New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-06
BEGINNING A LONG FAST.
HIS LAST MEAL FOR roRrYFrvE DAYS.
GIOVANNI suocr GIVING ANorHEF EXHIBITION
OF HIS WONDERFUL VITALITY.


OF HIS WONDERFUL VITALITY.
Giovanni succi dined at p. m. yesterday in the
pArlos over Roster & Bial's establishment In West
Twenty third-st This statement becomes worthy Of
remark only from the further consideration that with
that meal succi babe farewell for forty five days and
nights 10 the pleasures Of eating His next dinner Is
scheduled for the evening OF December 90. In TIE
meantime he will attempt to exist on water and con-
temptation and will submit to the constant surveillance
Of medical and press committee.
succi Is the posscsscr Of highly -przed "elxir,'
composed OF chlorotorm, morphia, ether ard Indian
hemp lie learned its use while enduring the hard
shps Of African exploration. Popular belief has given
10 this elixir the credit Of the feats in fasting
already accomplished by signor succi, though
physicians assert that its only be to alleviate
the pain caused by absence Of food. An eightounce
bottle filed with the liquor. stood succis table
la night and win be used by him in doses of twenty
drops each.
The farewell dinner last night. of elaborate
ness and size commensurate with its importance III
consisted of anchovles boiled trout, olives. celery,
cressini sorta canlnower. kidney stew roast chicken
roast partridge. roast quail. grapes. pears ana
bottle Of chiapt For the benefit of the uninated II
may be stated that riscrta" is Italian dish con-
dstiug Of rice, mushrooms. cheese and wine Az lo
O'Clock succi drank glass OF "Barallo koa1iohl
wine lighted cigar and began his fortyive days fast
mfttee that will have charge OF the case
were present; Ds. G. Bettini al Noise,
Frank II. Ingram, Henry V. wildman' Matthew "
Field, Edwin Gaillard Mason n. W. Lynder ana
Hugh Hagan Students from Bellevue Medical Col
lego win also be In constant attendance, to see that
tho conditions Of the fast are strictly observed
sucoi has boon in preparation for his fast for
several weeks and has stored as much fat possible
upon his slender and nervous body. His measure
ments, taken last night, are as follows height, I'VE
feet and four inches; weight, LAT IA pounds !;
chest measurement contracted, S5 1-2 centimeters
chest, infated 90 12 centimcters biceps, 90 cent?
meters. He will be a considerably smaller man
seven weeks from to-day and will scarcely be able
to wear the full-dress suit that fits him so nicely
now. He predicts, however, that his strength will
b practically undiminshed, and he has provided
himself with boxing gloves, fencing fols, dumbbes
and other apparatus for daily practice.
Fasting Is not new experience for succi, he has
famous for these ordeas the longest OF which
he about to begin He was born at Cesenatico,
in the Province Of FOrii Italy. His father was sea-
man, and on his fathers brig Giovanni spent most OF
his early years In 1876 Inc was stricken with fever
on the Comorcs Islands, in the Indian Ocean. There
he first learned Of the medicine which he afterward
used in Africa and which is his solace in periods
Of fasting. In 1880 he was sent to Africa by the
and there he underwent the prlvaons that convinced
him Of his power Of living for period without food
Florence where he tasted for thirty days under the
auspices. of the Academia Medico-Ficsis Cheyaiier
Lucani professor of physiology superntended the ex
pertinent and committee Of physicians kept Snccis
apartments at the Royal Institute OF superior Studies
under constant surveillance photographs OF him. taken
on each OF the thirty days of the fast are interesting
Ills appearance the last day differs little from that
the first. L. u..,.u
a sin longer fast in the Royal Aquarium IN LONDON
This was in March, 1890, and for forty days ne 40
stained entirely from food. He kept up constant ex-
ercse and seemed 10 retain his strength 10 the iast
Hctween his experiments In Florence and LONDON,
succ performed several feats of fasting in Italy and
spain His performances attracted much attention
from the medical world, as Wen as rom ,ne PS as
nv maintaining his fast for fottyiye days.
Succi looks upon his experiments In the most SER,
ous light possible He fasts, he says, III the interest
of science and expects to make as energetic inroads
upon his next dinner on December 20 as ne aia nPo
his Theory of the powers of human endurance