The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-08-05
LIVING BY ABSORPTION.

Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Tribune.
Mention has been made In newspapers Mt
various times the case Of Mrs. Nellie In
gram, who since last October. has been In
bed unable to take food or water. Mrs. In
gram Is now thirty-six years old and has been
twice married, her present husband being
Henry Ingram, teamster. In girlhood, Is
Miss Nettie Dunn, she was robust and hearty,
\ specimen of blooming health, and had
more than ordinarily fine constitution,
which she retained as she advanced In years.
On October IL. 1880, she stepped into DR..
N. Merritt's Office 10 have q tooth extracted.
She was then In the most perfect health, and
weighed not far from one hundred and eighty
pounds. The tooth was = double one, far
back In the Jaw, firm and fast and very troub-
lesome from . cavity. Undoubtedly the
pain and annoyance she had experiences
from II had excited her nervous system TO
that degree that II took but little to produce
decided shock. The tooth was extracted with
great difficulty and produced intense pain.
Mrs. Ingram became greatly excited, which
eliminated In nervous shock. A hack was
called, and she was taken to her home In =
prostrated condition, and was Immediately
seized with q severe pain In the bowels,
which has continued night and day ever since,
accompaniedby nausea. She repeatedly At
tempted to eat food TO sustain life, but Ii on
~ produced aloathing and deadly sickness
and was 1t length given mp. These spasms
occur, however, whether she 10 given food or
not.
Al soon Is 1t became certain TO her physi-
clans that all attempts TO keep her alive BY
introducing food Into Der stomach were use
less, he began giving her injections, thereby
sustaining life by process Of absorption BY
The walls Of the intessines. Life has also
been sustained by baths Of beef tea, milk,
and such highly nutritious liquids, with m
occasional bath Of alcohol TO keep the pores
open. She has lived for the past eight
months In this way, not . morsel Of food
having passed her lips. Her weight has
been reduced from $50 to less than 80 pounds;
but although her body Is 30 much reduced,
her face still preserves . quite healthy ap-
pearance and would not strike one - belong
Ing to . person who has been obliged TO go
without food and who has suffered such ex-
crutiating pains. Her nerves are 1t such =
high tension that she Ii unable TO sleep more
than two hours In twenty-four. This short
rest II generally taken toward morning, when
the vitality OF her body Il very low. With
the returning activity Of the senses, she be-
gins the retchings, which spasmodic efforts Of
nature continue through the day until her
system IL completely exhausted and she falls
intosher unsatisfactory sleep above described.
Within the last two or three days, owing to
the strain on her throat by the frequent con-
tortions OF the muscles during retching, she
has substantially lost her voice and ID unable
70 speak above low whisper. A constant
fever attends her accompanied by an inordi-
nate thirst, but she cannot drink any more
than eat. The case has excited uncommon
interest In the medical fraternity throughout
the State and many have come TO see her.
IL Ii curious to see hunger appea-ed and
thirst quenched BY outward explorations.