Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-22
FASTING.
A Kentuckian Tries il for the
Sake OfScIence.

h~aeesAS 1AAo
A member of the scientific a~ssocia-
ton, of Newport, doubling the fast
of DR.. Tanner, TIE writer, in order to
prove to him beyond a doubt that q
human being, in good health, could
exist on air diluted with an occasional
drop Of water a given time, undertook
a strict fast, beginning Sunday morn
ing the l1th inst.
After c~autioning the partner Of his
bosom to feed the chickens regularly.
the patient began his great test imme-
diately after breakfast. The follow
ing is a true record OF the endurance:
At $50 a.m.-Pulse normal, though
a general cavity in the stomach is
noticeable.
At Z a.m.-Pulse not quite so nor
NAL as half an hour previous, but still
.tolerably normal considering.
At 7:30 a.m.-The patient sleeping
soundly and snoring loudly; but the
latter is not caused by a loss of tissue
so much as that the subject lay on his
back.
8a.m.-The patient still asleep, but
called out "Zweil' He afterwards ex-
planned that it wasn't because he was
hungry, but had dreamed he was in a
saloon drinking beer with some
friends. Here several Of the physir
clans cried out: Fraud fraud" aud
argued that the body could derive
sustenance from eating and drinking
in its mind while asleep. DR.. jean
con argued it could not.
$50 a.m.-Patient bright; eyes same
color as usual; stomach normal, but
Ratter; tongue moist. Nine physicians,
seven reporters, fourteen sub-report-
ers, and a dozen or so friends of the
u%ndcceased in the room.
9a.m.-Patient shows sigrs of hun
ger, is very Grabbed and wants to
kick out of the room DR.. Davis, who
stated that he believed patient had
just eaten a fly that had fallen into his
throat.
$3.50 a.m.-Patient asleep again, and
snoring normally. Drs. Thornton,
Gunkel and Locke determined to ap
ply the sphygmograph to ascertain the
true condition of the pulse; also the
dynamometer to learn how his muscu-
lar strength is, and likewise the es-
thesiometer Everybody knows what
that isl to learn of the condition OF
his sense Of touch. DR.. Jones OBJ
jected to the use Of the last instru-
ment, saying the best way of ascer-
tanning the sense of touch was to
tickle the patient on the end of his
nose with the ends of a few male
hairs. He was finally allowed to make
the test, which proved an esthesiom-
eter, a sphygmograph and dynamome-
ter combined, for the same instant it
was applied the doctor lay on the
floor insensible. The patient had
touched him with the punched end
of his right arm.
10 a.m.-Pauient experiences a kind
of goneness in the stomach. He pro.
poses a walk out in the open air, but
DR.. Keener, being too keen for him,
objected, on the grounds that a person
fasting SO long could receive nourish-
ment from the air; else how do the
spirits live? Patient didn't walk.
1890 a.m.-Here the fasting mans
wife made her appearance and wanted
to know if they wouldn't allow him
Just a quart of beer only. She wasre-
fused; whereat she became greatly
alarmed and said she knew he would
die, and hat she didn't want a dead
man fora husband.
II a.m.-Tongue a little unnormal,
presenting a someFhat parched sur
face, and patient splitting cotton. A
few ounces Of water was suggested
but the irate faster threatened to whip
any man who would offer him water
never drunk the stuff, and wouldn't
begin now"
1l:30 a.m.-Stomach filling up with
goneness, but its pulsations are toler
ably normal. The patient wants to
kick out a physician who doubts that
he has tasted since morning.
1l:45 a.m.-Dr. Phythian pro-
nounces the patients case a most
critical one, but the latter exhibits
great normal nerve, and says he feels
Just as we'll as ever, but a little thirsty,
having been accustomed to take lunch
at ten O'Clock. He takes a long walk
about the room. P. S.-A letter from
George Francis Train has just been
received, telling the patient for Gods
sake to cease not eating any longer,
that he has already gained a victory
but the latter sends hin word back to
60 to -.
II m.-Time's up. Patient still
alive, and expresses his belief that he
could fast an hour longer if he WASN'T
so hungry. The physicians sink from
the room perfectly astounded at hui
man endurance.