The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-17
A MONTH WITHOUT FOOD
ROBERT MARVEL's QUEER DISEASE
Stricken With Paralysis While Working in
Corn Field and Going For Thirty Days
without Food or Water-siow-
ly Approaching the End.

ly Approaching the End.
On the Lafayette pike, near the second
toll gate and about half mile back from
the road, resides the Widow Jones, as she
is known to the neighborhood for miles
around. With her lives Robert Marvel,
an aged relative, who has lately become
afflicted with a terrible disease, which has
caused him to 60 without food for twenty
nine days. Dr. Hasty of this city, who
was called in to see the man, states that
the case is a difficult one to diagnose, but
is of the opinion that his patient is
afflicted with an ossifcation of the coats
of the vessels of the brain. His reason
for the supposition is given in the fact that
the radial artery feels full OF little hard
substances, which would indicate this as
the trouble.
Marvel was working in an onion patch
on the little farm when the disease at.
tackled him. No one was near but his
constant companion, a lad of about
twelve years. 1t was in the afternoon
and, dropping his hoe, he broke straight
for the house, on reaching which he was
unable to speak or tell of what had hap
pened him, and furthermore he was
almost sightless.
The family got him into the house and
into his bed and by this time his whole
right side was found to be paralyzed, he
having no use of any of the members or
muscles on that side of the body. From
the moment he was taken down he re-
fused nourishment of any kind. DR.. Hasty,
who saw him three days after he had been
confined to his room noted that he was
sensitive almost alone to touch. 4 Earring
of the bed he noted, and he seemed to
look about to ascertain the cause of the
disturbance. He could see, however,
only little, as he evinced but little salts
faction after looking about him.
Ever since he was stricken Marvel has
been irritable, and Will not accept assist
ance. He pays no attention to q CONVEX
sation in the room, and when handled or
touched resIsts and appears vexed. After
several days he gained sufficient strength
and use of his side to be able to walk. At
first, though, he required a little help, but
shortly after attacked any person offer
ing assistance. 1t was fifteen days before
any substance whatever was taken into
his stomach, he fighting and pitching off
his relatives when they attempted to give
him water.
After the fifth or sixth day Of his illness
Marvel would arise from his bed several
times during each day and walk out into
the yard. His route was always the same.
Leaving his bed he would go directly
across the room, out the south door, and
onto the veranda, sometimes resting here
a few moments. Then he would step to
the ground, walk east to the end of the
house where stood a wash-stand on which
was basin. Around this stand he would
walk and quite a distance into the yard,
where he would attend to the necessities
of life, and then, turning directly about,
return to the house by the same route
and again resume his couch. At night he
never left the house, but seemed to rest
in quiet, placid manner.
The fifteenth day OF his fast there hap
pened to be a little water in the basin
which stood on the stand, and during one
of his trips that day he picked up the
basin and made an effort to drink. This
was the first substance that had passed
his lips since the beginning OF the fast,
Always after this as he would rise TO take
his walks some of the family ran about
the house and placed a cup of fresh water
on the stand Several times after the
basin episode he drank from the cup, and
twice milk was put in the cup instead of
water, which he also drank. Outside OF
the little water he drank, the two teacups
of milk was the only nourishment he has
taken for twenty-nine days.
For several days past he has been un-
able to take his walks on account OF weak
ness, and will doubtless never again be
able to stand. Even to this day he sleeps
placidlv and is still averse to having any
shown him. He cannot be
given any medicine because he refuses to
take anything and as he fights off any one
who attempts to touch him and thus even
a hyperdermic injection cannot be given.
Mr.. Marvel, Notwithstanding his long
fast, is emaciated but little, still he is
very weak, though he exercises consider
able strength when anyone comes near
him to assist him in anv way.
In the neighborhood in which he lives
Mr.. Marvel has always been considered
an exemplary citizen. The early years of
his life from seven until about eighteen he
a sea-faring life.
Quitting the sea he took up the life of
farmer and his since followed that occu-
patton.
He is about six feet in hight and strong
and muscular, though of a slender build.
His hair is whitened now, and his face is
beardless. He is of a sanguine, bilious
The relationship OF Mrs. Brown with
whom he resides, could not be ascertained
last night, but she is relative.
The old man is a widower and has sew
eral grown children, all of whom are mar
ried. He has relatives in Hauehville
named Nelson.