timed for G. minutes at a time; but her suspensions are generally from 2 to l5 minutes. Doubtless her breath has been suspended for much longer periods, but she has never been timed over sixty two minutes. In very great haste, yours, etc.,
 M. w. PRITCHARDS.
 CHEsTERTowN, \. Y, April 30, '59. l have examined this letter, and find it in substance correct. SIMEON HAYS.