The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-08-12

;. Ciark was soon paclfied, and for 9
time acted about the same as the rest o.
the patients, although he refused to as
soclate with any of them. One day early
In May he approached Mrs. Stiles and
told her that he believed it would hell
hlm to stop eating, and cited the case Of
his brother, depreciating, however. his
abstinence from food from such a length
OF time. The matron, thinking the propo-
s1tlon was simply the wanderings of q
dlsordered mind, hnmored him Just as
she would any of the other patients. and
| Clark retired to his room apparently
satisfied. The following day he did not
appear at the table, nor the day after.
Then it became evident that the singular
patient had "a method in his madness. "
for he fatty refused to eat anything, al
though every effort was made to tempt
his appetite. On the fourth day Mrs.
Stiles. to whom Clark had taken a great
fancy, endeayored to persuade him that
he was acting wrongly, and that to per-
s1st IN fasting would certainly iniure his
health.
Despite her arguments, however.
CLARK, usually tractable, positively re-
fused TO let anything in the shape of food
pass his lips. He claimed that his head
felt better. and physically he was as
strong as ever. On the seventh day of
the fast the physical functions ceased
and the patients skin seemed to shrink
and shrivel. On the tenth day he ap-
peared perfectly strong and ceased to
drink water, stating that he had no
thirst. His appearance continued the
same up to the twentieth day and then
his cheeks became hollow and his step a
trife weak. On the twent5-fifth day his
mind seemed remarkably clear, and he
expressed the greatest satisfaction upon
the result of his experiment. When the
thirtieth day of the fast arrived CLARK
seemed as CHEEKY as ever, and appeared
to have lost all desire for food. On the
thirty-ffth day he appeared very hag-
gard and pale, and the rext morning be-
came so exhausted that he went to bed.
Not once during this period had he been
alone during the day. At night his room
was locked, and it was impossible for
him to obtain any food unless he called
upon an attendant. Every day during
the long fast Clark had been argued with
and the most strenuous exertions had
been made to induce him to eat. although
no force was used.
From the thirty tysixth day until the
forty-first of the fast he remained in bed.
On the afternoon of that day he sent
word to Mrs. Stiles that he would like to
have cup of coffee It was quickly
prepared by the matron herself, and
Clark drank it without any particular
relish. The next day he took a table
spoonful of wine on ice. and followed it
up with small quantity of milk. The
diet was maintained for a week, and then
Clark consented to eat few strawber-
ries. For three weeks following he lived
upon strawberries and milk alone. By
considerable persuasion he was then in
duced to partake of oatmeal in the form
of Cruel, and thirty seven days after the
fast had ceased he ate the meal made
into porridge. Not once, even
after beginning to eat, has he tasted fish,
flesh, fowl or vegetables. Milk and
meal have supported life ever since
Mrs. Stiles stated to Press reporter that
she was thoroughly positive that Mr..
Clark had not tasted a mouthful of any
thing but water for forty one days, '.for,"
said she, 1--WE were only too anxious that
he should eat, and attendants were with
him constantly to effect that purpose, in
which they failed. Whether the pro-
longed fast helped him or not I don't
know, but the probabilities are that he
will go home we'll man next month";
| Philadelphia Press.