Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-07-22
The Woman who Lives Without Eat
From the Cor Of the Troy Daily whg.l
.InSE 9th. 1858.

Charles w Faxion, Esq, through which
forty different houses in the village are
supplied with excellent spring water. On
the north side of the road which runs at
right angles with the principal street. and
at short distance from tbs reservoir,
stands an unpretending building about fif-
teen feet square, and one story and gar
ret high. 1t is clad in coating of dark
brown paint. and is by no means an old
building Here resides Mr.. Simeon Hays
and his wife Betsy. the latter being known
as the woman who lives without eating
In company with two ladies, and under
the escort of Mr. Faxon, visited the an
omaly on Tuesday last, and will have to
describe what | said and heard on the oc-
cssion.
The one story which forms the avail
able portion of the house is divided into
three rooms. The first one into which we
entered was formerly used as a grocery
store. Here we found two farmers, who,
/ like ourselves. had come to see the Won
derful woman. a few shelves still re-
msined on the walls, and in ono corner
stood what had been counter. An old
stove and q couple Of chairs completed the
furniture. Passing through this room we
entered smaller room, separated 10y a
slight partition from the apartment occu-
pied by Mrs. Hays. Here poverty assum-
ed poorer shape than in the room we
had Just left. the only articles which it
contained being a chair, table. and a
step-ladder which led to the garnet above.
In the partition were door and window.
the window being used as place whence
at times to observe the sick woman. On
entering Mrs. Hays room the first objett
that met our eyes was a portion OF flesh of
transparent witness. partially sunk in the
pillow of the bed, and protruding from
beneath the bed clothing. giving one the
iiea of human body terminated by long
neck, instead Of head.
On closer examination we found that
Mrs. Hays was in spasms; that although
reclining supine and at full length, her
head was doubled back, and under her
neck. in such wise as to bring her face in
immediate contact with the pillow thus
giving that awful appearance of a termi-
nal headstalk, that SO startled us at first
sight. AT this time there was no outward
sign of respiration. the only motion Of the
person visible being a twitching of the
left shoulder. While we were observ-
ing her in this condition, she suddenly
brought her head toward with powerful
motion Of the muscles of the neck, and
commenced throwing the upper portion of
her body about in the most violent man
ner. bringing her head down to the bed
at each CONFUSION with force sufficient
to have broken it, had it met with hard
substance. These motions continued for
nearly minute, and ended temporarily by
her throwing hers back on tbs pillow
with her head partially doubled under
this time she had recovered her breath,
which she drew with short and quick sue
cessive srasmodic efforts.
This condition was immediately follow
ed by the most violent retchings. wherenp-
on we all left the room. As soon as we
were outside the door. Mr. HAYS. who fol-
lowed us, assured US that whenever her
spasms left her, he and all others were OBJ
/ liged 10 leave the room, inasmuch as the
presence of any one when she breaths rem
dered her sick In few minutes the
spasms returned with increased violence,
followed BY a course of proceedings SIM
liar to that Above described, and during
the quarter of an hour we remained at the
house, this programme was four times re-
peated. When we left she was lying
supine. with her head doubled back facing
the pillow. and, with the exception of a
violent switching Of the left shoulder, mo-
tionless
During her commissions, she would, al
times. while resting on her back, elevate
her person so as to form a semi circle, the
terlnini OF the curve being her feet at one
end of the are. AMI her face buried in the
p low at the other. Wh6n,yer she threw
her head back in the peculiar manner al
ready described, her face would appear
flushed, and after her most violent motions
her brow would appear moist with perspi-
ration
The appearance of her skin may be IL
kened TO that of an infants, and Is very
soft to the touch. She is short in statute,
slight in person, delicate In formation, has
small hands and feet, and is about twenty
eight years ofsge Her hair is black, and il
: is said that neither that nor her nails grow
). She had been married about twelve and q
half years, and has had four children, three
of whom are now living Her illness com
menced on the Sth Of November, and first
developed itself in a lameness of the back
and across the hips. She soon became
unable to stand on her feet.
One day. as her nurse was aiding her te
{ get from the bed to a chair, she fell TO ih,
, floor. and in consequence of this accident
was confined to her bed until July, 1855
She was then taken with spasms, which
, hare been continued ever since, but ar,
much lighter now than formerly.
Those who are acquainted with the facts
of the case agree in saying that she subsist
+ ed entirely on apple sau,e; not averaging
more than three or four spoonfuls per dien
! fom early in June, 1855, to the 2Sth o
|, June, 1856. and that from the latter dat,
to the Goth of February, 1857, her nour
ishment was in liquid form, and consisted
chiefly of lemonade. in the composition o
which pound and half Of sugar, and six
teen lemons only were used. During thi.
! latter period Of eight months she took il
. addition to the lemonade twenty drops O
4 L