The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14
THE MAN WHO ATE
1850 BEEFSTEAKS.
Remarkable Career of a
Most Extraordinary
Character.
He Conquered Death and His
Own Stomach in a Strange
Way.
Then He Got Religion Suddenly and
Gave Away All His
Riches.

It is cardinal theory of Chinese thera-
peutics that all of mans maladies are the
work of a devil within him and that to
cure the disease you must destroy the
devil. So the Chinese doctor doses the
patient with bitter herbs, which, presum-
ably at least, cure the malady by driving
off the devil, thus killing two birds with
one stone. This nodus operandi works
we'll enough with the Chinese if we are to
believe what the Chinese doctors tell US.
With most of US the devil turks in the
stomach. probably because it is there he
can get plenty to eat. 1t takes a man of
more than ordinary nerve to conquer his
stomach, but such men exist, though they
are rare, like Mahatmas. ] ran across one
of them in a San Francisco boarding house
along about 1880. His name was Boyden
and he was remarkable man in his way.
He was apparently old-prematurely
so. He was little, lean and weazen, with
long, grayish beard flowing down over
his breast and a pair OF small, keen, in
curing eyes like those of terrier. He
was as sharp as he looked, and he had to
be, for he was a speculator in mining
stocks and mines, and only bright men
could play that game and keep even, to
say nothing about making money.
| became interested in him because of
his diet. He sat opposite me at table and
his sole article of food was a dry chip of
beefsteak. This he ate in silence as rule,
for he was a Spartan in his way and joined
but seldom in the gossip common to board
ing house tables.
From neighbor l heard about the beef
steak. Some years before Boyden had
fallen into i'll health, and after months OF
physical arrangement consulted a physi-
clan. The doctor gave him thorough
examination, and after it was finished
proceeded to read Boyden his death
warrant.
"You have got the diabetes" he said.
ut is incurable, and you are doomed.
You may live some years and you may
drop off in six months, but the disease is
bound to kill you, sooner or later"
This was cheerful. Boyden looked at
the doctor with his keen little gray ewes.
Presently he asked:
"Is there nothing can do to save my
life 2''
"Nothing," answered the doctor; "but
STAY There Is OIG dPciuC VI SdlVdGlOn, ana
that is not sure by any means. However,
as you would not follow it, anyhow, it is
immaterial."
what is that2" inquired Boyden.
"a meat diet. If you have got the self
denial and resolution to eat nothing but
well-done meat for say matter of ten
years or so, you may get WELL"
Nothing else?" asked Boyden.
Nothing else."
mo bread ?"
mo bread, no potatoes, no soup, no
coffee, tea or whisky, no milk-nothing
but meat. without dressing of any descrip-
ton; not even thimbleful of gravy"
''IlI do it, " said Boyden. without a mo-
ment's hesitation.
And he did. For ten mortal years he
adhered without deviation to this diet.
Three times day he ate his piece of meat
about the size of his hand, dry as a square
of leather. He never had been fat. and
now he began to get lean. His face got