Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-23
EFFECT OF HUNGER,
Actions Of Human Beings When
Without Food.
Curious Scientific Facts Obtained
Through Experiments - DIFF
ferent Phases of
Hunger.

NJ. Lassignardie, q distinguished
French scientist, has been studying for
some years the effect of hunger Oh hui
man beings, and he has just given tho
world the result of his studies. His
main object was to ascertain to what cx-
tent the mental condition of persons is
affected by hunger, and the statements
which he makes show that his labors In
this direction have not been fruitless.
He points out first that persons suffer-
ing from hunger may be divided into.
four classcs. These are, first, the pro-
fessional fasters-those who abstain
from food for the purpose Of exhibiting
themselves to the public. Next come
the compulsory fasters-those who.
through illness, such as acute fever,
hysteria and some forms OF mental
malady. are unable to take normal
quantity Of food. After them come these
persons who are forced to abstain from
food simply because 1t il out Of their
power to obtain it, among whom may
be enumerated the poverty stricken, tho
shipwreclsed, persons shut up in mincs,I
and all others who are so situated that
it is impossible to obtain adequate
nourlshment Finally como the -cli-
gious fasters-those who abstain from
food because their conscience bids
them.
NJ. Lassignnrdie sought everywhere,
for reliable information on this curious
subject, and he was cspsnially fortu-'
nate in obtaining the impressions and
experiences OF DR.. Marie, who was
among the sh.pwrcckcd when the
French vessel Vile do 81. Nazaire net
with iii luck. Many Of the victims on
this occaeion suffered terribly from
hunger, and the result was delirirm,'
which, according to DR.. Marie, mani
tested itself In most striking mans
ner.
The conclusions ut which II. Lssaie-
nardic arrives are interesting. lie
maintains that IL abstinence OF food
docs not last too long, and especially
II it is voluntary and habituai, th, intel
lectual power Of the Individual viii be-
come unusually active and the mag
ination will run riot in manner un-
known to those who take their regular
meals daily. If, on the other hand, tha
period OF fasting bo heightened, tho
whole character nnd conduct Of the In
dtvidual undergo a change, the most
married. manifestations being strange
excitability Of temperament, extraor-
dinary selfshness, and in some cases
the most mad desire TO do the most
cruel deeds. At the same time may be-
noted intellectual disturbances, such as
loss Of memory, of will power and of
self-control. a. well as an irresistible
impulse to do the most extraordinary
things.
IN grave cases these intellectual dis
turbances are most marked during the
night, and on such occasions they spe-
cially manifest themselves In the form
of Bleeplessness, terrifying dreams,
Nightmares, delusions and reckless i'm
pulses. In those cases, says M. Las
signardie, in which marked intellectual,
disturbances manifest themselves dur
ing the day 1t is safe for the physician
to Judge that the patients condition is
dangerous and that he needs the most
careful attention. He also draws spe-
cial attention 10 the fact that total abb
stinence from food for prolonged Pc:
riod is very likely to produce wild hall
lucinations, under the influence of
which the patient may be impelled to
commit some horrible crime.
In conclusion, M. Lassignardie points
out that drunkenness produces very
much the same effect on human beings
as hunger does. In both cases, he says.
the intellect, the morals and the con-
duct of the victims are similarly Affect
ed.-N. Y. Herald.