Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-17
KATE SMULSEY 4 FRAUD.
4 Physician Confident That She Has Not
TASTED Six Months.

Physician Confident That She Has NOT
Pasted Six Months.
A Fort Plains On. " special says DR..
Darwin Potter, physician OF high pro-
fossional standing, has been investigating
The case Of Kate Smulsey. the fasting girl,
and cmphatically pronounces her to be a
fraud. He says that her disease Is chorea,
or st. Vitus's dance, and that she Is con-
stItutionally predisposcd to encourage and
develop what any exciting cause may call
into action. lie was permitted 20 see her
on August 3lst, and OF his examination he
whites
She was lyirg on cot in darkened
room, ostensibly kept so to prevent the
light from distressing her eyes, which, al
the same time, were entirely shaded by
cIose-ftting green glasses. Her general
appearance was one OF good q might sag
excellen) bodily nutrition. and her coun-
tenance exhibited no pallor or other indl-
cations OF long or wasting disease-on the
contrary, had the look and appearance OF
more than average good health. i could
not see her tongue or touch the pulse;
the former. by reason OF darkness
snd the latter by reason OF her
incesssnt motions, kept up while /
WAS In the room. Her arms, body. AMI eS-
muscular development, by no means soft
or flabby, and by the same test | dscov-
cred The whole body to be well nOurished.
end not in the least lean or wasted, a5 has
heretofore been reported, so that 4 cEuIl
inspection OF her would reveal nothing alb
normal. While ] was in the room her
whole body was in motion, swaying from
side to side, her head making the same
movement, and the extremties all particl-
pating in the generally convusive motions,
which motions were generally increased by
my presence on entering the room. but cor
respondingly decreased upon NY retiring.
As has heretofore been announced ~
different times, her difficulty began little
over two years ago, and has been SAID 10
have steadily increased up to the present
tine. ! attribute the cause OF her disease
10 oveTwoIk. want OF sunlight and good
fresh air, and OyCrtaXing the vital forces at
time when most OF all they were needed,
in her transition period, and when the
entire nervous system isputto fearful strain
in establishing the menstrual functions, and
upOn which the normal development OF the
whole future life OF the individual depends
for health and happiness.
II Is claimed and confidently asserted by
the family that since the 10th OF Mlrch last
not morsel OF food and hut very little
water has been taken by her. / have no
disposition in what i am about TO say to
I'm 0ugn the motives OF the family or to I'M
peach their honesty or veracity. for they
are people OF character and respectsbllity
but as medical man ] unhcsitatingly pro-
nounce the above statements an unmitiga-
ted humbug. a stupendous fraud, and
physiological impossibiity. Any one quail
fed TO know the human system, its COM
position, its construction, its method OF
waste and repair, knows that such a
statement OF necessity must be untruthful
and unreliable. 1t is entirely impossible
for any human beng constituted as all
other human beings are to exist without
nutiiment to supply the waste that inerita-
bly, takes place from their bodies daily.
The case has already excited great deal OF
curiosity throughout the whole country
from the fact that, As reported, it was won
deiful-we might say. miraculous. 1 am
inclined 10 believe, after the truth and
facts are fully made known, the glamour Of
mystery with which the case has been
heretofore enshrouded will be dispelled
like msts before the MONDAY sDn.