, 1881-05-29
ANOTHER MANIAC.
John Griscom Proposes to Fast
Forty-nine Days or
Perish. :.
The Opening Overture a Moderate
Lunch at Noon Yes -.
terday.
Medical Students Have Agreed to Watch
the Faster.

The latest candidate for fame and shekcls. the
imttator Of Dr. Tanner who has announced his
intention to fast for forty-flye days or perish IN
the attempt begun his undertaking at noon yes
terday. His name is John r1scOm. be is s. years
Of age, is feet l0H Inches in hight, and weighed
when he began his fast lD13z pounds. Mr. Cris-
com balls from New York. being the son Of a
physician of that city, but has resided for tho
past two years On the farm of his fatter-in-law
uear Fayctte, o. He Is II married nan and hus
children.
BY way Of giving the fasr and the faster a
good send OF, the managers thereof invited the
physicians who are tU look after tho affair to
watch Mr.. Griscom eat his last meal at the Sher-
man House. Shortly before uoon DR.. ". K.
Harrison, Prof Henry Olin, DR.. c. G. Fuller, Dr..
Milton Jay, E. n. Baikte, J. W Struug, Dr.. Tan
uer, md half dozen representatives of the
press sut down to lunch III the ladies' ordinary
The man who is to live upon air
and water for so long failed to improve
his last opportunity to lay in solid
Deoc'. of victuals and coutented himself
with small slice Of roast veal, stc, ed corn,
ASPARAGUS. nnd potatoes. and a large piece of
bread. Precisely at l. o'clock he laid down his
kua1e nnd fork and said he was ready % begin
his arduuus task.
Before the party broke up Mr.. Griscom read
piper OF considerable length, in which he set
1ortn ms views On tue psychological
nencc from food. So lar US could be un-
derstood fiom this paper ana from re-
ries made BY members OF the press the fasting
man believes much as the asccrics OF old did,
that
ULTIMATE SPIRITUAL. rE;FECtltN
can be obtained by starvation and modification
OF the flesh. He claimed that up TO the titnc he
was ~ he was unable to concentrate hts mind On
any subject or to learn anything, und that be
fntI- a IA 7s.
fustcd furty-clEht hours, having acquired in
some WAY belief that great results would en-
all solcnnity yesterday, ut the end Ut forty
eight hours his old craving tor yictuals left him,
ana nc received new and moro renned appe-
tite. He said that . great change occurred ut
this time, which ne fell passing through his body.
Some time afterwards he reduced htnself TO his
old lerel by u systematic course OF overeattng
curious views on the ultimate perfectibility tt
which the human race might attain If they OBJ
served certain conditions, and declared that he
had by this means reached certain degree Of
Dr. Harrison, Of Bennett Medical College, said
on behalf OF the medical men VINO hnd taken an
interest in thus case that they were going to
Easch the fast in the interest simply Of sc4ence-
They knew nothing Of Mr. Grlscvl.s ideas On
To be reached, but he had consented
to them maintaining Il watch that he
actually did fast. Reputable physicians
eecrenons, bts,od etc. from tin1et time, and he
would take care that two watchers. in whom he
had ahsolute confidence. should be constantly
on hand
The parry then adjourned to the rooms ove-
the Olympic Theatre entrance, where the exhi-
nents, comfortably furnished with chairs,
lounges, CARPETS, and bed, will be devoted to
the show. The public, or at least such as re-
a few feet Of the faster, hut rnil and cord ar
rangement will prevent. the passage Of food to
him. It was announced that the watchers had
1F hEA fNrfl17
food, and hAd found none.
TEE PHYSICIANS WEIGHED,
measu=ed and took other liberties with the
faster; and announced Tho following figures as
Weight twhen strtppeil, 18TH pounds. '.'
Weight {in Clothe5), AE914.
Measurement around the chest, WitA forced
expiration of breath, 4l.G inches:
Measurement around chest, with forced respi-
nuon OF breath, 43zs inches
Circunt e1eucc of abdomen. 43A inches.
Circumference around thigh, II inches.
circumference of calf Of leg. 18 inches.
Circumference Of arm, LEX inches.
Circumference of fore arm, liz inches
Respiration. % breaths per minute.
Temperature, 100 deg, Fahrenheit
Pulse. a per minute.
BY Dr. Harrison and Mr. J. Humphrey, ana it
was stated that full arrangements had been
the faster. the eentries being mostly students OF
different medical colleges AL the schools of
medicine appear to have taken HI. Interest in
ought to prove interesting from a scientific
point Of view il the arrangements nade are
maintained and Mr.. Griscom holds out Admis-
zion at this stage OF the proceedings is by ticket
only, but PROBABLY the public will get chance
5o look at the fasting man before many days
have passed
DURING THE AFTERNOON
md evening Mr. GHscom remained quiet IN his
reception rooms, and about hulf-past 3 o'clock
indulged in a short nap. a book 10 contain the
record of the fast has been prepared. and ia that