212 OF FOOD AND HUNGER. 



apparently not in bad health, was extricated from the ruins 

 of a house at Oppido, in which she had remained eleven days 

 without food : an infant in her arms, but a few months old, died 

 on the fourth day, as the young are never so able to endure 

 abstinence.* A moderate supply of water lengthens life asto- 

 nishingly. Dr. Willan was called to a young gentleman who 

 had voluntarily abstained from every thing but a little water, 

 just flavoured with orange juice, for sixty days : death ensued a 

 fortnight afterwards. f Pouteau mentions a young lady thirteen 

 years of age, that lived eighteen months and grew two inches 

 and a half, on syrup of capillaire and water. J Redi cruelly 

 found that of a number of starved fowls deprived of water, none 

 lived beyond the ninth day, whereas one indulged with water 

 lived upwards of twenty. 



A hog, weighing about 160 lbs. was buried in its stye under 

 thirty feet of the chalk of Dover Cliff for 160 days. When dug 

 out, it weighed but 40 lbs., and was extremely emaciated, clean, 

 and white. There was neither food nor water in the stye when 

 the chalk fell. It had nibbled the wood of the stye and eaten 

 some loose chalk, which from the appearance of the excrement 

 had passed more than once through the body. § 



In abstinence equally great imbecility of mind takes place as 

 of body j urine may still be secreted, but the alvine discharge is 

 greatly diminished or suppressed altogether ; the pain of hunger 

 ceases in a few days. 



The torment of thirst increases until drink is procured or 

 moisture applied to the surface or inhaled : inflammation of the 

 mouth and throat and intense fever at length ensue. 



If abstinence is not forced upon the system, but is absolutely 

 a part of disease, it may, like immense doses of powerful 

 medicines in various diseased states, be borne with wonderful 



* Phil. Trans. Vol. lxxiii. p. 169. 

 f Medical Communications. Vol. ii. 

 J (Ktivrcs Post finmes. 

 $ I.innran Tratuac. Vol. «i. 



