The Brookhaven leader., 1884-01-10
Fasting for Four Years.

In cosy little cottage overlooking
the QuInniplac River on Pine street,
Fair Haven, lives Mrs. John l.. EyartS,
lady who, it is asserted, has virtually
eaten nothing for four years. During
this time she has subsistcd wholly so
her friends say on the Juices of fruit
taken in such saantv quantities as to
be almost inapprcciablc. The Juice of
single orange has served the purpose
of food for DAYS. Eminent physicians
have studied the case and have all alike
been puzzled and routed in their efforts
to master il. That the story of her
wonderful fast is true nobody knowing
Mrs. Evarts questions. Her own rcpu-
tation and the character of the friends
who surround her dispose of any sug-
gcstions of trick or humbug which the
cynical might seek to intcrpose.
And yet the appearance of the lady
does not lend much plausibility to the
idea that she has suffered through any
loss of appetite. When met bv re-
porter of the NorniHg Nc,0s at her door,
yesterday, it was with difficulty that no
COULD believe that he stood in the pr s.
cnce of one who bad tasted no sub,tan-
tial food for fifty months. She was the
picture of health. Slightly past middle
arc, she seemed indeed n fine specimen
OF the rugged, old fashioned New En-
gland woman. used to out door exercise
and Younger in reality than the aver
age woman a half->corc years her
Jun or. Her eye sparklcd and the flush
on her cheek seemed the tint of perfect
health. Her manner was bright and
pleasant. Though averSe to discussing
her remarkable experiences, and feel ne
dread of newspaper mcnt on, she
finally consented to tell something of
the strange story.
''Four years ago" said Mrs. Eyarts,
al visited friends at Portland, Me.
While there | suffered from severe
cough of which | was unable to rid my
self. ! consulted physicians in Port
land and took many kinds of medicine,
but all TO no effect. One spring day
the cough left me as suddenly as il had
come upon me few months b fore.
soon subse ,uently bcganto To suffer from
severe pa Ms in the stomach. Plastcrs
were applied and other remedies sought
in vain. | became unable to eat any
thing. The bare taste of fooi subjected
me to nausea. In this condition re-
turned to New Haven. The best medi-
cal aid was procured for me, and under
the advice OF my physicians | used to
drive daily to a slaughtcr-ho ard
drink warm b'ood. For time this
seemed to help me, though | was con-
tinually afflicted with nausea and was
unable to eat anything substantial what
yer.
81 p to the time. YOU were attacked
in Maine had you been in good health?'
asked the visitor.
"Oh. YES. | had not known really
what sickness meant, and my appetite
had always been excellent; in fact, |
never missed meal or failed to do my
full duty at the table, morning, noon OF
night. After ny return the sickness
began to develop which has had me in
its clutches ever since. The doctors,
one after another, have tried to fathom
the mystery, but all have been defeated,
it seems Some have treated me for
cancer of the stomach, and others have
supposed the trouble to be from an in
ternai ulcer. For fifteen months | suf-
fered indescribable tOrturcs, and was
kept almost constantly under the intiu-
ence of chlorOfcrm. Ether had no cf-
feet whatever upon me, and the only
nourishmrnt took in all this time was
little brandy and ice. suddenly |
grew better and stronger, but my appc-
tite showed no signs of returning"
cit seems strange that you could have
continued aliye?'
"Yc<, almost n miracle. For months
the church bells did not ring, the vibra-
tions affecting me so that | was arain
and again taken with cramps that
doubled my body into most painful
shapes. A celebrated physician of Phil
adelphia heard of my case and came to
see me, and attended me for some time,
but his labors were unavailing. There
seemed no remedy and no skill equal to
the demands of the case, and have con-
tnucd until the present with no return
of appetite and subject to nervous pros
tratiOn."
And all this time YOU have eaten no
meat and no pastry OF any kind?' the
reporter asked.
" None whatever, not a single NOR
sell" was the response. "My physicians
and friends will all tell you this. Tw.ce
in this time have been hungry. 1t was
terrible, and | can not begin to tell you |
what | was obliged to suffer. did not |
dare to eat anything, AMI at the same |
time my cravings were such that when
| saw little dog running in the street |
felt as if coud eat every particle of
flesh upon it. go out to ride nearly |
every day, and consider myself q well |
woman, with the exception that l par
take of no substantial food, and never
sit at a table except for sociability."
"N hat keeps you aiive?'
"My only subsistence is fruit; not
fruit eaten as other people eat fruit, |
can swallow none of the substantial |
portions. Ii is only the juice that dare
take-all that | want to take. This only |
for the past four years has been my en-
tire nOurishment. except that OCCASION
ally allow little loaf sugar to melt in
my mouth. The odor of cooking in the |
house has not the least effect upon me-"
Mrs Evarts smiled as she bade her
caller good-by, and lovingly fondled the
rich yellow orange she held in her |
hand.-NeC Haren (COnn.) NeWS.
"A reader of city paper writes to
the editor: Il have a horse that has |
lately suffered from periodical dizzi-
ness. Please answer through your val
liable paper and let me know what to
do with him. I'm afraid he will get |
worse if something is not done soon"
TIL, oHitor ,utS oO hiS orloSSoc conSultS |