The New York herald., 1878-10-20
LIFE WITHOUT FUUD.
An Invalid Lady Who for Fourteen Years
Has Lived Without Nourishmsnt
THE LAWS OF LIFE DEFIED.
What the Physicians Say of the
Remarkable Case.
A SAD AND ROMANTIC HISTORY.
THE LAWS OF LIFE DEFIED.
A SAD AND ROMANTIC HISTORY

In a modest, secluded house at the corner OF Myrtle
avenue ana Downing street, Brooklyn lives in
lady afflicted with paralysis with history SO
remarkable aud extraordinary that, Notwithstanding
it is vouched for by physicians OF standing, 1t is al
most Incredible IL is claimed that for period OF
nearly years she has lived absolutely with
out food or nourishment of any Kind. Tho has
been kept by the family of the patient well guarded
secret il having led them strict seciusion
only means of protection against tho visits of the
rious and ncredulous.
Tho name OF the remarkable person is Miss Mollio
Fanshe-. To the half dozen medical gentlemen who
have scen ana attended her her case is inexpcable
To learn history of tho strange case HeRALD
porter yesterday called on several persons familiar
with TIE facts The first person seen was DR.. ormis
ton, OF No. IA Hanson place. Brooklyn, who attended
her He said cit incredible, but from every
thing can learn Mollie Fanshor eats. The
elder Miss Fausher, her aunt, who takes care
Of her. is a lady OF the highest Intelligence
She was at one time quito wealthy, and she has at
present a comfortable income. have every reason
10 betieve that her statements in every detail
liable. During dozen visits 10 the SICK chamber
have detected evidence OF the patient having
eaten morsel." visit to the house OF the patient b.
the reporter unsuccessful tho occupants stating
that IL was tho physclans direction to admit no
He found, however, lady intimate with the family,
who thus described Moilie Fausher:-"I shall never
FORGET my impressions OF the poor girl when first
saw her. Her room was then and Is now kept dark,
but ones eyes quickly becomes accustomed 10 the
gloom Flowers, birds and books brighten up the
inyad's chamber, though little good 1t does to her
sghtless eyes.
.Mollie l cal safely say is OF the most beauti-
full women ever Even now, in spite OF her long
years Of PAM her is striking. IL is what artists
term prituc with light curly hair, clear complexion.
dark hough sightless eyes and thoughtful intelligent
features. Her blonde, curly nair-how can do
scribei 1t cannot be moro than four inches In
length, yet 1t curls close to her head, is parted
slightly on tho side and is combed back from her
face in tho mos, charming and jaunty manner posi-
bic She is a woman who, under ordinary circurl-
stances would weigh about one hundred and thirty
pounds Her checks are full, her mouth and nose
delicateiy moulded and her teeth white, small and
oven. Sne has lain to my knowledge Tor fourteen
years the same room ana In very nearly the Same
position and eaten any nutritious food since
1896 Doctors have tired 10 force down little
WINE muK occasionally but tho patient has TO
be held firmly during tho operation. rms VIII nap
pen long intervals, but It is her Doctors opinion
that she IS better without the droiets OF iood Tor
rather drink) thus forcibly iaken."
FALL.
"But my poor friend, continued the lady, ''was
not always in this condltion. When seventeen years
OF ago she was bright lively creature, as her con-
shows; but sno received terrible iai IN
stroke supposcd TO have been occasioned by IT, For
weeks from that time the girl never moved or
spoke She was quito cold ana appeared 20 DO dead,
put, as there came no change, they decided not TO
bury her. Her body, rom the waist downward, be-
came gradually snrivelled and ored, owing prob
ably to the spinal affection bringing on spasms But
/ am not able to give medical opinion on the
straEgc case You had better go and see Dr. spier,
OF No. l62 Montague street. lie IS her regular at
tendantp
PHYSICIANS BAFrLED
Dr. Spier was tupnd his comfortable little Office,
and the errand OF the writer made Known
sis II true, Doctor that patient OF yours has lived
Tor fourteen years without taking ioodW
I'll you refer 10 Miss Tanshcr, yes. she became
my patient IN 1864. Her case Is most remarkable
sne."
