The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-11-24
LIFE WITHOUT FOOD.
FHrG WONDERFUL EXISTENCE ANp
CONDITION OFF MOBILE FANCHEss.
Nine Years I'm TFance-An EXtra0F
ssinaFY statement Made by mF.
Charles EE. yveat.
IN. Y. Herald


IN. Y. Herald
About four weeks ago there was published
in the columns of the Bcrnld an account of the
extraordinary existence Of Miss Mary J.
Fencler, Of Brooklyn, who has subsisted
without food for many years. The pubIlca-
tion attracted considerable attention at the
tim'. and the following additional evidence
bea ring on the case. given by Dr. Charles E.
W. st 10 Hcynh reporter yesterday, will be
To- ind Of peculiar interest:
MOBILE FANcHEn's HISTORY.
pf. West said I first became acquainted
sith Mary j. Eancher, known rs "Mollie''
Fancher, September 10, 1860. She was then
"A years Of age and was brought TO BROOKLYN
Heights Seminary, Of which | am the pro-
'prietor, by her aunt. Mrs. Crosby. She was q
beautiful girl, Of delicate constitution; gen
tile 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 broken. She
was otherwise badly injured, but recovered
In 1865 she met with another accident. On
stepping from street car in Brooklyn her
skirt was caught and she was dragged over
the pavement u block. BY this accident her
nervous system was SO shattered that she
never recovered from it's effects. In the early
part Of 1866 she would throw herself into all
sorts of contortions. She would bring her
feet together and roll over the floor like
hoop. She would stand on her toes and spin
like a, top. This was in the month Of Feblu-
AIRY. When in this violent state it would re-
Iuire several persons TO watch her. During
that month she lost all her senses even the
sense Of touch. She was then given chloro-
form 10 relax her jaw 50 that she could take
food. which was forced down her throat but
her stomach would not bear it,
LIVING WITHOUT FOOD.
In May Of the same year she asked for food.
A small piece Of cracker and a tnnsponnfu of
punch were given her. This WIS the first
food she had taken in seven weeks that she
was able TO retain on her stomach She lost
herspeoch that same month. She Was sub
lect to frances during this period. They
would come and go, and when in one she
was, TO al appearances, dead, In June
noulishmrnt was forced by a pump into her
stomach which made her deadly sick. AS u
result her throat closed. and she was unable
to take any uourishmcnt or utter q sound.
My first visit to her was on March 4, 1867. |
found her lying ON her right side, with her
right arm folded under her head Her fingers
were cnched ii the palm Of her hand. The
same was true Of the other hand Her right
hand and arm were paralySed. and this was
true OF her body generally except her left
arm. She was in q trance. sighed and
seemed to be' in pain. These frances,
Twelve S dayR R'r'4 For '3nTe' twac veaa sn sSe S
has lain in one position, for nine years In the
rigid or paralyzed state, her muscles only re-
laSing when under the influence Of chloro-
form, For. the laet three years her muscles
have been in a flexible state. Her slltrerngs
while passing into this new condition were rx-
traordinary. During this long sickness thore
have been times when she had not the use Of
ono of her senses. For days she has been, to
all appearances, dead.
SEEMINGLY DEAD
Tbe If,rtt
Ihore was no evidence OF respiration. Her
limbs were as cold ns icn and had il not been
for some heat III the region Of her heart she
would have, been buried. During these twelve
years she has virtually lived without food
Pieces Of fruit and water have been intro
duced into her mouth, but scarcely any nf
them ever made their way to hor stomach
30 sensitive has been this organ that it would
placing tho hand upon it the spine could easily
be felt. There was nopace for food. Her heart
was greatly enlarged. Severe pains pnssed
from it through tho left side and shoulder
With the exception Of slight intervals she has
been totally blind. Her eyolds were closed
for nine years. When she passed from the
rigid to the limp state her eyes opened and
remained staring. On the Fourth OF July last
soto Ulte present time. When ! first saw her
she had but one sense-that OF touch With
that she could read with five times the rapid
Ity Of one by eyesight. She read by running
Attl htIEtt cNtL tlt tilibu page RS WCl Ill
darkness as in light. With this sense she
tcould discriminate the photographs of friends. |
the faces OF persons in the room. etc. She
never sleeps Shc does her most delicate
work In the night preferring night to day.
Her rest is tai ken in the trance state. which |
answers Tor sleep. She performs mono of the |
ordinary functions Of life. unless it be that Of
breathing. She receives nothing and gives out |
nothing, unless It Is insensible nefsniration |
Her circulation of blood is sluggish, and as g |
consequence there is very little animal life.
She SAYS she cannot die. for there is moi hing TO |
die Such. IN brief. is her bodily coalition.