Sharp County record., 1878-11-21
LIFE WITHOUT FOOD.

Laws of Nature Defied--A Sad and Ro-
mantle History.
From the New York Herald
In a modest, secluded house at the
corner of Myrtle Avenue and Downing
Street, Brooklyn, lives an invalid lady
afflicted with paralysis, with history
so remarkable and extraordinary that,
Notwithstanding it is vouched for by
physicians of standing, it is almost IN
credible. 1t is claimed that for period
of nearly IA years she has lived abSo.
lutely without food or nourishment OF
any kind. The case has been kept by
the family of the patient we'll guarded
secret, it having led them to strict Sc
clusion as the only means of protection
against the visits of the curious and in
credulous.
The name of the remarkable person
is Miss MolIie Fansher. To the hall
dozen medical gentlemen who have
seen and attended her, her case IS mex
plicable. To learn the history OF the
strange case Herald reporter yesterday
called on several persons familiar with
the facts. The first person seen was
DR.. Ormiston, of No. IA Hanson Place,
Brooklyn, who attended her. lie SAID:
"It seems incredible, but from every
thing l can learn, Mollie Fansher never
eats. The elder Miss Fansher, her aunt,
who takes care of her, is a lady OF the
highest intelligence. She was at one
time quite wealthy, and she has at pres
ent a comfortable income. | have
every reason to believe that her state
ments are in every detail relia-
BILE. During dozen visits to the
sick chamber 1 have never detected
evidence of the patient having eaten a
morsel.n A visit to the house of the
patient was unsuccessful, the occupants
stating that it was the physicians direc-
ton to admit no one. He found, how
ever, lady intimate with the family,
who thus described Mollie Fansher: 81
shall never forget my impressions OF the
poor girl when l first saw her. Her
room was then and is now kept dark,
but ones eyes quickly become accus-
toned to the gloom. Flowers, birds and
books brighten up the invalid's cham
ber, though little good it does to her
sightleSs eyes.
HOW SHE LOOKS.
"Mollie, can safely say, is one of
the most beautiful women l ever saw.
Even now, in spite of her long years OF
pain, her face is striking. 1t is what
the artists term SpirituelIe, with light
curly hair, clear complexion, dark
(though sightless) eyes and thoughtful,
Intelligent features. Her blonde, curly
hair-how can | describe it? 1t can not
be more than four inches in length, yet
it curls close to her head, is parted
slightly on the side and is combed back
from her face in the most charming and
iaunty manner possible. She is a wo-
man who, under ordinary circEmstan-
ces, would weigh about 1870 ponnds.
Her cheeks are full, her mouth and
nose delicately nodded and her teeth
white, small and even. She has lain to
my knowledge for fourteen years in the
same room and in very nearly the same
position, and has not eaten any nutri-
tious food since 1866. Doctors have
tried to force down a little wine or milk
occasionally, but the patient has to be
held firmly during the operation. This
will happen at long intervals, but it is
her DOCTORS opinion that she is better
without the driblets of food (or rather
drink thus forcibly taken."
CAUSED BY FALL.
"But my poor FRIEND" continued the
lady, "was not always in this condi-
ton. When II years of age she was a
bright, lively creature, as her converse
ton shows; but she received a terrible
fall in the year 1864, which was follow
ed by paralytic stroke, supposed to
have been occasioncd by it. For nine
weeks from that time the girl never
moved or spoke. She was quite cold
and appeared to be dead, but, as there
came no change, they decided not to
bury her. Her body, from the waist
downward, became gradually shriveled
and contorted, owing probably to the
spinal affection bringing on spasms, but
l am not able to give medical opinion
on the strange case. You had better
90 and see DR.. Spier, of No. 1862 Mon
tague Street. He is her regular attend
ant"
PHYSICIANS BAFFLED.
DR.. Spier was found in his comforta-
BILE little office, and the errand of the
writer made known
"Is it true, Doctor, that patient OF
yours has lived for IA years without TAX
ing food?"
eff you refer to Miss Fansher, yes.
She became my patient in 1864. Her
case is a most remarkable one"
"But has she eaten nothing during
all these yearsP"
81 can safely say she has not"
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