The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-09
GEoRGE FRINcr, rRiIy orrDoyE
A Minneso'a Ply who went ak Weeks
without F.rt.kisx Of Food.

wish To report n case of voluntary absti-
nnn'" from food which cam" under my imme-
Iiiat, observation. The patient, IL; :. Tanner.
VI. d.. formerly of ONO. now OF st. Paul. nm.
ngr 49, ncrvo-bllous lymphatir trmprrnmr mt.
If inrnn.d Ia ul~s ~. Ia uhviat" viii h he has,
during the last three years. +, striotcd himself
to- a v'rv plain and fru-al diet. H." is 81 rruu-
lar and even nlSt IN Gus habits, does not use
tea. coffee. liquors or Tobacco N any shape IL
a graduate IN medicine. n practitioner Of
large experience, md tax n altogether II a man
Of more than ord nary probty oi character
IN" rAp'r n"nt originated IN the habit the
Doctor had. when ttta' k"d " th any bodily all
ment. OF going immediately to bed. al~ta n'ng
from food TIL the system recovered. literally
Starving the disease OUT plan which he de-
clar,d always worked nicely IN his case, bring
ing TIMES INTO their proper condition in from
one To- three or four days.
1t was with this obJe,t IN view that on the 10th
dnv OF July last. he began alstainng from food.
He Htn his last full meal at noon, omittln g sup
per: saw an otst-triG cas-. W tn me in the evel-
ing. and coming in lat" occupied lounge in
private room adjoining my Office. The next
day. feeling quite indispos"i. he remained IN
his room, had a quart oi milk brought ill.,
which he, drank during the day. and on the sue
cccding day drank "a pint more. which was the
last nour ishm"nt that passed into rs stomach
with the exception Of one small baked apple"
until the even ng of the 29,h day Of August. "A
p-riui Of eNactiy six weeks.
He WIS attacked with whn seemed to be n low
gastric fever. injured, rs he supposed, 10y "A
cons idcrhh- change in his mode ot living,
which cirrunstan - made Necessary. for the
previous two weeks. lie WIS not AT ans time
confined to his bed hut occupied the Lounge, in
my private room. upon wh ia he rrclin-d most
OF the time. for the su 'crrdng ten days. not
once leaving the Office during this time taking
NJ nour shment whatever. but drinking water
when thirsty.
At this time he began to rapidly convalasre.
His eyes and countrnanre Frightened up. and
apparently h- gained strength AT least his gait
wis steadier and his step trmrr and he re-
stunned his usual walks. twlre day. OF from one
tpthrec miles, according To MS previous hhhIis.
His clstom WAS 10 arse at about A. NJ.
dress and look over the morning paper or some
light reading for an hour OF 80 and then take
his can" and small glass and walk TO the
spring On the ousk irts of the rlty. Il stdnre of
about one mile drink a gn~s or two Of water
and then return leisur"y To- the oil' OCCASION
ally prulonging his walk To- three or four miles.
repeating tn same IA the evening.
In my frequent tNnminstI unS | found tho
temperature normal. SKIN somewhat harsh AMI
dry. tongue slightly lurred breath bad. pulse
normal IN Frequency. car'hn' Impulse weak.
b-eDml ne near the CLOSE Of the rN pertinent 50
mu ia so that il was difficult 10 detect IA" pulse
at tht wrist voice rather weak, mind clear. not
quirns mental Effort The abdominal particles
wrr". toward the CLOSE. greatly collapsed 50
NJ To draw the chest and shoulders forward
giving HIN bent appearance. rs II the
weight II half n century had suddenly fallen
upon IN. lie complained of no Inconvenience,
however. eN 'cpt a dlsaErrrahlr guaWlng. con-
stri ting sensation az the ~ gastrium, which he
frequently endeavor',i to relieve by swallowing
small bits ~ lee. but which stubbornly persisted.
occasiunng much ANNOYANCE.
u = puwrrs II locomution Kept ny wonder.
fully. He walked every dhy several miles, and
on the twenty ninth day walked down to Min
nrhahA Falls and ta by way OF tn" river. u
tl~iAuf Di min" or miles. without SuffN ng
grruily from fatigue. On the thirty-"ig IA day
h visited lakes Cedar and Calhoun on foot. aud
remained cut all day. i being quito warm. he
drank considerable 'od water from the cfr'ts
OF which. or the heat or both combined. he was
taken tho following night with severe gHstrltls.
followed tue next and succeeding days 10y u
good deal Of rrt'hing and straining, and ten
! dtnHy 10 niccough.
The caA, continued without material change
! untl the forty frat day. when became alarmed
at his condition. and strcnuously urged him 10
| end"lVor to ullay the gastric irritation by tax
ing cohsideranle luantitirs OF mix ana allow
| ing II I" be- thrown NJ; This. toward evening.
| n" cons rnted 10 do. and swallowed three or four
| times during the evennsa small glass-it being
| retained. however, hut lew minutes each
tme-y,t il served To quiet the Irritation and he
rested very we'll during the night
| The next forenoon he ate a cracker with q
| stomach in II short time. Toward evening,
| however, small quantities Of milk were retain
rare beefstcak which he che wed. swallowing
the Juice with evident relish Tire next morn
| ing found him taking his milk in frequently
| repeated doses and Increasing quantities,
| which he continued throughout the day. In
fact. his appetite became unappeasable, and in
the afternoon although he wae taking large
quantities at short intervals he protested that
h. eol no sense Of fulness OF, repletion-that i
! the more he drank the more he wanted, the
! hungry system seeming to digest and ass mi
| late Il almost instnntaneously About O'Clock
! in the evening, having exhausted his supply OF
milk, he went out, saying h" would 60 down 10
! the market house. drink another pint. and then
i''ls '''lillis III sum- llfll nfuT lufI, ht
| sud. with hnlf-scarcd expression in his face,
Wei. Doc, think ! have finished up this
when down in the market he found his appe-
| tte . riectly ravcnous and uncomfortable, and
| thereiorr. had not only drank his pint of milk.
| nut h"d eaten two big apples, Ave Californla
| pears, and half "A good siH'd watermelon. Wen,
| conquered with him in thinking we should
| strange 10 say, he suffered no Inconvenience
| from II whatever.
win add, in conclusion that when saw
t,n had fir..l.
ro-,ained his usual strength and r0tund pro-
| portions. was feeling exceedingly we'll, and re-
| marked that had II not been Tor the uniortunate
! attack OF gastrtis-fOr which he blames him
| srlf-he could for anything he could see TO the
| contrary, have gone at least n couple Of weeks
| longer without serious result
| MINNAAlOLIs. MINI. A. MOYER NJ. D.