The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-29
A Wonderful Fast.

Were it not that physicians are proyerbially
exact in all statements of cases under treat
ment or brought within the range of their pro-
tessional knowledge, the extraordinary mar
rative recorded below might be peremptorlly
consigned to the realm OF "tishy yarns bui
surrounded as it is by personal knowledge ana
professional yeracity, the reporter Is disposed
to accept it without question, ana leave .i'e
reader to settle his or her own nina upon the
more incredible points involved III me case
and which are substantially embraced IN the
ACCOMMODATING condensation of the statement
of Dr. Amenzo Meyer, whose Office may be
found at No Pa IIennepin avenue.
According to Dr. Meyers statement, as pre-
narrd for the .HedicaL Times, he had occasion
70 ask the advice of another professional friend,
named DR.. Tanner, during the latter part OF
the summer. Drs. Meyer and Tanner called
on a patient in the night time, and upon their
return to the Office, on Hennepin avenue, DR..
Tanner complained of illness, and retired to
the sleeping apartment connected with DIR.
Movers office. Here he remained for ten
DAYS. and during the entire time resolutely de
clined ali protfered nourlshment, and limited
himself to cold water exclusively.
At the end of ten days DR.. Tanner considered
himself sufficiently recovered to indulge in ex-
| ercise in the open air, but concluded to con-
tinue the fasting test, In order to see how long
human life may be prolonged without the use
of any nourishment whatever. He remained
in DR.. Meyers office, and was so continuously
under the observation of Meyer, that the lat
ter is positively convinced that he did not take
food surreptitiously During the latter part OF
the test DR.. Tanner was daily examined
by his friend and associate, and exact records
of his symptoms were jotted down. DR.. Tan
ner remained without food for just torty-twt
days and the only thing used during the time
| in the shape of nourishment or stimulant Wer'
"a daily walk in the open air and swallow o
water whenever inclination prompted-a sum
GENTLY lightdiet for any purpose. Toward tn
latter portion of the test unusual physlca
symptoms were discovered While DR.. Tan
ner did not show any material reduction II
, tissue or strength, the action of the heart wa
! visibly weakened and not the taintest trace o
pulsatIon could be discovered at the wrls'
, With the appearance of this symptom DR.. Tan
ner returned to his feed'' in precisely forty
, two days after engaging in his eXtraordinar.
J. experiment Dr. Meyer says that he ate spal
: inglv at first, but soon developed an enormou
appetite, such as would prove an immediat
: ruin to any we'll regulated church festival o
: clearinghouse of limited capital. Gradually
} however, normal habits were resumed, and tn
: patient is now in his usual health, ready fo
, some other man to begin the experience wher
e he left off"
There are those who will call this story fit
ton" but witnesses of its veracity may |
f found in Minneapolis during Office hours, an
the reporter, in justification of its reproductlo
. in this form can only add that-like the e.
pertinent recorded-it has been undertake
purely lin the interest of science."-St. Pa
n (Ninn,) Piopeer Press.