National Republican., 1880-08-07
DIR. HAMMOND sURREyDERs.
HlsLcttor to the WASTING Doctor.


DR.. Hoebcr called on Dr. Hammond on Tues
day, ut the request of DR.. Tanner, aud invited
him to visit Clarendon hall. Dr. Hammond
declined on the ground of pressure of bust
ness, but sent the following letter;
mo. 13 WEST FIFry.FoURTH STREET,
NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 1890
"DEAR DOCTOR: In answer to your request
for an expression my opinion to you relative
to some of the circumstances Of DR.. Tanners
fast have to say:
"First-That think the watching has been
honestly conducted, although Mt times | have
understood 1t may have been negligent.
"Sccond-That believe that DIR. Tanner has
faith fully abstained from all food but water.
"Third-'rhat he has succeeded better than
l thought he would.
"Fourth--Thal though there have boon other
alleged flsts of long duration, and somo even
longer, his is better authenticated than any
other of similarly long period.
"Fifth--rhat he has not succnoded in SHOW
ing that his organism is differently constituted
from any other, for he has suffered as others
would have suffered under like deprivation.
"Sixth-That ho has shown that those
alleged instances Of fasting month or more
without the symptoms ofinanition being pro-
duced arc fralulcut or otherwise deceptive.
This is the most important result probably Of
his trql.
"Sevcnth-That ho has shown the inability
Of the human race to so for any considerable
period without water, confirming therefore our
previous knowledge on the subject.
"Eighth--Ihat he has shown great pluck,
determination and endurance, aud that these
qualities in him command my sincere admira-
ton
'Nnth-That | think he ought TO stop at
once and occupy the remainder of the forty
days in trying to get his stomach in suitable
condition 10 receive that watermelon on
Saturday.
"rcnth-Thot further perseverance in the
face Of tho serious dangers that now menace
him would, to my mind, be duo to false
pride. / am entirely willing to concede that
he can go forty days without other food than
water
"Ecveuth--In letter which received
from him II few days before no entered on
his present fast ho Informed me that itho sue.
occded he would in the fall accept my prop
osition to 90 thirty days without any food,
water included. My offer is still open TO him,
hut | hope, for his own sake, he will not accept
it. His present victory ought to satisfy him (;
still of that he must be the judge. l am
ready for the test
"Twelnh-That think the investigations
made of Dir. Tanner during his fast have been
superficial and restricted. The amount and
character of tho cXhaatious from the skin
and lungs ought especially to have been anal
yzcd, The weighing seems to have been very
imperfcctly performed.
"Thirtccnth-Tha therefore tho scientific
results are not what they should havo been,
but that nevertheless enough has been shown
to cause MS to modify our views in regard Ia
the effects of manilon on the human body,
Yours slucorcly, WILLIAM A. HAMMOND.
"Dr Emil W. iIoe5or"
DIR. Tanner smicd grizzly when the letter
was read TO him. 1t Was rumored at the hall
last night that the price of admission would
be increased to 81 to-day, but the rumor could
| be traced TO no authentic source.