Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-10-31
YEARS WITHOUT FOOD.
The Wonderful Case OF Moilie Fansher,
Of Brooklyn.
New York Iierald.l


streets, Brooklyn, lives an invalid
lady afflicted with paralysis, with a
history so remarkable and extraordi-
nary that, not withstanding it is
vouched for by physicians OF stand
ing, it is almost Incredible. 1t is
! claimed that for a period OF nearly
fourteen years she has lived abso-
lutely without food or nourishment
OF any kind. The case has been kept
by the family Of the patient a well
guarded secret. it having led them
to a stIict seclusion as the only
means OF protection against the Wis
its OF the curious and incredulous.
The name of the remarkable person
is Miss Mollie Fansher. To the half
dozen medical gentlemen who have
seen and attended her, her case is
inexplicable. To learn the history of
the strange case a Herald reporter
yesterday called on several persons ia
miliar with the facts. The first per-
son seen was Dr.. Ormistion, of No. IA
Hanson place, Brooklyn, who atten-
| ded her. He said: at seems incred-
ible, but from everything that 1 can
learn Mollie Fansher never eats. The
elder Miss Fansher, her aunt. who
takes care Of her. is lady of the
highest intelligence. She was at the
time quite wealthy. and she has at
present comfortable Income. /
have every reason to believe that
her statements are in every detail re-
liable. During dozen visits to the sick
chamber 1 never detected evidence
OF thepatient having eaten a morsel."
A visit to the house by the reporter
was unsuccessful, the occupants sta
ting that it was the physicians direc-
tions to admit no one. He found,
however lady inmate with the fam
lily, who thus described Mollie Fan
sher: Il shall never forget my i'm
preston OF the poor girl when I first
saw her. Her room was then and Is
now kept dark. but ones eyes quickly
became accustomed to the gloom.
Flowers, birds, and books frightened
up the invalid's chamber, though lit
tie good 1t does to her sightless eyes.
"Mollie, 1 can safely say, is one of
the most beautiful women / ev er
saw. Even now, in spite OF her long
years OF pain, her face is striking. 1t
Is what artists term spirituelle, with
light curly hair, clear complexion,
dark (though sightless) eyes and
thoughtful intelligent features. Her
blond curley hair-how can describe
1t? 1t cannot 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 jaunty manner pos
sible. She is woman who, under
ordinary circumstances, would weigh
about one hundred aud thirty pounds.
Her cheeks are full, her nose and
mouth are delicately moulded, and
her teeth white, small, and even. She
has lain to my knowledge FOX four
teen years In the same room and in
very nearly the same position, and
has not eaten any nutritious food
since 1866. Doctors have tried to
force down little wine or milk occa-
sionally, 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
Cor rather drink thus forcibly TAKEN"
But my poor friend,' continued
the lady, "was not always in this con-
dition." When seventeen years of
age she was bright, lively creature,
as her conversation shows; but she
received terrible fall In the year
1864. which was followed by paraly-
tic stroke, supposed to have been oc-
casioned by it. For nine weeks from
that time the girl never moved or
spoke. She was quite cold and ap-
peared to be dead, but as there came
no change they decided not to bury
her. Her body. from the waist down
ward, became gradually shriveled and
contorted, owing probably to the spi-
nal affection bringing on spasms.
But am not able to give a medical
opinion OF the strange case. You had
better go and see DR.. Spier, OF No.
162 Montague street. He is her reg
ular attendant.
DR.. Spier was found iD his comfor-
table little Office, and the errand OF
the writer made known:
"Is 1t true, Doctor, that a patient OF
yours has lived for fourteen years
without taking food?"
"If you refer to Miss Fansher, yes.
She became my patient in 1864. Her
case Is most remarkable one.
"But has she eaten nothing during
all these long years?'
Il cen safely say she has not"
Are the family also willing TO
vouch for the truth OF this extraordi-
nary statement?"
"You will find them very reticent
to newspaper men and to strangers
generally. 1 do not believe any food
that is, solids-ever passed the wo-
mans lips since her attack of paraly-
sis consequent upon her mishap. AS
foran occasional teaspoonful OF water
or milk, sometimes forced her to
take it by using an instrument TO
pry open her mouth, but that is pain