Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-07-28
TASTED FORTY DAYS.
PROF. PUTNAM DUPLICATED THE
PERFORMANCE or DR.. TAN
NER AND 10 CURED or
KIDNEY DISEASE.
Columbia University Exponent Of Elo'
cusion and His Dolngs N Grant
County, New Mexico.

FROM the Silver city Independent.
To exist forty days without food and
10 live 10 tell Il, such Is the interesting
experience Of Prof. Wellington Put
nam, who left Silver City on last Fri
lay evenings train for his home In
New York city. so far ~ known to
the writer, there Is but q other man,
DR.. Tanner, who performed this feat,
and it left him q physical wreck Far
different with Professor Putnam. iic
did NOT choose to deprive his system OF
solid food for forty days. for the noti-
riety TO be gained from II, but to test
the efficiency OF the fasting cure Tor
Z troublesome kidney disease. PROBES
Putnam claims he has been com
pletely cured by his long abstinence
from food and IL highly elated over
the result.
Prof. Putnam came to Silver City
July IA. 1892, from Columbia universi'
" where he was professor Of ~elocution'
He was suffering from kidney trouble
ana chose the balmy climate Of New
n.rto~ v.rsrtnce TO that OF tho
kG5f6hdackS or the CatskIlls ~ afford
ing him the greatest amount Of sun:
shine thus insuring an outdoor lie
during the winter months. Shortly a.
ter hls arrival here, no decided to put
to ! test, the so-called fasting treat
ment for hist trouble and abstained
from food for fifteen days. The effect
vas beneficial but did not leave him
completely cured. During the winter
months he lived an outdoor life, study
ing in the open air and writing chapter
after chapter Of his book. THE Art q
Impression" Silver City audiences
viii remember several delightful even
ings spent with the gifted reader dur
ing which he gave masterful interpre
tations Of Phillips "Herod' and West
colts David Harum." He also rem
dered rip Van Wrinkle" before IN
Normal students.
Early in May Prof. Putnam left 10
the Ola Hot Springs, about sixty mile
from here, and there decided TO al
stain again from food. \ did not star
ont to fast forty days." said the prt
fessor, but to hold out as long as
could. Finally when the danger sis
nal loomed up 30 large that ! could n
longer AFFORD to pass II by unheedet
decided TO again resume the eatin
habit, just forty days after took m
last mouthful Of food"
Professor Putnam says be came on
here upon the theory that II he woul
abstain from food as much as possible
live an outdoor life and spend as muc
time IN contact with Mother Earth q
he possibly could, he would get vel
He has put his theory TO . test, thong
at what must have been torture I
s0me persons. and claims that he ha
been greatly benefited II not cured b
II. During the irst thirty days Of hi
fast. the professor says he spent IN
time In the open air near bis ten
working ON his book. the concludin
chapters Of which he finished Will
ct the springs, and which Is now In N
publishers hands. During that tim
he drank great quantities Of ella lie
Springs water and took the hot bath
During the next Ave days he refrainc
from doing any mental or physical Il
Dor Of any kind. During the last Nv
days the effect OF his long fast BEGAN
apparent and he had to be attended !
nurse. He was 80 weak he could n,
raise his arm and had to be fed. o
the morning OF the forty-nrst day b
broke his fast by taking soup made I
plasma. a condensed food said to /
pure PROTEIN. But the most remark
BILE thing connected with the fast.
that not once during his fast did !
have the slightest sensation Of hungs
and II was only with the INST mout
ful Of soup did the sense return
him and he developed o ~soracious q
petite. following the soup with graz
nuts and lettuce. For five days afts
his fast he lay In bed. scarcely able