The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-08-20
d PROTRACTED FAST.


YANLA.
Special Dispatch 10 she Cincinnati Enquirer.
READING, PESN., August 5.-Ths
Strange fasting or Miss Sarah Root,
aged twsnty-eight, or this city. Is At.
tracing unusual attention not only
among the medical fraternity. She
is tall young lady, with dark hair
and dark eyes, and or excellent char.
acter. A few years ago Miss Root
was an acknowledged belle. She
dressed IN exceeding good taste and
always made a fashionable appear.
ance. Suddenly sho became very
devout and pious. Her attendance
at Rev. DR.. SohoWacken's ST. James
Lutheran Congregation was almost
constant She became deeply inter-
ested in Sunday ay.school affairs, and
up to last 4lh OF July was 10 good
health. She then discontinued eat.
ing, and commenced a long period
Of fasting. From July 4th to the
llth she ate but few times. Then
size stopped eating altogether.
On the 1lth Of July Dr. T. r.
Schmucker was called In. Miss
Root turned her back, aud said she
was not Ia need Of his professional
attention. She perslstently refused
to take any nourishment, and
throughout all the hot spell she drank
no water. Finally she was threaten.
cd that food would be administered
to her by force. She was growing
pale, thin, aud emaciatsd. Her
former rosy cheeks had faded, the
sparkle had left her eyes. and shs
became moody thoughtful aud silent.
She became frightened at the doc.
tors threats aud taking an ordinary
cracker she held it under the hydrant
and thoroughly washed lt. On the
18th OF July sho ate that cracker,
but took no other nourishment.
DR.. Smucker undertook 10 con.
vince her That IL was her religious
duty to eat, and not kin herself;
that instead OF II being her religious
duty TO fast, she was slowly commit.
ting the great crime OF suicide. She
paid no attention to this. Baslu after
basin OF water was used In bathing
her hands. First she filled 9 basin
ofpure water and wash ed her hands
then she would empty Il. get another
basin full aud again wash her hands.
She would continue this washing for
half an hour.
She has been known 10 have spent
hours on her knees reading the Bible
and praying. She had a dream 10
fast forty days and forty nighta,the
same as Christ did in the wilderness"
she said.
All the efforts OF her mother and
sister failed to induce her to eat and
drink. Finally, DR.. Schmucker 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 atlll
able to be about. She persistently
refused to eat or drink. and her poo-
pie thought she was dying. It was
finally resolved 70 resort 70 force Ia
the matter, aad a spoon vas Inserted
in her mouth between her teeth.
Nothing could be done. because she
would not swallow. Whea her nos.
trils we're held shut. she brealhed
through the interticea or her teeth.
but would not swallow. Finally DR..
Luther inserted a silver tube through
her Bostrils and Injected Cruel and
milk into the gullet, aud thence into
the stomach Only a small quantity
was injected. The mombranons lIn.
ing OF the stomach vas greatly In.
famed, and too much food adminls.
tered would have killed her Instant
1w