The morning times., 1896-07-12
IS fAsT|HG ron SCIENCE
Washington Man who Is En-
ulating Dr.. Tanner.
WHAT HE HOPES TO DO
One Object Is to Reduce Weight
and the Other to Settle Some Ply ST.
oiOgical Points as to tire Need of
FOod-HOw He Feels After Sew
eral Days.

MI =. NJ McSOifldsi VINO Has kept drug
store at the northwest corner OF Fourteenth
and l. streets for the last fifteen years, Is
undergoing fast of indefinite length. He
Is doing IL for scientific purposes, he says,
and Incidentally to reduce his weight
The fast was begun two weeks ago next
|, Sunday. Mr. McComas then weighed 269
pounds Since then he has eaten but one
meal. He has meanwhile thrown off flesh
like a man dropping ballast out OF bal
loon, and though still a large man, is CONT
paratively a shadow OF his former self. He
uoes not know his exact weight, for he
has not weighed this morning, but it is
probable since the beginning of his fast
he has lost fifty pounds.
How do / feei?" he repeated, when
approached by Times reporter today.
why, never felt better in nay life.
sleep well, my mind is clear, and am
not a bit hungry. haven't the faintest
idea how long / shall continue the fast.
Now, really, I desire no publicity" he
continued. II talk freely OF 1t to nay
friends, but I do not feel like letting the
papers talk about it until accomplish my
purpose, il even then.'
what is the object OF the fast?''
We'll, want to reduce my weight, in
the first place, and then I am doing il
for scientific experimental purposes. When
/ have accomplished results l will make
them known. l began abstinence from
food one week ago last Sunday. After
eating rather hearty breakfast 1 told
my wife that / was going to fast. She
laughed at me aud said il wouldn't last
long.
'Weii, sir, did not crave for food at
all. l to,k nothing during the week but
an occasional drink OF water. did not
even drink milk. Last Sunday thought
/ was little hungry, so sat down and
ate. Bat did not eat much and was not
at the table more than five minutes.
.Isaid had no desire at all for food. I
do in this way: II you were to come in at
the door eating n banana or a pie l would
want some of it until you had gone out or
, until what you were eating was gone. As
soon as the food was out of sight would
lose the craving.
"Since Sunday I have eaten nothing.
When I began / weighed 269 pounds.
Gonot know exactly bow much have fallen
away, but 1t Is very much indeed. just
look here"
A this point Mr.. McComas Illustrated
his remarks by catching his shirt n either
shoulder and pulling it up toward the top
OF his head. He had not yet put his collar
on and, though the cellar band was but
toned in the front and in the back, he
was easily able 10 hide himself up to the
ears in his linen.
To realize what a shrinking it meant
in that part of his anatomy IL might be
noted that il formerly required two COL
lar buttons, about an inch apart, to accom-
modate the largest collar the wearer was
able to purchase.
II don't perspire like I did," said Mr..
McCemas. Formerly 1 could not put ON
clean shirt without its soon being as
limp as a wet rag about the throat. I
don't get tired like / did either. Where
l. some weeks ago, got on car to 90 four
blocks. 1 will now walk, and even further
than that"
Where does the body get what it lives
on?'
..One feeds on himself" said the drug
gist. smiling grimly at the idea of the
canniualistic feat lie was performing on
his own body. ''The scientific part of my
feeling SO much better is easily explain
able. You see, the fat about the heart.
lungs and other vital organs is the first
to disappear. That naturally leaves one
feeling freer and healthier
''Another secret OF why 1 am fasting Is
TO test my will power. man can do most
anything If he tries. Now. all the time t hat
/ have been so fieshy 1 was an inveterate
smoker. l would smoke from l 5 to 20
and more cigars day.
"The other day decided to quit. was
with a friend here in the store and both
of US were smoking. Ihad used about half
OF my cigar, when laid il down and paid
no more attention to it. My friend called
my attention to it and asked what was the
matter.
I'm going to quit smoking said, and
stopped right then and there. l haven't
had cigar in my mouth since.
~ chow tOfaCrO and do IL since / began
my fasting. Not much more than I for
meriy did however. That does not act as
a susta iner, though. for you know that to-
bacco ordinarily makes men thin, instead
of fleshy.
SWALLOWS TOBACCO JUICE.
strangely enough, since l began the
fast, / swallow all the juice OF the tobacco,
and rarely eXPectorate. l even go fur
ther than that, and swallow the tobacco
itself. 1t never makes me sick.''
''Do you think your rule of tasting would
be good for people in general to follow"'
Il would not like to say that, but believe
all people eat more than is necessary for
them. Tie funny thing in my case is
thatI have not the faiutest desire for some
thing to eat
what would be tile effect on n lean per-
son il he were to follow your course?''
Il don't know. 1 don't believe a thin
man could stand it. 1t would be natural
that lie could not, because he would not
have the flesh 20 support him like stouter
man has"
Mr.. McComas thinks lie will continue to
fast until he has reduced his flesh to a min-
imun, or until he feels some serious effects
from 1t.
He is Il handsome man, rather above the
medium height. He has black hair, in
clined to be rather thin on the top of Ills
head, and black mustache, with thin
Soatee of the same raven color.
His face is an oval, with a ruddy hue, iu-
dicative OF the best OF health. He talks
in a spirited manner. and is apparently as
happy, or happier, than the average mau
that eats three square meals a day.