Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-08-01
TO WATCH THE FASTING GIRL.
Little Hindoo Who Says She's Not Had
Food in Two Years.


Among members of the medical pro-
fession in Bombay and especially
among persons belonging to the Hin
doc community, considerable amount
of interest has recently been evinced
in connection with the reports that
length of time Bal Premabai--now
generally spoken of as the fasting lady
has been able to abstain from par
taking of food. Bal Premabai, who be-
longs to the Lohana Castle, is only
about is years of age. She is the sis
ter-in-law of Rao Saheb Multi Nara
yen, and she has not partaken either
of food or liquid for the past two
years.
Such being the case, Sir Bhalchan-
dra on April 26 last invited a number
OF medical practitioners of Bombay to
meet him at the Hall of Silence and
Literature at Khetwady, with the OBJ
ject of devising measures for testing
the truth of the assertions made by
and on behalf of Bal Premabai and to
ascertain if she was really fasting as
reported. AS a result of the discus
sion that took place at that meeting
between the medical men present and
Rao Saheb Multi, her brother-in-law,
it was arranged that a committee
should be formed to raise subscrip-
lions to defray the expenses con-
nected with having Bal Premabai
watched by night and day by body of
nurses. In fairness to Bal Premabai
and those acting on her behalf it must
be stated that they have shown every
assistance to the investigating body
carrying out its task.
AS matters now stand it is probable
that the experiment undertaken by the
medical profession will commence on
Wednesday morning and will take
place in bungalow in the compound
of Sir Mungaldas Nathubhais house at
Girgaum, which will be set apart for
the purpose and in which Bal Prema-
bia has consented to reside during the
period set apart for the test of her
aptitude for still continuing without
will be kept in the bungalow the out
side of the premise will be closely
guarded by the police, while within
the little lady will be watched by a
party of six European and Eurasian
nurses, four of whom will take watch
each, while the other two will remain
in reserve in case circumstances
should at any moment require one of
the watchers on duty to be relieved. In
addition Bal Premabai will be visited
twice daily by DR.. Miss Gertrude
Bradley, who will generally supervise
the arrangements connected with the
work of the nurses, and win also de-
vote her best energies to seeing that
the experiment Bal Premabai has con-
scented to subject herself to is not al
lowed to continue in such a manner as
to impair or endanger her health. 1t
may further be pointed out that the
object of employing European and
Eurasian nurses in preference to
natives is TO remove the suspicion of
any deception being practiced. either
by the lady under observation or those
interested on her behalf. Furthermore,
IL has been decided that in the event
of the investigation breaking down at
any period owing to the lady being de-
tected taking or calling for nutriment
the matter is at once to be brought to
notice of DR.. Bradley by the nurse on
duty, after which DIR. Bradley will in
form Sir Bhalchandra Krishna and the
members of the general committee
bombay (India) Times.