The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-06
THE THIRrY.NINTH DAY.
Though suffering and Exhausted. Dr.
Tanner Refuses 10 Surrender.
VIEWS OF HIS FELLOw-PHYsICIANs--DA DANGER
TO BE APPREBENDED FROM THE BREAKING
OF HIS FAST.

OF HIS FAST.
NEW YORK, August 4.-Tbough in the
earlier period OF his fast Dir. Tanner some
times amused himself by anlicipations OF
the frui,.feast he intended to have on the
completion OF his task. OF late he has been
averse TO saying anything whatever on the
subject OF eating. Indeed, he has objected
TO any one mentioning food OF any kind in
his hearing, ard the watchers, knowing
this, have been careful TO avoid the irrita-
ting topic. Yesterday, however, by seiZing
a favorable opportunity, one OF the report
ers yentured TO open the matter oi the
proposed fruit and milk banquet which
il was proposed TO spread III l1e
hall on Saturday. The Doctor spoke
about il in manner which indicated
that he has passed into a physical condition
where he has almost lost The desire for food,
lust rs a man does who has long been sur
fering from some debilitating malidy. lie
said he did not know what arrangements
had been made for Saturday. III there were
anv,xhe doctors had made them. He had
nothing TO do with il, and had not thought
about the matter at all. TO the question
what he intended TO eat the Doctor replied
that he had no definite idea; 1t would de-
pend entirely on circumstances. lie should
eat some fruit if he could, but he could not
tell whether he would be in condition to
take it. He was not certain whether his
stomach would retain it. II my stomach
il in no better condition than 1t is how,"
said be, @ shall have to begin with little
milk, and don't know that it will even re-
tain that"
DIR. DIXON PROPOSES AN OVATION.
DR.. Edward II. Dixon thus expressed his
opinion concerning the fast: went round
10 see DR.. Tanner the other day, aud the
exhibition was so shocking that was really
ashamed to be seen there. | should have
liked TO make thorough investigation, but
the unpleasantness of the scene deferred
me from doing so. DR.. Tanner is really
remarkable being. believe him to be per-
fectly honest. i never saw man whose
wilI-power impressed me rs more asionish-
Ing. The fast can be OF great value to medl-
cal science. And here comes in lbe most
important Of all things-namely, It's value
as curative measure. cara Janus
is everywhere recognized; indeed, IL Is
the only cure for congestion or inflammation
OF the stomach. The skill of the physician
comes into play in determining when to stop
a fast. In the extreme degree to which Or.
Tanner has carried bis fast have regarded
his will as exceeding his judgment alto-
eether. After he had been spoken OF slight
iDgly presented to him book, with my
compliments and respects, and counseliea
him to break the fast ere the time OF peril
came. / view the experiment as merito-
rious in pulling down medical dogmatlsm;
am, mind you, feeding man; but tell
Won. sir, that half our maladies originate IN
gluit0py."
r, 'N..Io o;I Tnn-
ner perfectly honest in bis intentions. Al
though physicians who are not regulars
were on watch at first | accept their testl-
mony. as I do not doubt their honesty.
The fast is important in the sense that it
will enable physicians 10 withhold food
from their patients with greater certainty in
cases of Inflammation. The practice OF late
wears has been rather TO Overfeed than TO
upderfeed. The time OF greatest interest TO
the faculty will be when DR.. Tanner begins
10 take food. IL the digestive functions VI
the stomach are paralyzed to any extent,
that will be a moment OF deal OF danger.
His stomach manifests it's great irritabllty
by rejecting water so frequently. When
solid food is put into it the question will be
how the stomach will receive 1t. Tanner
proposes. | understand, to begin on water
melons and pears, and that may be proper,
as fruit as q rule is easily digested."
WHAT DIR. LEANING SAYS.
Or. James r. Leaning, OF No. 100 west
Twenty-third street, when asked Tor DIS
opinion concerning the powers OF endu.
rance OF the faster, was unwilling 10 ex-
press any.
"All know OF DR.. Tanner" said DIR.
Leaning, "is what have read about him
4 1
tleman, and have no personal knowledge OF
how the fast is conducted. dare say 1t is
all right, though"
"Do you know Of any other such case Of
prolonged abstinence from food!"
"The only experience we have OF yolun-
tary fasting is that Of females, principally
hysterica girls. There are number OF
these cases on record, such as the pro-
tracted fast OF Miss Molly Fanchcr, OF
Brooklyn, and OF Louise Latour, OF
Lourdes, France, who, 1t Is claimed, has
| been miraculously sustained without the
use OF food for good many years."
"Under ordinary conditions do You
think IL possible for the average man to fast
foity daysy"
"That is a matter OF experience. have
never known q man 10 survive without food
that length OF time. Our only knowledge
OF such cases is Of people who have been
shut up in mines or cast away on ship
wreckl. Such people have been known TO
have gone long time without solid susie
nance"
"Is 1t a surprise to the medical profess
sion that DR.. Tanner should fast such q
length OF time and survive the ordeal!"
"Well, think it more CT a surprise that
q man should have done it. AS i have
stated. there have been numerous cases
where bysterical women have claimed that
they have abstained from food shat length
OF time."
"You have seen the dispatch purporting
TO have been sent to DR.. Tanner by DR..
Sims, from Paris. Do you think it is gen.
uine?" 4a' ~
"well, they have got DR.. sims's name
wrong. Whether there Is anything else
wrong about the dispatch / am not pre-
pared TO state. DIR. Sims Is an eminent man,
and every one knows him. He may have
sent the dispatch. j have no means OF
knowing Whether. H. Is genuine or bogus.
Regarding DIR. Tanners fast, am not pre-
pared TO give an opinion whether 1t is or y
not o genuine one" ~,
10y Associated Press.l W 400
WEAK, IRRITABLE, AND SUFFERING FROM
sf' NAUSEA.
NEW Y0RY, August 6.--The most notice.
able feature In DIR. Tanners condition to-
A a a. h,e extraras trfitahfiitv Ali QouVGf.