Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-19
The OAKLAND FASTING GIRL.

A most remarkable and interesting case
exists at present in Oakland, which battles
the most expert medical authorities, and
at the same time surpasses in its peculiar
ity almost any other case of the kind upon
record 1t is that of young lady who has
not tasted food for fifty days, and yet pre-
sents healthy and vigorous appearance.
She is now lying in a critical condition at
her fathers residence, and while grave
doubts are entertained as to her recovery
by the physician in charge, many friends
OF the family are of the opinion that she
will rally and even surprise the medical
men by thorough recovery. The young
lady, Miss Maggie Campbell, is the daugh-
ter of Alexander Campbell, who resides at
566 Caledonia avenue, where he has pur-
chased and furnished luxurious home.
Miss Campbell was born in San Francisco,
and on the 18th Of July last was Is
years of age, feet inches in hight, and
weighed, at the age of ID, two hundred
and ninety pounds. She has been a won-
derful child from her birth. Her father
has pictures of her at the ages of IL
months, years and ii years. The latter
is a cabinet photograph, and is one of the
most remarkable pictures ever taken.
Although the lady was only fourteen years
of age at the time, the picture gives the
appearance of woman of thirty, with
clearly defined features, high forehead and
bright, vigorous eyes. MIR. Campbell also
has in his parlor an oil painting of his
daughter, taken when she was four years
old, and it is an excellent likeness. Her
father and mother were both ordinary
sized people, the mother having died about
sixteen months since, being strong, we'll
built woman, with an appearance of great
firmness of character. Mr.. Campbell is a
hardy man, and, like his wife, is descended
from a stock which, in the third and
fourth generations, had representatives
weighing from $50 to 2S0 pounds. Miss
Campbell has been all her life a most re.
markable girl. At the age of nine years
she weighed $50 pounds. Her growth has
been gradual but regular With her
physical advance her mind has grown, and
she has developed peculiar and decided in
tellectual ability. Since the death of her
mother she has taken entire charge of the
household, consisting of her father and
three brothers, and has proved herself to
be competent manager CT the exchequer.
About three months since Miss Camp
bell was taken i'll, and from that time has
been confined to her room. The singular
phase of the case is that up to the 18th she
has taken 10 food for fifty days. The
only nourishment which has passed her lips
has been a few swallows of water. Still,
she presents a healthy appearance. Her
face is ruddy and bright and she is as far
from looking like sick person as any one
could be. The only reduction of her
weight has been in the feet and legs, while
the vital parts continue in full action. So
great has been her physical force and so
strong her constitution that she has actu-
ally been sustained by the consumption of
flesh. The disease is pronounced to be an
liberation of the stomach, and nothing can
be done but to give entire rest to that Or
gan. Nothing will remain upon it, and
during the entire period of her illness the
young lady has vomited blood, tinged with
a dark secretion. In the course of the
treatment injections of beef tea, brandy
and milk have been found to be very ben
efcial. The latest development in the case
is that of prickly heat, which has broken
out upon the hands and wrists, but does
not extend up the arms. The patient is
very weak, but expresses an amount of
patience and endurance which, it is hoped,
will carry her through the trying ordeal.
The testimony of the nurse who has
charge of the young lady, adds an addi-
tional interest to the case. In addition to
the fact of not eating anything for the
fifty days above referred to, she states that
for the twenty -four days previous the only
nourishment taken was a few peaches and
two tablespoonfuls of beef tea, and still
the patient kept up remarkable amount
of vitality. Her tongue is very much
swollen and she speaks with great diff
Guilty she has, however, full possession of
all her faculties and is peculiarly nervous
on the subject of receiving visitors. She
passed comfortable night, and this morn.
ing was quite bright and cheerful. Her
father this morning felt quite confident of
her recovery. He is well known on the
coast, having come around the Horn in the
Flying Cloud, in 1852. He was for a long
time in the employ of Roman & Co, and
was connected with Eureka Hose, No. 4,
of the old volunteer fire department of
San Francisco.