The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-08-12
DIR. HAMMoND's LETTER

was addressed to DR.. Hoeber, one of the
regular watchers. 1t reads:
40 WEST FIFTY-FOURTH STREET,l
August 4, 1880.
| DEAR DOCToR-In answer to your
request for an expression OF my opinion
| to you relative to some of the circum-
stances of DIR. Tanners fast, l have this
to say:
1. That think the watching has been
honestly conducted, although at times,
as 1 have understood, it may have been
negligent.
2. That believe Dr.Tanner has faith
fully abstained from all food but water.
3. That he has succeeded far better
than thought he would.
4. That there have been other alleged
lasts of as loEg duration, and some even
longer, his is better authenticated than
any other of similarly long period.
That he has not succeeded in show
ing that his organism is differently con-
stituted from any other, for he has suf-
fered as others would have suffered I'M
der like deprivation.s
g. That he has shown that these al
legged instances of fasting a month or
more without symptoms of hamilton
being produced are fraudulent or other
wise deceptive. This is the most i'm
portant result probably of his trial.
Z. That he has shown the inability Of
the human race to go for any consider
able period without water, confirming
therefore our previous knowledge on
the subject.
8. That he has shown great pluck, de-
termination and endurance, and that
these qualities in him command my sin
cere admiration.
8. That l think he ought to stop at
once, and occupy the remainder OF the
forty days in trying to put his stomach
in suitable condition to receive that wa
termelon on Saturday.
10. That perseverance in the face OF
the serious dangers that now menace
him would, to my mind, be due to false
pride. 1 am certainly willing to con-
ce6e that he can go forty days without
other food than water.
II. In the letter which l received from
hira few days before he entered into
his present fast, he informed me that il
he succeeded he would, in the fall, ac-
cept my proposition to go thirty days
without any food, water included. My
offer is still open to him, but hope, fol
his own sake, he will not accept it. Hi:
present victory ought to satisfy him
but of that he must be the judge. L an
, ready for the test.
IL. That / think the investigation
m ade OF DR.. Tanner during his fast hav,
been superficial and restricted. The
amount and character OF the exhalatiOn
from the skin and lungs ought especial
ly to have been analysed. The weigh
} ing seems to have been very imper
fectly performed.
ID. That, therefore, the scientific re
suits are not what they should hav
been; but that, nevertheless, enough
has been shown to cause us to modif,
? our views in regard TO the effects of in
anition on the human body,
Yours sincerely,
WILLIAM A. HAMMOND.
> To DIR. l.. w. Hseber.
1 The letter referred to by DIR. Ham
d mond under the eleventh head of hi
a letter is as follows:
NEW YORK, June 16, 1880.
> DIR. HAMMoND-Dear Sir: Not hear
!, ing further from you, l have conclude
o to commence the fasting experiment i
4 Clarendon hall, Thirteenth street, Of
!, Wednesday next. Would be very gla
i if you would give the matter your per
S sOnal consideration so far as is consist
e ent with your professional duties.
- would like you to have one or NOR
watchers present at all times to see tina
there is no collision or fraud. In thi
= only, and propose to extend it for fort
= days. IL 1 succeed I'm this ] propose 1
:, the fall, when medical students are i
IL the city, to accept your proposition an
o experiment on a thirty days fast with
out food or water, not, however, tor tn
one thousand dollars, as you propose
= but in the interest of science. 1 thin
this plan viii be attended with NOR
desirable result than either of the 9th
: ers singly. If q daily record be kept c
e the amount of water taken each day
- with the daily loss of weight, tempers
- ture, etc. and the same plan carried OF
i'm the fast, think We shall have SON
Is reliable data upon which to base tn
value of water as a food, etc. II TIL
II plan meets your approval let me knoV
at your earliest convenience.
Yours respectfully,
= III. :. TANNER.
;, 205 East Thirty-sixth St, n.