The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-05

bioIs etuIeu tun' Wo stOou ever rehly W argue
I. any question Of general interest from proper
opponents and properly presented, we have
SO concluded TO waive the informality that
true heraldry requires, an flash the scimetar
A of controversy against the weapon Of our
Esculapius. 1t is not to our taste or inclina.
, ton, but we proceed on the instruction Of
, Polonius to Lsertes "Beware Of entrance
; to quarrel; but being in, SO bear it that the
opposer may beware of thee" And now
what is the grievance Of our friend? Simply
two short editorials of the HERALD, one OF
the 22nd of July, and the other of the III
of September, inst, and elsewhere repre-
duced in this issue. How with only these al
lusons to the Tanner case the author
Of that communication can refute our "edi-
torsl remarks from time to time" we are
utterly at loss to comprehend. But when
we have regard to the assertion that we shave
not only misrepresented the views and state.
ments of the medical profession concerning
fasting, and have attempted to cast ridicule
upon their labors" because we indicated
what is the fact, that cannot be cont Diverted,
viz: the fraternity were SO fearfully at odds
on the starvation question, seeking to urge
the view that man could not starve forty
dsys,..we are lost in amazement at its reck
lessness. About the middle Of July last the
New Orleans Democrat and the Times re-
spectively caused to be interviewed several
of the leading and renowned physicians of
that city as to the object Of this fast, and
some of these made most peremptorily the
statement that the fast could not be con-
Quoted tor forty days. Others said 1t was
possible, but that the doctor would have 10
put himself upon most careful diet just after
the experiment was over. Now,
then, what does the HERALD say
"There is no doubt but that the experiments
and experience Of DR.. Tanner have most
materially unsettled the faith of thousands
of people as to the knowledge of the medical
fraternity. They first said man could not
starve for as many as nine days, and as Tan
ner disproved this, they averred he could
not do without eating for twenty days. And
then when he tasted forty days they meanly
urged that he had been decoiving the people
and had eaten in the interim" (Here fol-
lows quotation from an exchange.) This is
precisely in conformity with the statements
of some of the New Orleans physicians who
were interviewed, and which we will publish
within the next few days, as soon as received
per our order. Again, president, DR.. Ian.
don Gray, in letter dated Brooklyn, July
10th, to the New York Tribune, stated "Dr.
Tanner processes TO be able to do what has
never been done in the history of the
world" We feel sure that he is sim
cere, enthusiastic man, came among us to
demonstrate with an honest, though it may
be An irrational pride, his ability to do
what no man has done before him."
How illogical, uusustainsble and uncalled
for then is the remark of Esculspius that
our STRUCTURES are unwarranted and not sus.
tanned" Another remark of the HERALD is
"But again they told us he would collapse if
he did not begin eating very cautiously
This is just the statement of others of the
physicians in printan we are quite sure it
was the very general opinion of the phys-
clans and of other "less learned" people than
Esculapius. Sand 10, he battles them again
by eating at will peaches and watermelons
and beefsteaks, apples, ETC." Now these are
facts; every line and every word is true and
yet Esculapius puts on the black cap to pass
sentence on us and asserts that we make i.
what? "a charge of superficial learning on
the part of physicians and of a deception
practiced by them on the public" Now
where is any such charge in all our language,
pray good Eseulapius % That language is
sweeping and ours cannot be SO interpreted.
Indeed the assertion is about as sweeping and
as accurate as that wherein Esculapius says
"He, Tanner, peremptorily refused to accede
to the requirement y "of being su.
pervised by the Neurological society, if he
would subscribe to certain regulations by
which he could be strictly watched, etc"
Now, did you not know, good Esculapius,
that Dr.. Tanner June 25) sent to Or.
Hammond, general and president of
the Neurological society of which you speak,
this proposition: 81 will accept your last
proposition Ito live forty days for
$1,000 without taking any kind
of nourishment, provided it does not
include abstinence from water, will also sub
init to any conditions the medical gentlemen
you have named (Drs. Dalton, Flint and
Arnold) shall impose, stipulating only that
the room where the experiment is to take
place shall be large, light and well venti-
lated Again, "That he was closely watched
by members of the medical profession is ut
terly untrue" Now the HERALD made no
such statement. 1t is not nominated in the
article or articles criticised, and hence again
savors of that Don Quixotism that used to
raise up wlndmills in order to Sight them
for glory, for the ladie love and the admirer
Sancho Panzs. But waving what the courts
d0nominate diatory or abatement pleas, or
pleas If you please, to the jurisdiction, let IL;
pass to the merits. AT the incipency of and