Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-13
MRS. WUCHTER'S FAST.
For a Year and a Half the Unf0rtu-
nate Woman Hasn't Eaten
TERRIBLE LIFE OF STARVATION.
The Sight Of Food and Water Causes Her
Intense Suffering.
CONCLUSIONS OFTEN RACK HER FRAME

ALLENTOWN, Sept. 12. - Mrs. Adam
Wuchter, of Whitehall, who was known fol
23S days as the fasting woman, was called
upon by a reporter to-day. She was found
in bed on the second floor of the house
\ which she says she has not left for over q
year and a half. On March 3, 1890, she
took to her bed, being then in an exhausted
condition, having existed for several months
previously on very little food, taken mostly
in liquid form.
She grew worse from day to dav, until
her left side became paralyzed, and she
almost completely lost her sight. Fearful
convulsions racked her frame, and IL
minutes at time was the longest period of
sleep she was able to obtain. Blood flowed
from her eyes and mouth, and the pain in
her head and stomach was almost unbearable.
| Whenever food or even water was brought
near her it would make her very sick, and
a convulsion would invariably follow.
NO FRAUD IN IT.
Leading physicians from all over the
| country visited the woman, most of whom
| declared the case one of fraud, and said she
was shamming. Her family physician, DR..
Sieger, of Siegfrids Bridge, said the fast was
genuine, offering to stake his reputation on
his decision,and he rendered the privilege to
any person or number of persons to watch
the bedside, day and night, and see whether
Mrs. Wuchter partook of any food No one
accepted the proposition, and so the case
gradually became lost to the public.
Judging from the appearance of Mrs.
Wuchter to-day, she is very little better
than when it was reported that she had
begun to take food, December 18, last. She
has terrible cough, and though she had no
convulsions while the reporter was present,
the attendants say she has them every day
from one to a half dozen times. Her left
side is still paralyzed, and the twitching of
the arm and the sinews of the face have
never ceased since they began.
At first she objected seriously to being
interviewed, saying that she had suffered
enough already through the newspapers,
and wished the relief from the gossip of
months past to be left unbroken. She
speaks little above whisper, and what
food she takes consists of small pieces of
toast and soda biscuit. She cannot drink.
SHE CAN SCARCELY SWALLOW.
Most of the iqnid which is put into her
mouth ruins out again, and very few drops
enter the stomach. She declares positively
that she cannot swallow, and any attempt to
do so gives her much pain. She says she
has not lost faith in her God for moment,
and though she has been terrible sufferer,
she believes it is for the best.
Her husband remained with her almost
day and night for more than a year, but now
manages to do an occasional days work.
He was not at home to-day, the mother
being in the care of daughter, now 16 years
of age. DR.. Siege: visits the woman regu-
larly and says the case is as mysterious to-
day as it was year and more ago. He has
given positive instructions that no one shall
be allowed to see her, and whenever the
husband leaves the house his orders are as
positive as the doctors, that no one shall be
admitted.
How long the woman may live is merely
matter of conjecture. 1t may be year or
only few weeks. She may live until
every particle of strength is gone, or she
may die during convulsion.