The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-20
SffIl Holding Fast.


MESSAGES INTENDED TO BE FUNNY-THE
DOCTORS THEORIES AND PREDICTIONS ALL
UPSET BY TANSBR's CONTINUED LIVING OS
AIR AND WATER.
NEw YORK, July 1S.-Dr. Tanner COM
pleied the twentieth day, or one hall OF bis
fast, at noon to-day. Those who have seen
most OF him still believe 10 his honesty,
and, indeed, il |, hard TO see how any deceit
could have been practiced upon bis watch
ers. The balf-formeO suspicious caused by
bis steady gain in weight for two days
after drinking water have been dissi-
pated by the fact that he, as he prOphe-
sled, has begun again 10 lose in
weight. The Doctor remains still more OF a
riddle than before. While bis case may not
be demonstrated by exact scientific evil
dence, yet the probabilities are in bis IA, or,
and it certainly speaks well for the Doctor
that those who have seen most Of him be-
lieye firmly in his honesty. At present
everything seems to be furnishing at Clar.
endOn Hail.
TIE DOCTOR Is WELL AND HAPPY,
and the ecIectics are jubilant over this sup.
posed victory over the regular physicians,
and moreover are by no means blind to the
possible value OF the public attention that
has been called to their medical school.
Those OF the reguls: school OF medicine
who watch the Doctor bave become much
interested in the case, as they believe to
possess a high scientific importance. They
have been forced, however, to admit that
the tissues OF the human body csn furnish
sufficient food to sustain life for a much
longer time than has been supposed.
DR.. Miller said Yesterday: "Tbe Doctor
seems brighter and better than ever to-day.
He is losing again, and must acknowledge
that am not so suspicious rs was yester-
day. Yes, l suppose his loss in weight
might be enough TO support him. He has
lost now twenty-five pounds since ibe be-
ginning of the fast, and this consumption
OF feel might keep the fire going.
"EvERT POUND or gLtsu
means certain amount Of force. In cases
OF typhoid and enteric feveTs patients often
live fifteen and eighteen days without food,
and thev have bloOd.poiSon 10 contend with
in addition TO the abstinence from food.
But Or. Tanner is certainly romai kable
man, and his constitution seems slower in
the functions of waste than in any we have
studied"
In answer to the question Chow aIe you
feeling to- day." DR.. Tanner said: 81 am
well man. / have not the aDnoyaDces that
/ had at first. When tasted before i bad
a quiet, retired place, and could come and
90 as pleased. Here very large part OF
my work the first few days was TO watch
my watchers. They were strangers 10 me,
and had 10 watch and fast too. Now that
know them. can get along easier and
attend to my fasting. | sleep much better
now, and Am getting along all right
His pulse to-day has been about 81, tenn
perature 90. respiration normal. He
weighed 1851 pounds-half pound
less than he weighed last evening.
There seems 10 be no disposition to ques-
ton the honesty OF his fast, and the belief
is growing that he will bold out for the re-
naming twenty days. He went out riding
twice to.dsy-morning and afternoon. He
has smeled Of bouquets sent him, and 10
doubt the Doctor has arisen TO declare that
the odor OF the flowers is good. lie re-
ceiyed
LETTER FROM RICHMOND (yA.)
correspondent, who wrote that he started to
fast twenty-oDe days, but on the ninth day
he feels nervous. A postscript, purporting
TO be sdded by friend, says he died at 3 L.
NJ. His mail every day contains curious
assortment OF communications, OF which
the above is fair sample.
A woman asked him to-day whether he
had any religious belief Dr. Tanner looked
at her solemniy and asked, "What do you
mean when YOU use the term religious be-
lief?" While he was getting ready 10 I'M
fold his belief his attendants came and sent
the woman away. He has, however, given
full pression to bis religious convictions
to be perfect faith in Christ and believer
in practical Christianity, but not in what
be terms Churchianity; no sectarianism, but
the full exemplitcation OF The Golden Rule,
" Do unto others as you would have them
do TO you." He objected 10 orthodox reli-
gion because The professors cannot accept
the obvious simplicity OF Chrlsts life and
teachings, and would rather trample out
utterly the most valuable testimony than
state any one point of their written law.
TO lady visitor lie advised that females
should only eat enough to supply the waste
of the body. aud by having only two meals
day instead, and thereby save one third OF
their time. The Doctor wss asked about
his politics, and he declared his intention To
vote Tor Garfield. lie was asked whether it
did him any good TO feast his eyes on the fat
persons who Waited him. He laughed, and
said that was very poor satisfaction. The
faster's condition this evening is apparently
unchanged. lie is so
FOND OF MUsIC,
and seems so much benefited by ii, That
there was some thought Of engaging profts-
sional pianist TO play whenever the Doctor
desired There have been great many
presentations Of bouquets, nearly every lady
visitor taking little floral offering. AT the
end OF twenty days fasting DR.. Tanner
looks very nearly the same rs at the
beginning. His face is thinner, end he
is, perhaps, little paler from bis
confinement in the house, but otherwise
he looks unchsnged. The twenty days
that he has been confined In Clar.
endon Hall must seem like so many months
TO him. He has no recreation but an coca
sional ride in the psrk, and, although he
sometimes talks with his attendants and
with visitors, he generally has very little to
saw, and seems 10 prefer 10 SIT looking st
space or sleeping. His cot In the south gall
lery Is so arranged between the large open
window on the one side and the edge OF The
gallery on the other that It would be a very
easy matter for him to roll OF either way
and have n terrible fall. tic seeks the open
window for fresh air, but there Is always
plenty d 1t in the hall, for the doors and
windows are constantly open, aud no
smoking is permitted.
[By Associated Press.l
New YORK, july lo.-Dr. Tanner has en-.
tered upon the fourth week OF bis fast In
n ..tS to "a - -