366 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



to meat ; for when in the hospital, 

 where some of the patients refused 

 to take their medicines, Domery had 

 no objection to perform this for 

 them ; his stomach never rejected 

 any thing, as he never vomits, what- 

 ever be the contents, or however 

 large. 



Wishing fairly to tiy how much 

 he actually could eat in one day ; 

 on the 1 7th of September, 1799, at 

 four o'clock in the morning, he 

 breakfasted on four pounds of raw 

 cow's udder ; at half past nine, in 

 presence of Dr. Johnston, commis- 

 sioner of sick and wounded seamen, 

 admiral Child and his son, Mr. Fos- 

 ter, agent for prisoners, and several 

 respectable gentlemen, he exhibited 

 his power as follows : — There was 

 set before him live pounds of raw 

 beef, and twelve tallow candles of 

 a pound weight, and one bottle of 

 porter; these he finished by half past 

 ten o'clock. At one o'clock there 

 was again put before him five pounds 

 of beef, and one pound of candles, 

 with three bottles of porter ; at 

 which time he was locked up in the 

 room, and sentries placed at the 

 windows to prevent his throwing 

 away any of his provisions. At two 

 o'clock, when 1 again saw him with 

 two friends, he had nearly finished 

 the whole of the candles, and a 

 great part of the beef, but had nei- 

 ther evacuation by vomiting, stool, 

 or urine ; his skin was cool and 

 pulse regular, and in good spirits. 

 At a quarter past six, when he 

 was to be returned to his prison, 

 he had devoured the whole, and 

 declared he could have eat more ; 

 but from the prisoners without tell- 

 ing him we wished to make some 

 experiment on him,|^lie began to be 

 alarmed. It is also to be observed, 

 that the day was hot, and not hav- 



ving his usual exercise in the yard, 

 it may be presumed he would have 

 otherwise had a better appetite. 

 On recapitulating the whole con- 

 sumption of this day, it stands thus : 



Raw cow's udder 4lb. 



Raw beef - 10 



Candles - 2 



Total l61b. be- 

 sides five bottles of porter. 



The eagerness with which he at- 

 tacks his beef when his stomach is 

 not gorged, resembles the voracity 

 of a hungry wolf, tearing oft' and 

 swallowing pieces with canine gree- 

 diness. When his throat is diy, 

 from continued exercise, he lubri- 

 cates it by stripping the grease off 

 the candles betweenhis teeth, which 

 he generally finishes at three mouth- 

 fuls, and wrapping the wick like a 

 ball, string and all, sends it after at 

 a swallow. He can, when no choice 

 is left, make shift to dine on im- 

 mense quantities of raw potatoes, 

 or turnips; but, from choice, would 

 never desire to taste bread or vege- 

 tables. 



He is in every respect healthy, 

 his tongue clean, arid his eyes 

 lively. 



After he went to the prison, he 

 danced, smoked his pipe, and drank 

 a bottle of porter ; and by four the 

 next morning, he awoke with his 

 usual ravenous appetite, which he 

 quieted by a few pounds of raw 

 beef. 



He is six feet three inches high, 

 pale complexion, grey eyes, long 

 brown hair, well made but thin, 

 his countenance rather pleasant, 

 and is good tempered. 



The above is written from his 

 own mouth, in the presence of, 

 and attested by — 



Destauban, French surgeon. 



