Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-14
Living without Food or Drink.

A letter from Battle Creek, Mich,
says: Mention has been made in the
newspapers at various times OF the case
OF Mrs. Nellie Ingram, who, since last
October, has been in bed, unable to
take food or water. Mrs. Ingram is
now thirty-six years old, and has been
twice married, her present husband be
ing Henry Ingram, teamster. In girl
hood, AS Miss Nellie Dunn, she was
hearty and robust, a specimen of bloom
ing health, and had more than ordi-
nary fine constitution, which she re-
tanned as she advanced in years. On
October III, 1850, she stepped into n
DIR. \. Merritt's Office to have q tooth cx-
tracted. She was then in the most per
feet health, and weighed not far from
$50 pounds. The tooth was a double
one, far back in tho jaw, firm and fast
and very troublesome from cavity.
Undoubtedly the pain and ANNOYANCE
she had experienced from it had excited
her nervous system to that degree that
1t took but little to produce a decided
shock. Tie tooth was extracted with
much difficulty, and produced intense
pain. Mrs. Ingram became greatly e1-
cited, which eliminated in nervous
shock. A hack was called, and she was
taken to her home in prostrated con.
dition, and was Immediately aftcrward
seized with a severe pain in the bowels,
which has continued night and day ever
since, accompanied by sickness and
nausea. She repeatedly attempted TO
cat food to sustain life. but it only pro.
duced loathing and deathly sickness,
and was at length given up. These
spasms occur, however, whether she is
given food or not.
As soon as it became certain to her
physician that all attempts to keep her
alive by introducing food into her stom-
ach we're useless, he began giving her
injections, thereby sustaining life by
process OF absorption by the walls of
the intestines. Life has also been sus.
tanned by baths Of beef tea, milk, and
such highly nutritious liquids, with an
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
eighty pounds; but although her body
is so much reduced, her face still pre-.
serves quite healthy appearance, and
would not strike one as belonging TO
person who has been obliged to go
without fool, and who has suffered such
excruciating pains. Her nerves are at
such high tension that she is unable
to sleep more than two hours in twenty.
four This short rest is generally taken
toward morning, when the vitality in
her body is very low. With returning
activity OF the senses she begins tho
retching', which spasmodio efforts OF
nature continue through the day until
her system is completely exhausted and
she falls into the unsatisfactory sleep
described. Within the last few DAYS,
owing to the strain on her throat by
the frequent contortions Of the muscles
during retching, she has substan TALLY
lost her voice and is unable to speak
above low whisper. A constant fever
attends her, accompanied by an iuordi.
nate thirst, but she cannot drink any
moro than eat.
The case has excited uncommon in.
terest in the medical fraternity through
out the State, and many have come to
sec her. 1t Is curious to see hunger
appeased and thirst quenched by out
ward applications.