Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-06-17
RUBENSTEIN.

OF the death of Rubenstein, who was
sentenced TO be hung for murder, in
New York City, and who died before
the day Of execution occurred, tho Tfi6-
HRe says
The death of Rubonstein is the sub
ject Of interest and study among physi-
clans and Psychologists. 1t is generally
conceded that he committed suicide by
determined and long continued absti-
nence from food. Ho died of starvation
with food within his reach, thing which
many physicians OF prominence have
heretofore held was impossible. On tho
morning of his death Keeper Stinson
supplied him with two boiled eggs, soma
bread, and cup OF tea. When DR.. A.
w. Shepherd, tho County physician,
mado post mortem examination few
hours atterward, not II patcle of food
was found within the body aud the stom-
ach aud intostincs appeared MS it he had
taken no fool Tor u long time, II was
then apparent thn. the man had thrown
his meals away, and nm examination OF
the water pipe TO the sewer revealed the
articles which no had thus dispose off,
The attenuatcd condition Of tho frame of
the prisoner also indicated starvalion.-
His skin adhered To the bones with hard
ly any intervening flesh, presenting tho
appearance OF shriveled pulchment.-
1t would have been II difficult matter to
have hung him without attaching weights
to his feet. lie weighed only 10 pounds,
but ho was OF medium stature and had
probably Mt one time been u man OF good
frame. Hardly drop OF blood was
found in his brain, and very little in his
body which had been dried and shrv-
olled up. In tho upper lobe OF his left
lung there was discovered II small cavity,
but DIR. Shepherd declares it was alto
gether insufficient to cause death, and
would not have interierod with n long
llo. The brain, tho heart (what thore
was Of it, for it WAS phenomnaly dimin-
utivo in size, although perfect IN struct-
ure), the lungs, the liver and the kidneys
were in their normal condition.
The interest in the case is excited by
tho fact that, experiencing ms is c aimed
by some he must have eNpeuonced-t
terrible cravings ot hung r, which have
sometimes led mon to kill their fellows,
have set them crazy, or have forced
them To gnaw wood, iron, aud even thor
own bodies IN agony, this man, day after
day, had the almost prcternntun self.
control to throw food away when 1t was
offered him. Spmo Physicians have as
serted that in the case ut men in such u
position ~ ltubensteln tho viii would bo
ovcrppwered, aud that the nims would
carry the food to the mouth in,tncivcly,
in spite OF the will. 1t Is asserted, in
opposition to this theory, thnt Ruber-
stein did not care for food after having
become weakened 10y eating only small
quantities. lIo grew thinner aud weak
or and weaker, nnd his vitality became
exhausted, there was less demand for
food until finally Tho sight Of il became
nnusonling mud dlstasteful to him thus
his coalition assisted him in carrying
out his Design ol starving himself TO
death. In support OF this, doctor. men
tion the example Of n person afflicted
with disease so sick that ho can eat moth
ing and hates the sight Of food OF con-
sumptivcs who have rejected nourish-
ment until their bones protrudtd through
their llosh or persons troubled in mind,
or bowed down with grief or remorse.
who can not cat. These persons, though
actually dying for want of nourishment,
il is claimed, do not suffer the pangs Of
hunger, which are not even ie in tho
presence OF the greater trouble, 1t is
urged that the touo OF tho law, thu
lear OF puni, ni,hment-temporal or etern
his suporsttions, his romorse and his
abject condition rendered Rubepsten
obivious OF cravings Of food, even II
such cravings were felt nj all.