New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-19
DIR. TANNERS ENDURANCE.
TWENTY DAYS WITHOUT FOOD.

| TWENTY DAYS WITHOUT FOOD.
RECORDS OF THE PAsT-oPySIoYs or THE DOCTORS
DR. TANNER NOT WITHOUT Rivals.
| The monotony of Doctor Tanners now cheerful
| and prosperous existence is often eDvened by the
various types Of medical wisdom and ignorance
which hover beside his bed. As the doctor himself
| is person of somewhat unorthodox views in nedi-
cal matters he seems to have drawn, By the force
OF natural attraction, many sufferers from crotches
and hobbies to Clarendon Hall. Ii las several
| times happened that thin. pale person with long
hair and generally uncanny appearance has Wis
tied the hail. and after prowling about the doctor
In mysterious manner departed. Shortly after
DR.. Tanner would receive long and usually mis-
spelled epistle, telling him that the magnetic in
fuences of his friends were working to support
him. that the spirits of the departed afford
ing him aid.
Physicians or at least persons signing themselves
NJ. d., have argued that Dr. Tanner was UNDER
going physical regeneration, and wonld arise from
his forty days fast like the Phenix from its ashes.
an entirely man. When he had tasted for a
week there were not lacking plenty of wiseacres
to exclam that he had done something nnpIece.
dented. and would certainly beat forty days. In.
stead of this being something unprecedented.
is living at Poquonock, Conn. Calvin Morgan.
who claims and is currently believed to have tasted
forty days and nights-from December 20, 1889. to
January 20, 1910. He was then a halter by trade,
and being very religious, thought the Lord called
him to fast forty days He took only water and
salt. He was very irritable the eighteenth day.
drinking more frequently afterward. and beng at
tended by physician. He became weak, emaciated,
and lost his voice at the end Of the fast, but
cred without bad effects This case is reported In
the History of James Morgan and his Descend
ants" and excited much comment at the time.
While this fast could be scientifically proved.
it has received general credence on account Of tho
integrity of Mr. Morgan and his wife.
1t has been thankless task for the doctors to
watch Dr. Tanner closely they have, for tho
fasters temper apparently not naturally sweet, has
not been improved by his abstinence. For a few
days before he began drinking water it was torture
to be near him. Imperious and sometimes un-
reasonable in his demands, he forgets that his at
tending physicians are. many OF them, making sac
rifices as we'll as himself. One doctor has distin-
pushed himself by sleeping throughout the greater
part of bis watch. Ii suggested that record
be kept as in DR.. Tanners case. IL would read
somewhat as follow5
AT 10 In. Doctor the watcher) is sleeping
soundly. ...,. .,... s.,.h.
two ounces.
At I:3O a. IN. Doctor - has lain down aud is quietly
sleeping.
Another physician is especially offensive TO DIR.
Tanner, who is unwilling to have him share his
daily drives.
The entries made In the record book very
curious The most puerle things are noted.
At12 Doctor Tanner turned over IN ped.
At lay his left side. with one loot drawn up
At 2 he asked for his glasses
By a reference to the record book IL was found
that from IL m. 10 l a. M, sunday morning, Ut:
Tanner slept "quietly and soundly" Waking at
intervals OF about hour throughout the night,
he drank water and then again fell asleep. Dress
ing at 3 "A. NJ he was weighed, tipping the scales 40
1875 pounds. A 9 a. M. he drove through the Park.
filling his demiJohn at well. and also stopping to
drink at a spring. On his return he went 10 bar
bers shop near the hall The watchers sat sOlemnly
around the room eyeing their victim who ensconced
| himself beneath the tOnsorial apron. Apparently
refreshed by his ride and clean shave the doctor
walked briskly back to the hall, which be reached
about a. m. in thoroughly good condition and very
cheerful. After reading the morning papers, the
usual 8 O'clock ceremonies were gone through with,
which showed the doctors pulse TO be eighty
two full and strong, hs temperature 9oi2o,
and his respiration 10. Toward the middle OF tue
day. as the heat grew intense, the doctor dis
covered that a swarm of flies had declted that there
was still nourshment in his body. He fought them
for few moments, and at last called for a netting.
The dynamometer and sphyRmograph were both
used IN the observation, giving normal results
AT 23O D. m,the doctor went TO the photographers
gallery to sit again for his picture.
DR.. Wescott, on watch during the afternoon,
said Doctor Tanners appearance aud manner
both indicate decided improvement IN his physical
| and mental condition over that Of few days ago.
lie does not have the air of one whose vital forces
have suffered much loss"
At 5p. m Dr. Wilson, porty full-faced physi-
elan hearing marks of anything but fasiing, ap,
reared Dr. Tanner reused himself from nap and
stared at the newcomer The broad eXpanse or
waistcoat seemed To recall an idea, aud he ex-
claimed Aren't yon the e, man who challenged me 70
n biscut-eating match I" At D. m. the doctors
temperature 99o his pulse 81 and his respiration
g. Shortly after the doctor made his way through
the usual curious crowd assembled at the door OK
the hail. entered bis carriage with his watchers and
rolled Oft for his evening ride in the Park. lie re-
| turned about p m.
| Dr. Hoeber. who watch until Dr. Tanner
went for his ride spoke follows in regard TO tho
| scientific value of this fast Ii would not DO
without food for its own sake. because mankind
prefers to eat But psychologists differ widely about
the results of fasting and the possible duration oi ab-
stipence from food. This experiment VIII give To SCI
ence knowledge of value in the treatment of diseases
where feeding tends to increase the sickness, as IN
enteritis If 1t could be demonstrated that sick
person can abstain from food for weeks or longer,
| great point would be gained in sucn cases. For
war times, on the sea, III exploring expeditions. an
Increased KNOWLEDGE OF the necessary food clements
| would tend to beneficial results. Our general
knowledge of Authorization and nutrition might
also be increased. AS one physiOlogist states that
death ensues when the body Is reduced 10 ha,f ts
| original weight, another 0ne'iiith, another one
sixth it will be useful to increase our knowledge
"Valentin says gr0wE-up person can i've three
weeks without food II he drinks wafer one or Two
weeks longer. This shows that the honesty OF Dr.
| Tanner aud his watchers need not be continually
suspected. More could be learned II Dr. tanner
would submit himself to all kinds Of experiments,
but as they would reduce his physical power OF re-
sstance it not surprising that he refuses to sub
nit"
BURGLARY IN BEST STREET