The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-11-29
Life Without Food.
THE WONDERFUL EXISTENCE AND INTEL
IIGENCE OF MULLIE FANCHER-NINE
YEARS IN a TRANCE-AN EXTRA
ORDINARY STATEMENT MADE
BY DR.. CHARLES E. WEST.

About four weeks ago there was published |
in the columns of the New York Herald an
account OF the extraordinary existence of
Miss Mary J. Faucher of Brooklyn, who |
has suhsisfed without food for many years. |
The publication attracted considerable at |
tenton at the time, AMI the following aldi- |
tiona evidence herring on the case, given
by DR.. Charles + West to "Herald' re-
porter, will be Of peculiar interest DR..
Vest said - first became acqusinted with
Mary j. Fancher, known as 'Mollie" Fam
cher, Septemhe 10, 1860. She was then four
teen years OF age and was brought to Brook
lyn Heights Seminary, of which | am the
proprietor, by her aunt Mrs. Crosby. She
was beautiful girl of delicate constitution,
gentle and very pleasing, a fine scholar, and
was about ready to graduate when | advised
her to leave school on account of her health.
She left in April, 1864, and took lessons in
horse back riding. Unfortunately she was
thrown and had two or three of her ribs bro
ken. She was otherwise badly injured hut
recovered sufficiently, however, to get about
again. In 1860 she met with another
accident. On stepping from street car in
Brooklyn her skit was caught and she vas
dragged oyer the pavement a block, BY this
accident her nervous system was 50 shattered
that she never recovered from its effects, In
the early part of 1855 she would throw her
| self into all sorts of cOutOrtions. She would
| bring her head and feet together and roll
over the the floor like hoop. She would
stand on her toes and spin like a top, This
was in the month of February. When in
this violent state it would require several
persons to watch her. During that month
she lost all her serses, even the sense of
touch. She was then given chloroform 10
relax her jaws so that she could take food
which was forced down her throat, but her
stomach would not bear it,
In May of the same year she asked for
food A small piece Of cracker and tea
spoonful of punch were given her. This
was the first food she had taken in seven
weeks that she was able to retain on her
stomach She lost her speech that same
month. She was subject to frances during
this period. They would come aud 60 aud
when in one, she was, to all appearances
, dead. Ia June nourishment was forced 10y
y pump into her stomach, which made hel
deadly sick, A. a result her throat closed
, and she was unable to take any nourshmen
or utter a sound. For twelve years she ha
D lain in one position, for nine years in tn
D rigid or paral yzed state, her muscles only re
F. laxing when under the influence of chloro
form. For the last three years her M scle
J have beeu in flexible state Her suffering
a while passing into this new condition wef
a extraordinary, During this long sickne-
y there have been times when she had not tn
= use Of one of her senses. For days, she be
d been, To all appearances dead.
a The slightest pulse was not detected Thel
i was no evidence of respiration. Her. liml
e were as cold as ice, and had it not been {,
n some heat in the region Of her heart 81
e would have been buried. During the
S. twelve years she has virtually lived witho
ir food. Pieces of fruit and water have be,
:. introduced iuto her mouth, but scarcely al
of them made their way to her stomach.