Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-01
Fasting for Four Years.

EASelKk u AVNk .
: In a COSY little cottage overlooking
,,a Ouinniplac River on Pine street,
l uoi,. Haven, lives Mrs. John l.. Evarts,
al,dv who, it is asserted, has virtually
eaten nothing for four years. During
his time she has subsisted wholly-so
her friends say-on the juices of fruit
taken in such scanty quantities as to
he almost inappreciable. The juice of
a single orange has served the purpose
of food for days. Eminent physicians
have studied the case and have all alike
Inan puzzled and routed in their efforts
~ master it. That the story of her
wonderful fast is true nobody knowing
Mrs. Evarts questions. Her own repu-
+ation and the character of the friends
Who surround her dispose of any sug-
sost;ons of trick or humbug which the
Cynical might seek to interpose.
And yet the appearance of the lady
docs not lend much plausibility to the
;dea that she has suffered through n
loss 1n of appetite. When met by a re-
nortcr of the Morning NeWs at her door,
yesterday, it was with difficulty that he
..o,ld believe that he stood in the pres
oncc Of one who had tasted no substan-
t;,l food for fifty months. She was the
picture of health: Slightly past middle
ACE. she seemed indeed a line specimen
nf The rugged, old fashioned New En-
c]snd woman used to outdoor exercise
and Younger in reality than the aver
"ne woman q half-scorc years her
iTnior. Her eye sparkled 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 feeling
a dread of newspaper mention, she
finally consented to tell something of
the strange story.
..four wears ago." said Mrs. Evarts,
81 visited friends at Portland, Me.
While there | suffered from q severe
cough of which | was unable to rid N.Y.
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 It had
come upon me a few months before.
Soon subsequently Ibeganto suffer from
severe pa ms in the stomach. Plasters
were applied and other remedies sought
in vain. became unable to cat any
thing. The bare taste of food 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 l used to
drive daily to q slaughter-house and
drink warm blood. For a time this
seemed to help me, though I was con-
t%inually afflicted with nausea and was
unable to eat anything substantial what
eve.
"Jp to the time you were attacked
in Maine had you been in goodhealth?'
asked the visitor.
"Oh, yes. l had not known really
what sickness meant; and my appetite
had always been excellent; in fact, I
never missed a meal or failed to do my
full duty at the table, morning, noon or
night. After my return the sickness
began to develop which has had me in
its clutches V 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
ternal ulcer. For fifteen months 1 suf-
fercd indcscribable t%ortures, and was
kept almost constantly under the intlu-
ence OF chlorofcrm. Ether had no eff
feet whatever upon me, and the only
nourishmcnt | took in all this time was
a little brandy and ice. Suddenly l
grew better and stronger, but my appe-
tite showed no signs Of returning"
"lt seems strange that you could have
continued %alive:Y
"les. almost a miracle. For months
the church bells did not ring, the vibra-
tons affecting me so that / was again
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 tn
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-
t!nucd until the present with no return
OF appetite and subject to nervous pros
tration.h
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. Twice
IN this time | have been hungry. 1t was
terrible, and ] can not begin to tell you
What | was obliged to suffer. did not
aafe to eat anything, AMI at the same
time my cravings were such that when
l saw a little dog running in the street
i felt as if | could eat every particle of
flesh upon it. l 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
slt at a table except for sociability."
What keeps you a%live?"
MY only subsistence is fruit; not
'rult eaten as other people eat fruit. !
eah swallow none of the substantial
portions. 1t is only the juice that ! dare
take-all that | want to take. This only
lor the past four years has been my en-.
lire nourishment, except that OCCASION
any allow a little loaf sugar to melt in
my mouth. The odor of cooking in the
mouse has not the least effect upon me-"
Mrs. Evarts smiled as she babe her
caller good-by, and lovingly fondled the
ileh yellow orange she held in her
nand.-Ncw Huren Conn., News.