New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-14
TANNER TAKES WATER.
YIELDING TO ovERPowERING THIRST.


breaking up was feared. He was unable to
continue his abstinence from water, and
drank it freely. This seemed to revive him
slightly, and he rode through Central Park.
" How soon will the end Gomez
That is the question which agitates the physicians
who daily watch the starving victim of his own
will. The opinion is nearly unanimous that DR..
Tanner has almost reached the limit of his endur-
ance. wonderful as it is. Up to Saturday there
were many who pronounced Dr. Tanner in good
condition, and spoke with some confidence of his
ability to accomplish his task. But his sudden
variations in temperature from burning heat to icy
cbills his increased feebleness and preference for
living half torpid browsing on his cot, his irritable
ity and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES approaching inco-
berency when he IS distuTbed-all these signs point
in one direction. His body has faithfully
obeyed his iron will. but the tension has
been too great: the cord has been overstrained,
and apparently must soon snap.
After the first week of the fast many of the
eclectic physicians expressed some confidence in his
ability to accomplish his task. IL has been notice
able however. during the last two days, especially
Yesterday that the ecleetics were giving up their
opinion and admitting that. the doctor would soon
fail.
81 think he is falling rapidly" said DR.. Kelley
in the afternoon.
"Yes, and think he would rather die t han take
food" answered Professor Wark.
"He has been more sluggish to-day, and doesn't
seem to know bis own mind. Why, when the bar
her came the doctor swore he wouldn't be shaved
Then in about five minutes he walked down stairs
and called for the barber"
Another bad symptom appeared yesterday. The
doctors hands and feet looked purple. and appeared
congcsted This shows feeble and retarded crcula-
non. His abstinence from water has been considered
even more remarkable than his abstinence from food
man living OH ordinary diet consumes from fifteen
TO TWENTY-FIVE ounces of water daily in his food and
from sixty to seventy ounces beside. Plenty OF
water. as well ms salt, is necessary for the main
tenapce of the vital functions Bat Dr. Tanner re-
ceiyes water only from rinsng his mouth, from his
baths and from the wet towels aud sponges with
which he washes his face and hands. In gargling
his throat he retains average nearly drachm
Of wafer which has been calculated 10 amount to
two ounces during the day. The amount absorbed
from his baths and sponges roughly estimated as
under eight ounces. although an accus2te calcuia-
ton is impossible Thus, while the normal daily
amount Of water is from seventy-ive TO nnety-fye
onnces Dr. Tanner has existed on ten. But late in
the afternoon the doctor was forced to yield, and
he drank wafer freely.
Physicians bring up Cbossat's experiments with
animals as Illustrating what may be expected in
Dr. Tanners case. Chossat found that animals de-
pIived Of food lived for 9Th of time prOportoned
TO their amOnut of fat. After some time there was
q gradual but not very extensive iall IN tempera-
ture. The animals lived on an average un;i 80 per
cent of the fat Of the body and 40 per cent two
hfthsl of the entire original weight are lost. Shortly
before this loss reached the fail IN temperature
became more Sudden. TorpOr succeeded and when
the iemperature fell 90 or 3O0 below the normal
point the animals died. According 10 Chossais re-
sllt DR.. Tanner would need TO lose 90 pounds be-
fore diving. He has lost about % Bat
sufficiently exact comparisons cannot be
made to make even. this favorable
outlook for DR.. Tanner. Chossat also found that
animals could be rescued from death even after the
beginning of the tOrpOr by exposing the subject 10
artificial warmth raising the temperature and sup
PLYING food. The fast has now reached point
when these methods of resuscltation are daily dls-
cnssed among the PHYSICIANS at the bali, Inc
advantages of the galyauc battery, ana the use OF
milk, brandy and beef tea, are subjects IN winch
the watchers are profoundedy Interested Their
interest increased yesterday when they discovered
that IN the event OF DR.. Tanners death they would
he liable for mapslaUghter
named bv Professor Arnold the physioluQIst, and
found Or. Tanner so much changed for the worse
that he expressed some doubts as TO his lasting
through the day. In ms evening watch. DR.. Miller
said " DR.. Tanner has Frightened mp lttle since
morning so they tell me. But am more than ever
confirmed IN my opinion that he won't see another
Sunday. He Is worse to-day, IN my OPINION Inc
purple appearance OF his hands and feet, coming
from sluggish circulation. Is due to the fact that
the blood becoming denscr owing TO ITS daily loss
of the vyatery element. He VIII become deiiriOus
before he sinks INTO condition OF torpor, and when
delrium comes understand they VIII try 70 revive
him and force him to take nour shment. suppose
they will use electricity and brandy chiefly at first.
No; don't believe he'll object when he find she is
really far gone"
After Dr Miller had completed bis three hours
watch ana had ridden TO Central Park with the
faster. lac sad This relief that the Doctor gets
from the water he has drunk Is only transient. and
don't see thar there is very much relief any way.
Ilsi flint a n m q In
strong will IS bad sign He IS too much exhausted
to allow me to take his temperature aud pnlse. lie
makes q sudden effort ard then wea<ens, as when
he runs upstairs before crowd. Now he walked
up hTlskly from the carriage Tonight then sank
down exhausted on his cot He has been more
dTowsy to-day which Is also bad. L tlluk he may
have a spaSm ut any moment, though he VIII very
likely gradually become delirious. wouldn't give
q penny for his life"
before midnight Monday the Doctor appeared
drowsy. and dozed at intervals After ~ O'Clock,
Dr.. Badhau. a regular physician, came on watch.
lie found Or. Tanner exceedingly restless and few
ersh, and constantly calling fol Ice and water lie
asked thai some rain wafer be collected for bathing.
which was done The extremes of cold and heat
from which he suffered dllnng the night were con-
sldered nfavOrable symptoms. Toward n. III.
he became more qnIet HIS pulse, was then 90 and
his temperature 9712. He dressed about 7:30, and
! then lying down went TO sleep again.
ABOUT p. he went down into the hall anu was
shaved. Among the visitors was coal black
| darkey from the wilds Of New-Jersey, He rolled
his eyes toward Dr. Tanner, clasped MS huge hands
| with the thumbs pointing mp. and with head on one
| side appeared bordering some subtle problem.
" | done dreamed oh dat man last night ne said
'''Fac boss. An saw him red like, just Iiko he is
| So come to him. bah tasted in de interests
oh religion. isaid with impressive dignity. Oar
| be evil things sar dat only fasting drive away. |
| nebber tasted like dis here man. but knew man
/ tasted twenty-five DAYS only he drank milk"
! At $40 y. m. tho Doctor called for water. The
! temptation was too great He SAID, III drink 1t"
| ana drank tea ounces of icewater. AT Al he
ceiycd call from the actress Rose Etynge and he
conyerscd with her for few moments IN tue front
| aneroom. The water that he drank apparently m
| spired hun with fresh confidence He said, % feel
| better Don't be alarmed about me- know just
| how this thing goes. shall come out all right
A pair of platform scales. a measuring rod and n
set OF bed-spnngs the dainty tribes presented
| to the Doctor IN the afternoon.
The Coctor slept late in the afternoon, aud seemed
| heavier and duller than before. At $50 p. m. he
| entered a carriage with three Watchers Stopping
! at the Brunswick The doctor drank two ounces OF
| yaier Inc narlY Lhen dIOYe EIlLh-aYe. 10 GnIl-