32 ALIMENTATION. 



taken in abundance. 1 All of these circumstances have an 

 important influence in prolonging life. 



Berard quotes the example of a convict who died of star- 

 vation after sixty-three days, but in this case water was 

 taken. The instance of eight miners who survived after five 

 days and sixteen hours of almost complete deprivation of food 

 has already been referred to. Berard also quotes from various 

 authorities instances of deprivation of food for periods vary- 

 ing from four months to sixteen years. All of the subjects 

 were females, and the histories of such cases, reports of which 

 are by no means uncommon, belong properly to psychology ; 

 as they are undoubtedly examples of that morbid desire to 

 excite sympathy and interest which is sometimes observed, 

 and which leads to the most adroit and persevering efforts at 

 deception. 2 



The observations of Chossat on the duration of life in 

 inanition show great variations in the different classes of 

 animals. In experiments on -birds, chiefly turtle-doves and 

 pigeons, death occurred, on an average, after 9^0- days of 

 complete deprivation of food and drink. In Guinea-pigs 

 and rabbits, the same observer noticed an average duration 

 of 9-^o 9 Q- days. 3 It has generally been noticed that life is more 

 prolonged in carnivorous than in herbivorous animals. In 



1 In the Social Science Review and Journal of Sciences, London, edited by 

 Dr. B. M. Richardson, we find the following note : " We ourselves knew an in- 

 stance in which a man with a disordered mind refused all food for thirty days ; 

 after a short return to food, again refused for thirty-six days. But in this in- 

 stance, on the second occasion, the sufferer died, although he had recommenced 

 to swallow light nourishment. Ed." (1864, vol. i., New Series, p. 180.) 



2 From time immemorial the credulous have periodically been startled with 

 reports of wonderful cases in which persons (generally females) have li ved for an 

 incredible time without food. A curious specimen of these histories is an ac- 

 count of the case of a girl, ten years of age, who lived without food and drink, 

 and in whom development, &c., seemed to be normal. This was testified to by a 

 learned physician, in 1542. (De puella, quce sine cibo et potu vitam tramigil, 

 brcvis narratio, teste et auctore GERARDO BUCOLDIANO PHYSICO REGIO, Parisiis, 

 Ex officina Rob. Stephani typographi Regii, M.D.XLII. Cum privilegio Regis.) 



8 Op. tit., p. 31. 



