River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-08-21

4 Young Tom6H ia HsadiH9 GirjHg
Friends Considerable 11'0ubte.

4 Young U'om0n ia RsadiHg GirjHg Her
Friends Considerable 1roHbte.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. "a Reading spe-
cial to the Times says the strange fasting of
Miss Sarah Root, aged rs, of that city, is
attracting unusual attention among the med
ical fraternity. She is lady OF excellent
character. Herself aud sisters are respected
dressmakers. A few years ago she dressed
in exceeding good taste, and always made
very fashionable appearance. Suddenly she
became very devout pious. Her attend
ance at church was almost constant. She
became deeply interested in Sunday school
affairs, and, upto last 4th of Jaly, was in good
health. She'then Discontinued eating, and
commenced long period of fasting. From
July to IL she ate but few berries. Then
she stopped eating altogether. On the 14th
of July DIR. Schumacher was called on.
Miss Root turned her back, and said she
was not in need of his professional services.
She persIstently refused to take urish-
ment and, throughout all the bot spell, she
drank no water at all. Finally she was
threatened trat food would be administered
TO her by force. She was growing pale,
thin and emaciated. Her former rosy cheeks
bad faded, the sparkle had left her eyes, and
she became moody, thoughtful and silent.
She became frightened at the doctors threats,
and taking an ordinary cracker, she held it
under the hydrant and thoroughly washek
it. On the 18th Of July she ate that cracked,
but took no other nourishmeut. DR.. Schmucr-
er undertook to convince her That it was her
religions duty to eat. aud not kill herself;
that. instead of it being her religious
duty TO fast, she was slowly committing the
great crime of suicide. She paid no atten
ton TO this. Basin after basin of water was
used in bathing her hands. She would con
tinue this washing for half hour. She has
been known to have spent five hours on her
knees reading the bible and praying. She
chad dream" TO fast forty days and forty
nights, the same as Chris. did in the wilder
ness All Efforts of mother and sister failed
to induce her to eat and drink. Finally DR..
Schumacher SAYS he stopped calling on her
because he could DO nothing for her. DR..
Martin Luther was next called in. Miss
Root was very weak, but still able 10 be about.
She persistently refused TO eat or drink, and
her people thought she was dying. II was
finally resolved to resort to force in the
matter, and a spoon was inserted in her
mouth between her teeth. Nothing could
be done. because she would not
swallow. When her nostriIs were held shut
she breathed through the interslices of her
teeth. but would not swallow. Finally DIR.
Luther inserted silver tube through her
nosiriis and injected Cruel and milk into the
guslet and thence TO the stomach. Only q
small quantity was injected. The mem
branous lining of the stomach was greatly
inflsmed and too much food administered
@oaid haze killed her instantly. The young
woman is row being Kept alive by forcing
food through her nostrIls into her stomach.
she IS labcring under religious hallucina-
lion. and fears are emit .rtained that she can
not hive She is quite intelligent, and she
has no fears, saying that she '.guesses it will
end all right. To-day she made no resist
ance to the tube being inserted in her noe.
but she positively refused to take any food
or water.