Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-16
The Fasting Doctor.

TANNER, who Is now Trying Ino eXpeI-
ment in New York of abstaining entirely i,
rom food or water for forty days, and who
las successfully reached bis eighteenth
lay. The case is attracting much atten
ion throughout the Union, and we copy
rom our exchanges some extracts about
it:
DR.. Tanner is fifty-four years old and
gray haired. He solemnly affirms that he is
not hungry. not the least. He could will
himself hungry if he wished, but he wills
himself the other way. and all is we'll Ii
there is any fraud in his case, it is SO well
that it is not yet apparent
Every time he puts on so much as clean
collar he is searched to see that he does
not imbibe any nourishment Through his
clothes. His bedding was carefully ex am
ined, and nobody is allowed to shake hands
with him, lest food be conveyed III that
Dr.. Fl. B. Plunkett, who has watched
the faster, says he is satisfied that Tanner
is sincere. He said that Gin case of a
breaking down of Tanners system the
pulse and temperature would first become
deranged. The blood aud tissue, you know
may wear out by continued lack of the
forces. They might get fever
ish and excited, showing symptoms Of de-
lirium in the patient similar to those of
drunken person. None OF those symptoms
have yet manifested themselves Several
physicians have made careful chemical
analysis, and certify to the fact that DR..
Tanner has not partaken Of any food re-
Gently, and this sets at rest doubts some
have had in the matter.
During the week the Doctors full. pleas
ant face has become emaciated and hag
gard. His eyes are sunk deep i'll their
sockets, and added to their sleepy depres-
sion is a bright glitter, which is terrible
to look at. The man is not delirious, ana
10 symptoms of Insanity have vt been
noticed by the physicians; but timid per-
son would hardly care to be shut up alone
with that glittering eye for company. HIS
walks are less frequent day by day, and
when on his feet, though he does not stag
ger, his step shows a lack of firmheSs
which all his skill and pains cannot COLI
ceal. His tremendous Wili-p .Wer enables
him to make exhibition spurts at times.
and he runs up the stairs Leading to the
balcony at pace which astunishes his
visitors; but these spurts are-forced, and
he lies down on bis narrow Cot completely
exhausted after them. Unless all signs
fail, he will very soon, it he lives, be una
BILE to walk at all, and this will aid him in
which he makes is an unnecessary waste
of force, which increases the CON sumption
of tissue, and thus ShOrtens the time
which he can hold out. The Doctor, how
ever cannot be brought to take this view
of the ease. DIR. Tanners mouth is
parched and dry, and he is obliged to use
water to rinse it now oftener than at the
beginning OF his fast, but the peculiar
starvation 0dor, which precedes disso-
luton from want Of food, has not yet been
detected in his breath. This is wonderful,
considering that he has now passed nearly
10 days OF abstinence, and the doctors are
DR.. Weeks being ask ed what would be
done in case OF a sudden collapse, said:
1--WE don't intend to let him comlit sui
eide under our eyes. AS soon as he shows
serious symptoms of a collapse we shall
warn him of his danger. IT he refuses to
take the necessary stimulants, then L, for
one, shall be IN favor or forcing them down
him, just as [ would force the knife from
a. man whom | found trying to cut his
throat. 1t might be dangerous to attempt
this on man SO weakened from long alb
stinence, but it will be the only possible
way to save his life, if he proves obstin.-
tely bent OH self-destruction. Of course,
if we can't get the proper remedies down
his throat he must die, but in that event l
hardly think that his watchers can be held
responsible. Two gentlemen whom We
had on our committee retired from fear Of
fatal termInati n"
In the course of the day DR.. Tanner re-
ceived letter from DR.. George H. Evarts,
who claims to have been IA pretty extern
sive faster himself. Among other things,
DIR. Evarts wrote:
think you are makinga mistake in alb
staining from water as you do. Ham
mond 5 vagaries about water being food is
only true in the sense that air is food. As
yet you have accomplished very little. The
expressed opinion OF some of your pseudo
medical friends, predicting delirium, &c.,
are very SILLY. In January, 1876, l alb
stained totally from all food except air and
water for 224 hours. During that time
Temple to audiences varying from ], 800
to 800. During the day was constantly
attending to business. My mind and body
were never in better working capacity
My weight diminished about two and one
fourth pounds per day. l think you
should have commenced your task in full
flesh. There 10 no doubt of your success
if you keep cool, drink moderately of W.
ter, and remain quiet. Do not worry
about Hammond. He has not the conf
dence of such men as the senior DR.. Flint
Your success will excite discussion on the
relations of diet and gluttony to prevalent
disease.
NEW YORK, July 14.-Those who have
been predicting DR.. Tanners death with
in "a day or two' for week past, are
very much discouraged tonight. He has
not been SO weak to-day as he appeared
yesterday. His pulse has been more regu-
lar, and he has appeared more cheerful
and less irritable than for some time past
At noon he was weighed, registering 1872
pOunds-a loss of 251 pounds since his
fast began. He drove to Central Park,
and returned feeling better than he has for
several days. A change of considerable
Importance has been made to-day in his
mode Of living. Heretofore he has drank
only a few ounces of water daily, and that
little has been absorbed during the gargling
process rather than drunk, but to-day ht
has drank quite freely, the amount taken
during the entire day being A ounces.
AS direct result it was found tonight
that he weighs 1884 pounds-a gain of II
pounds since noon. His pulse during the
day was as low as 95, but tonight his
pulse and temperature were both SO, and
his respiration IS. The physicians say
that his condition is entirely normal, and
all symptoms favorable for continuation
OF the fast witOut any material changes
for several days to come, at least.
Sabbath Cobao1 tom