Second, a man well on in life, who had always abused his health. He
suffered from asthma and dropsy, and was saturated with drugs. He
had not been able to lie down for several years. He weighed over 220
pounds, and his legs were "like sacks of water, leaking continually."
His kidneys had refused to act, and after his doctors had tried all
the drugs they knew, he was told that he was dying. His brother, who
narrated the circumstances to me, persuaded him not to eat the supper
that was brought in to him, and so he lived through the night. He
fasted seven days, and went for four weeks longer on a very light diet,
and is now chopping wood and pitching hay upon his farm in Kentucky.
Third, a young physician, as a college boy a physical wreck from
dissipation, now twenty-four. "A born neurastheniac." He was attacked
by appendicitis twice in succession. He fasted five days after the
last attack, and six days later on. Gained thirty-five pounds, and is
a splendidly developed athlete; he runs five miles in 26 minutes 15
seconds, and rode a wheel 500 miles in seven days.
Fourth, a young lady, who had suffered a nervous collapse caused by
overwork and worry. The bones of her spine had softened; her hipbones
tilted upwards three-quarters of an inch; she was "barely able to
crawl on two sticks." She fasted ten days, and again eight days, and
took the milk diet for six weeks. I have seen her every day for the
last eight or ten weeks, and I do not think that I ever met a woman who
impressed me as possessing more superabundant and radiant health.
Fifth, a young man, injured in a railroad wreck; a rib broken and the
outer lining of the lungs punctured. Still has an opening for drainage,
caused by chafing of the membranes. Suffered in succession attacks of
bronchitis, typhoid, pneumonia and pleurisy. Was reduced from 186 to
119 pounds, and had planned to take his life. Fasted six days, gained
twenty-seven pounds, and plays tennis vigorously, in spite of having an
opening in his chest. Recently walked 442 miles in eleven days.
Sixth, a lady, married, and in middle life, a life-long sufferer
from stomach trouble; had experienced six attacks of inflammatory
rheumatism, resulting in valvular heart disease and the loss of the
use of her limbs. Fasted four times--four, eight, twenty-eight, and
fourteen days. I can best describe her present condition by saying that
all this summer she arose every morning at daybreak, walked four and a
half miles, went for a swim, and then walked home for breakfast.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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