DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0074
58
A COPPER OF EXTRAORDINARY MAGNITUDE.
Dr. Willan believes the period of this young gentle-
man’s abstinence to be longer than any recorded in the
annals of medicine. He thinks it impossible that he
could have supported himself through it, excepting from
an enthusiastic turn of mind bordering on insanity, the
effects of which in fortifying the body against cold and
hunger are so very powerful.
In the above communication Dr. Willan mentions
two other cases of abstinence. The subject of one of
these was an insane person, who lived forty-seven days
without taking any other nourishment than a pint of
water per day. For thirty-eight days of the time he
stood constantly in the same position ; but during the
last eight, he was so weak that he was obliged to lie
down, and then took nothing whatever, refusing even
water. When he began to eat again, he recovered his
reason for a short time, but very soon relapsed.—-The
second case is of a young girl, who being attacked with
spasms or obstructions, fasted thirty-four days at one time,
and fifty-four at another.
On this subject Dr. Willan remarks, that though few
conclusions of importance, with regard to medical prac-
tice, can be deduced from these remarkable cases, yet it
may not be without utility to have ascertained for what
length of time the human constitution is able to support
itself under abstinence.
A Copper of Extraordinary Magnitude.
Scarcely any thing contributes so much to characterize
the enterprising spirit of the present age, as the vast
scale on which many branches of manufacture are car-
ried on in this country. Every one has heard of the.
celebrated tun of Heidelberg, but that monument of idle
vanity is rivalled by the vessels, employed by many pri-
vate
A COPPER OF EXTRAORDINARY MAGNITUDE.
Dr. Willan believes the period of this young gentle-
man’s abstinence to be longer than any recorded in the
annals of medicine. He thinks it impossible that he
could have supported himself through it, excepting from
an enthusiastic turn of mind bordering on insanity, the
effects of which in fortifying the body against cold and
hunger are so very powerful.
In the above communication Dr. Willan mentions
two other cases of abstinence. The subject of one of
these was an insane person, who lived forty-seven days
without taking any other nourishment than a pint of
water per day. For thirty-eight days of the time he
stood constantly in the same position ; but during the
last eight, he was so weak that he was obliged to lie
down, and then took nothing whatever, refusing even
water. When he began to eat again, he recovered his
reason for a short time, but very soon relapsed.—-The
second case is of a young girl, who being attacked with
spasms or obstructions, fasted thirty-four days at one time,
and fifty-four at another.
On this subject Dr. Willan remarks, that though few
conclusions of importance, with regard to medical prac-
tice, can be deduced from these remarkable cases, yet it
may not be without utility to have ascertained for what
length of time the human constitution is able to support
itself under abstinence.
A Copper of Extraordinary Magnitude.
Scarcely any thing contributes so much to characterize
the enterprising spirit of the present age, as the vast
scale on which many branches of manufacture are car-
ried on in this country. Every one has heard of the.
celebrated tun of Heidelberg, but that monument of idle
vanity is rivalled by the vessels, employed by many pri-
vate