The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-09-29
Tanners Fast Explained.
Interesting Letter Of Dr.. o. B. Mayer, Jr. Ct
Newberry, on Tanners Forty Days Fast
He Lived en- His Own Flesh.
Spartanburg Herald.

NEwBERRY, S. c., Aug. 81, 1880.
To Mr.. 7. SToBo FARROW.
My DEAR SIR Iu reply to your
request corcerning DR.. Tanners fast,
| write the following letter. I pre-,
sumo you believe that DR.. Tanner did
actually fast Accepting that as a
fact, l shall endeavor to explain the
manner in which he was sustained
during his fast. I will write SO free
from techuicalities that you can easily
appreciate what I write
1t is difficult matter to explain to
one uot accustomed to thinking of the
physiology Of mau, the way in which
the vitality of the animal economy is
maintained.
I will divide man iuto'tWo parts {:
one vital portion, or one whose co.,
tinuous function is necessary to life
the other an accessory pHrt. AS an
illustration of the former, may men
ton circulation and respiration of
the latter, digestion and secretion.
Now, as. loug as sufficient nerve
power is contained in the nerve CEN
ters aud those orgaus which discharge
the functions necessary to the c'n-
tinuance life possess vitality enough
to respond to this nervous force life
must continue. Now, what is ne.
ccssary to keep the vitality Of the
human system up to this standard ?
Each organ is composed of cells, and
these cells keep up their physiological
standard by absorbing the necessary
materials from the bluod as it circu-
Iates through them The source frou
which the blood obtains its nutritive
properties is, of course, from food.
There are two kinds of food that
enter the blood one called Carboni
ferrous, the other heterogeneous. The
first of these keeps up the temperature
Of the body. 1t is this kind Of lua-
terial that is stored up in tissues of
animals which hibernate, and which
keeps up their temperature during
their period of Information. The other
kind Of fovd, the heterogeneous, is the
material which furnishes the cells OF
the body and maintains them in the
discharge of their functions.
In DR.. Tanners case, after he had
tasted loug enough to consume the
nutritive materials contained in his
blood, the blood commenced to absorb
from his owu flesh the necessary
materials to sustain his life. As the
weather was warm, it took very little
heat,producipg (Carboniferous) ma,
terial much less than it would if he
had tasted during cold weather con-
sequently very little of his fat was
absorbed.
As the parts of the body which dis.
charge the functions necessary to life
we're to be sustained, those tissues
which were composed of heterogeneous
materials were absorbed iu sufficient
amount to keep the body alive, and
until that available supply was ex
hausted be would have continued tC
live.
Now, concerning the water he drank.
1t was absolutely impossible for him
to have tasted as long as he did with,
out water. As there is considerable
evaporation from the body going on
all the time, as we'll as loss in many
other ways, very soon the fuidity ot
the blood would have ceased. 1t was
also necessary for the blood to have {
sufficient amount Of water to Absorb
the nutritive materials from his flesh
Water was absolutely necessary to the
success of his fast.
Now you see how DR.. Tanner ha:
lived upon his own flesh; that he
really bibernated.
I hope have succeeded in crafty,
ing any curiosity or interest you may
have 10 this fast.
do not think it can be of any ben
eft to the medical profession. / look
upon it as only proving how long Dr.
Tanner could live upon his flesh.
I am: very truly, yours,
o. B. MAYER, Jr., NJ. D.