New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-09

fits be derived from it. The doctors OF the last
generation were starvers that is. in infammatory
diseases they at put the patient on low diet.
This subject of starving patients was thoroughly
tried and experimental upon 1t was so fully tested
that it has been practically abandoned and the
present generation of doctors believes in fuller
diet for the patients"
do you think that the consumption of 35l2
pounds of his own tissues, together with the water
consumed. Is enough to support man for forty
daysT
Yes. Psychologists have set no definite limit
TO the time that can go without food, but ac-
cident has That is, OF people kept from food
by accident have been accepted and rather formu-
lated INTO general rule. of course admitting of ex-
ceptions. This experiment was spoiled when
Tanner began to gargle his throat and to use water
After that he was only doing what had been done
before. Why, DR.. James McNaughton has written
an account of young man who tasted for one day
from religious motives and then kept on fasting for
sixty days. drinking water freely meanwhile. l
don't regard this a scientific experiment"
"Do you think the functions of DIR. Tanners body
are in any way unusual' :"
Not at ALL Tanner is not an extraordinary man.
ANY man who has reached middle age and is in
sound health can fast for forty days. provided that
he takes wafer"
Then You really do not see any benefit coming
The only benefit from this fast replied Dr.
Clark slowly and deliberately, is considerable
notoriety for Tanner"
WHAT DIR. HAMMOND THINKS.
An expression of Dr. Hammond's views also
obtained.
DO Won think this fast will bring out anything
new in the treatment of disease !" DR.. Hammond
was asked
4" No: for YOU can't make rule of one case"
q" Do YOU regard this a scientific experiment T.
Il do.not considering the way 1t has been con-
Quoted" ,.....
d" Have Psychologists set any definite limit to the
time for winch man can go without food =
" No definite limit"
DO You believe person can exist thirty or forty
DAYS without food or water y
d" | do not and this experiment proves IT,"
DR.. Francis A. Dclatied when asked III regard to
| the Tanner fast SAID Il certainly should not have
| believed it possible for man 10 live forty days
without food, and to have existed upon thirty
SIX pounds of his own tissue. / am forced 10 view
| this thing with suspicion, although know
| nothing positively; but from what | do know,
! think II anything but scientific experiment. no
benefits whatever can be derived from it. The sub
! ject of hamilton has been studied III experiments
| on animals. PSYCHOLOGISTS have never set an aTDl-
| trarv limit to the length of time person could 90
without food There is girl in France-Louise
| Leteau-wh0 claims to have tasted for years, ana
| pilgrlmages TO her. consider the Tanner expert
| ment without value and unsclentihc. In regard 10
the use of water, believe no person can i've LOT
| thirty days without food or water"
DR.. Maurice n. Miller, demonstration of practical
physiology in the University Medical College, has
formedo one of the regular watch nearly since the
beginning of the fast He has made series of
analyses which will be published in medical jour
nails and on Saturday he the results of his OBJ
servatons of the fast TO TRIBUNE reporter a. FOL
lows: -
DR.. Miller have psychologists set definite
limit to The time for which person can 90 without
food and also without wafer !" was asked.
mo definite limit deductions from experiments
on the lower animals of little value IN their APP
plication to man. Cases of shipwreck afford little
information. a variety of factors tending to de-
struction are introduced in them
:" Do Won think Dr. Tanners loss in weight with
the water he has drank would furnish enough force
| to sustain him Y
" is he an exceptional man, and is the waste of
| his system unusually slow y ,
" think his case Is eXceptionai; ana, iuTther,
believe rules for the treatment OF disease can be
deduced from his case"
In your opinion. is il impossible for man to go
forty davs without fOodP
Yes as water is food. The various waters used
by Dr. Tanner contained much material organic
and inorganic. that was aSsimllated"
In what particulars dld t1lS fast differ from one
properly conducted "
I'm every particular-thc unfavOrable surround
ings the caTcessncss and irreguarty OF the watch.
and the entire absence OF an organized corps OF caa-
bic Observers. with proper instruments ana april
anccs. While some of the watchers were pOsses>@uol
experience and scientific attainment, many of those
entrusted with the observation of the Physiological
phenomena were lIteTate and utterly unable either
TO observe record such phenomena. ! believe
more can be learned that will he OF practical Yane
by the return to food than from the fasting itself;
While am not over confident as to the practical
value of the experiment, my opinion on Siich a mat
fer Is of little worth. The practical Application OF
physiological facts belongs more eSnecMIN 10
another dcpartmcnt of medicine. Inc value OF
wafer was well shown. Ii will undoubtedly cause
ne0ple TO reflect on the fact that they generally eat
too much but whether they Will beneht Dy the re-
Election ard eat less IS uncertain 1t Is but Just TO
hot from m
course with him during the trial / have become
thoroughly convinced of his honesty III the matter
Ii is unfortunate that the walch was not SO con
Quoted as to prove beyond the possibility OF adou0t
that he has taken no food except water Tor forty
DAYS. | am morally convinced OF the fact
Dr. n :. Westcott, who has been making careful
physiological experiments III connection WIN tHc
fast, said Yesterday:
Iavossler and other Psychologists have shown the
minimum amount OF moisture gwen OH IRON the
lungs aud eXhalcd from the SKIN OF ncaltly man
of average SiZa. during tNenty-fOHr hours, to be
from 80 10 40 ounces. None of these experiments,
10 NV know ledge on record as having been maze
on people fasting with or without water. lie con-
ditions of a fast such Dr. Tanner excepting the
exercise be has TAKEN are cmlncntlN 1aN0faDlc Iol
p least amount of loss | find by records OF DR..
Tanners fast that his average loss each day rom
skin and lungs was as follows; FIRST htteeh Gays
l73, ounces last fifteen days, lOo5 ounces; totii'
forty DAYS. IL A This of course, Is remark
able, as beng much less than the figures 1910
ounces generally given by psychologists"
SKETCH OF THE FASTERS LIFE.
HIS BIRTHPLACE IN ENGLAND-A YOUTHFUL Pc
DFsTRIAN-COMING 10 AMERICA-GRADUAIED
ASA PHYsICIAN-HIs LATER CAREER.
No records exist TO show that DIR. Tanner scorn-
fully refused the milk which formed his staple art
Gle of diet for year or two after the day OF 1891
on which he first saw the light. lie is represented
TO have been hardy. vigorous boy, fond OF ont
door exercise, and fond, too of having his own way.