Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-04-17
lFrOm the Dayton (oJ JournsI.I
Remarkable Case Gf Abstl-
nence from Food.

Remarkable Case Gf AbstI-
nence from Food.
A good deal has been said about 3
case of voluntary starvation, IS Is al
legged, now in progress here. The re-
ports were that an old man, by COM
mand Of ''the spirits," had refused to
eat another mouthful Of food. and had
gradually wasted away until he had
reached the verge of the grave. For
the purpose of getting some insite into
this case of voluntary starvation We
called yesterday at the residence Of
the starving man, Mr.. B. N. Brown, on
the southeast corner of Wilkinson and
Water streets. The relation of the de-
tails Of this remarkabie case of sbsti-
nence from food vas simple and affect
ing. We learned from the wife of Mr..
Brown, a plain, simpleminded, and,
from al appearances, q truthful Wom-
an, that on the 18th of February her
husband assisted her in carrying in a
load of coal. He was taken with a
chill soon afterwards, and went to bed
exhausted. That night he eat little
piece of toast soaked in tea-since
which time, she sverred, he had not
taken a particle Of nourishment of any
kind. Yesterday was the thirty second
day of the continuance of this total
abstinence from food. He has taken
a little water two or three time a daY.
Mr.. Brown is "a years old, and was
quite heshy when he ceased eating
He is now reduced to q mere skeleton.
He is cheerful and says he is entirely
happy, and anxious for the change.
which he say must soon come. As 70
the report that he had set about stary-
ing himself at the command of the
''spritS," he says is not true. The rea-
son for his abstinence is simply a want
of appetite. He declares thai he has
not for more than thirty days had anv
desire for food-that he could not sgai-
low 1t if nature craYed such support.
The case is very remarkable one
and should be investigated BY medical
men. The testimony in favor of this
long abstinence appears to be reliable.
The wife of u. B., diselaims most DOS
itively any connection with a scheme
to deceive the people, by giving nour-
lshment or stimnlants il secret. and
pretending that some supernatural
power sustains her husband in his pro-
racted fasting.
1t seems to be incredible, as it cer-
talnly Is contrary to the teaehings Of
science and OF experience as well, that
TINS starvation process could go on
without intense suffering. Yet Mr.,
Brown, according to his own declara-
tons and those Of his wife, has suffered
no pain, but on the contrary has ap-
peared happy, and resigned to the fate
which ne knew vas inevitable. 1t ia
scarcely fair to doubt his own word
and that of his wife, IS to the fact of
the abstinence for the period named
he said yesterday, when questioned on
this point-''You can see that I am
wasted to q skeleton, and that a few
hours will close my time on earth
Would !, with eternity Just before me.
say what was deceptive and false to
make a sensatioGl No, ] would not do
that. l refused to eat because 1 had
no desire for foed-I have had no de-
sire for food-I have had no desire for
1t, nor have taken any for thirty-two
days. have suffered no pain. but
have laid in my bed. happy in the
prospect of enjoyment IN the world to
come. Tonight / hope and believe
viii close my existence here
Mr.. Brown has lived in DAYTON for
about thirty years. He Is ashoemaker.
and has worked at his trade industri-
ously during his residence here. He
IS man of sobrieLy and intelligence.
and has always been respected. Ac-
cepting as fact, the thirty-tTo days
abstinence from food, we may account
or his imagined freedom from pain by
he occurrence of an hallucinatiou. in
iuced by his belief in the agency of
guardian angels who minister to him.
ind by some spiritual essence protract
lis lite. This he asserts, and thus af-
ords evidence Of "a mind diseased. -
jonversing on other topics he appears
'ntirely rational and practical, and
GEMS unwilling to have any one be-
IeVe that he is not of sound mind
te- even changes the subject Of con-
ersation from his guardian angels and
spirit food, to common every day
oples, for the purpose Of impressiug
is visitors with q conviction of his
anity.
We may add in conclusion, that Mr..
'rown refused from the first to have q
MUSICIAN called. He said it was use
,ss, for ne could not take medisine.-
lis time had come. A long life had
ready been passed. He longs6 for