Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1920-11-11
THE FORTY DAY FAST OF DIR
HENRY TANNER.

In connection with the recent hun
ger strike Of Terence MacSwiney, the
Irish prisoner in BriXton Jail, refer
ence has been made to DR.. Henry Tan
ner and his 40 day fast. To the pres
ent speedy and unsentimental genera
ton Of money-getters the mention Of
that once famous feat will likely bring
little or no reactions Of interest or
memory, but to the old timers who
were here In the $685. DR.. Tanners
fast will be recalled as an event that
focused the sympathy of the entire
world for 40 days. upset time honored
theories Of scientific dietarians. turned
the laugh on the doctors and became
sporting event" whose daily out
come was watched in every village in
the country.
DR.. Henry s. Tanner the faster was
born In England. but wasIa resident Of
minneapolis when he upset the worlds
established dietarian ideas. AS a mat
ter OF fact he made two long fasts
HE first came to notice in 1877 at
Minneapolis through his determina-
ton to abstain from rood as an expe-
dent OF relief from asthma, rheuma-
tism and an ailment Of the heart A
ten day period was fixed upon, that
being then considered about the limit
self vastly benefited by his ten day
abstention from food. he continued the
experiment until. according to his own
statement. he had reached the then
astounding limit OF AZ days without
partaking OF any solid food.
His feat stirred up a bitter contro-
versy in medical circles and the gen.
ulneness of his exploit being widely
doubted. Tanner offered to repeat the
performance under any conditions
which might be named. After long
preliminary negotiations. IL was finally
arranged that the test should be made
under the supervision OF medical
college in New York and II was be-
gun at noon. June %, 1880. at Clar-
endon hall.
The most extraordinary precautions
we're taken against possible deception.
the doctor being practically confined to
the hall during the test, and he was
constantly watched day and night.
The sole furniture of the hall or room
where he was kept was a cot and a
table. Before starting the fast, his
clothes were carefully searched to
make sure that he had no tabloid
nourishment concealed about him and
every nook and crevice Of the room.
and even the bed clothes, were rigidly
examined. Visitors were allowed at
all hours in the hall and some men,
Der OF the medical college was con-
stantly by his side as well as attend
Ing physicians OF his own selection.
The first Il days Of his fast he took
neither water nor exercise. BY that
time. however. public interest had
been strongly aroused and to meet the
clamor OF the press and the appeals
or humane officers. he was taken for
a short daily ride in Central park.
drank water from spring therein
and afterward during his fast water
was kept on his table by which he
refreshed himself from time to time.
Reporters from all the newspapers
were assigned daily to watch him and
report progress and whole pages OF
the press were soon devoted to the
test, the minutest changes being noted
In his condition, cabled abroad and
bulletined throughout the country.
AS his fast progressed the public ex-
citement increased day by day and the
doctor was the recipient Of all kinds
or advice. encouragement, sympathy
and protests. Large wagers were made
Tor and against the proposition of his
holding out the 40 days and a great
deal OF money changed hands on the
u
the test. when his condition was con-
sidered precarious. Even in the re-
motest OF rural communities DR.. Tan
ner's fast was the topic of the day
and the bulletins Of his condition were
eagerly awaited.
When he began the fast Tanner
weighed 157 pounds. his pulse being
normal at 80 beats. Toward the lat
ter days of the test, he spent much
of his time on his cot. with his knees
doubled up to his stomach and several
times he showed alarming signs OF
collapse. which were generally re-
| lieved by water sponge baths and mus
tard water rubbed on his stomach and
the soles OF his feet. His irritability
increased rapidly as the period of his
fast drew near its end. The 38th day
he was seized with violent retching and
was unable for n while to retain even
| water on his stomach. Smoking in his
presence was forbidden. as 1t reacted
powerfully on his sense OF smell and
created nausea. Chemical analysis of
the waters elected from his stomach
at intervals showed not the slightest
evidences Of food having been par
taken: He became very weak and
spent most OF his time on his cot, roll
cd up in his covers and with his feet
doubled up In his favorite position.
AS the fast neared its last hours the
interest increased in intensity and took
| on in some instances hysterical pha-
ses. kilograms poured in on him
begging him to desist from the exper
iment. women wired him proposing
marriage. and physicians from all
| Wnrld