But has shc eaten nothing during all these
yenrsr
II can safely say she has noLn
"Are the family also willing TO vouch Tor the truth
OF this extraordinary statcnentp
aYou will 1nd them very retcent TO newspaper men
and TO strangers generally ! DO not oeneve any
food-that is, soiids-ever passed the woman's lips
since her attack OF paralysis, consequent upon her
mshap. AS Tor an occasional tcaspooniu oil water
or milk sometimes force her TO take II by using an
instrument pry open her mouth, but that Is pain
ful TO her curly as 1865 endcavored TO sustain
lie In this way for feared thnt IN obedience 10 tho
universal law of nature, she would die oil gradual
anton or exhaustion, winch thought would sooner
knocks the bottom out of all existing medical theses
and is. in a word miraculous"
POSITIVELY NO DECEPTION
.Did you ever" asked the reporter, make an ex-
pertinent satisfy your professional accuracy in re-
gard TO her abstnenceY"
ssSeyerai times / nave given her eme;ics pur
pose TO discover the truth but the result always
confirmed the statement That she had taken no food
Al Il is have taken every pre-
caution against deception, sometimes gong INTO tho
house at eleven twelve O'Clock nIght, with
out being announced. but have always lornd
her the and lying in the same position
occupied by her Tor the entire period OF her invaliduy
The springs OF her bedstead are actually worn out
with tho constant psessure. Ny brethren Ia the
medical profession at first were inciped 10 laugh ut
me and call me fool and sprituaist when told
them OF the long abstinence anu keen mental powers
OF my Interesting patient. But such been adj
mitted 10 see her are convinced These are Dr. Or
mlsLon, DR.. Elliott ana Dr. HucGison some oil the
best talent In the city, who nave seen and bccved
THREAD OF ROMANCE
The story OF Miss Fsuchers accident and It's mel
ancholy consequences rs quite affecting. 1T Is COL
lrcied iron the various statements gwen BY half
dozen friends OF the family to the HERALD reporter.
lnterwoven with IL Is thread oil romance, tac OF
early love ana courtship, OF a liic emDttercd by
cruel accident. OF patient waiting and final release OF
the suitor from his engagement TO marry another.
Mary's parents liveI IN a sumptuous dwelling on
Wasptng avenue, Brooklyn, anu were reported
be wealthy Their iavorIte daughter Mollie as
called, was scnt Professor Vests IL gh school IN
Brooklyn at early age, and here developed many
brilliant qualities of mind ana ncart which red
well Tor her iuture AZ seventeen she pretty,
pctito and well cultivated. AS member Of tue Wasn-
ington Avenue Baptist sunday Scnool she met and
learned TO love ciassmate named J0nn Taylor. An
engagement followed the intimacy OF the sunday
school class, ana tno young people looked Onward
with buoyant spirits 10 the bright life to
dawn upon them.
Tag ACCIDENT
But late decrced differently. While getting oil a
Futon street car one DAY ~ 1864, her return IRON
scnoo the young lady slipped and Tell backward. Her
SKIRT caught on the step unseen Oy tho conductor,
VINO started the car its way again The poor girl
dragged some ten or fifteen yards before her
wero heard aud the brake applied. When picked
up she inseusIDo ana carried, suffering In
tense agony from an injured spine, 10 her near
by Forty .si1nt hours aitcrward she seized
with violent spasm which lasted Tor over
two days. Then came trance. whom the
sufferer grew cold and rigid, with no evi-
dence OF lie beyond a warm spot under the lelt
breast, where feeble pusatons OF her heart were de-
tected by Dr. Spcir Only this gentleman be-
lieved she alIye aud II was to his constant
assertion OF the Rirs ultimate recovery that Miss
Fancher was not buried. Despite the best medical
help and the application OF restorativcs change
was brought about In the PATENTS condition ubt tho
tenth week, when the Strange suspension OF lite
ccased and breath once iDhaed aud Dreathod
forth from her lungs
PhRALyzED AsD BLIND.
To their dismay The doctors then found that Mollie
had lost her sight ana the power O deglutton, the
latter hillioton rendering " impossible Tor her 10
swaIIow food or artcuiatc by the OF tongue
or lid. Previous TO her trance moderate guam
uty OF iOod had been gwen each day.
but since thcn she has not taken mouth
iul OF liesustaining food Spasms and frances