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that some of these cases of Hippocrates were instances of pyloric carcinoma or of stenosis of the pylorus。 In the older writings there are instances reported in which the period of abstinence has varied from a short time to endurance beyond the bounds of credulity。 Hufeland mentions total abstinence from food for seventeen days； and there is a contemporary case of abstinence for forty days in a maniac who subsisted solely on water and tobacco。 Bolsot speaks of abstinence for fourteen months； and Consbruch mentions a girl who fasted eighteen months。 Muller mentions an old man of forty…five who lived six weeks on cold water。 There is an instance of a person living in a cave twenty…four days without food or drink； and another of a man who survived five weeks' burial under ruins。 Ramazzini speaks of fasting sixty…six days； Willian； sixty days （resulting in death）； von Wocher； thirty…seven days （associated with tetanus）； Lantana； sixty days； Hobbes； forty days； Marcardier； six months； Cruikshank； two months； the Ephemerides； thirteen months； Gerard； sixty…nine days （resulting in death）； and in 1722 there was recorded an instance of abstinence lasting twenty…five months。
Desbarreaux…Bernard says that Guillaume Granie died in the prison of Toulouse in 1831； after a voluntary suicidal abstinence of sixty…three days。
Haller cites a number of examples of long abstinence； but most extraordinary was that of a girl of Confolens； described by Citois of Poitiers； who published a history of the case in the beginning of the seventeenth century。 This girl is said to have passed three entire years； from eleven to fourteen； without taking any kind of aliment。 In the 〃Harleian Miscellanies〃 is a copy of a paper humbly offered to the Royal Society by John Reynolds； containing a discourse upon prodigious abstinence； occasioned by the twelve months' fasting of a woman named Martha Taylor； a damsel of Derbyshire。 Plot gives a great variety of curious anecdotes of prolonged abstinence。 Ames refers to 〃the true and admirable history of the maiden of Confolens；〃 mentioned by Haller。 In the Annual Register； vol。 i。； is an account of three persons who were buried five weeks in the snow； and in the same journal； in 1762； is the history of a girl who is said to have subsisted nearly four years on water。 In 1684 four miners were buried in a coal…pit in Horstel； a half mile from Liege； Belgium； and lived twenty…four days without food； eventually making good recoveries。 An analysis of the water used during their confinement showed an almost total absence of organic matter and only a slight residue of calcium salts。
Joanna Crippen lay six days in the snow without nutriment； being overcome by the cold while on the way to her house； she recovered despite her exposure。 Somis； physician to the King of Sardinia； gives an account of three women of Piedmont； Italy； who were saved from the ruins of a stable where they had been buried by an avalanche of snow； March 19； 1765。 thirty…seven days before。 Thirty houses and 22 inhabitants were buried in this catastrophe； and these three women； together with a child of two； were sheltered in a stable over which the snow lodged 42 feet deep。 They were in a manger 20 inches broad and upheld by a strong arch。 Their enforced position was with their backs to the wall and their knees to their faces。 One woman had 15 chestnuts； and； fortunately； there were two goats near by； and within reach some hay； sufficient to feed them for a short time。 By milking one of the goats which had a kid； they obtained about two pints daily； upon which they subsisted for a time。 They quenched their thirst with melted snow liquefied by the heat of their hands。 Their sufferings were greatly increased by the filth； extreme cold； and their uncomfortable positions； their clothes had rotted。 When they were taken out their eyes were unable to endure the light and their stomachs at first rejected all food。
While returning from Cambridge； February 2； 1799； Elizabeth Woodcock dismounted from her horse； which ran away； leaving her in a violent snowstorm。 She was soon overwhelmed by an enormous drift six feet high。 The sensation of hunger ceased after the first day and that of thirst predominated； which she quenched by sucking snow。 She was discovered on the 10th of February； and although suffering from extensive gangrene of the toes； she recovered。 Hamilton says that at a barracks near Oppido； celebrated for its earthquakes； there were rescued two girls； one sixteen and the other eleven； the former had remained under the ruins without food for eleven days。 This poor creature had counted the days by a light coming through a small opening。 The other girl remained six days under the ruin in a confined and distressing posture； her hands pressing her cheek until they had almost made a hole in it。 Two persons were buried under earthquake ruins at Messina for twenty…three and twenty…two days each。
Thomas Creaser gives the history of Joseph Lockier of Bath； who； while going through a woods between 6 and 7 P。M。； on the 18th of August； was struck insensible by a violent thunderbolt。 His senses gradually returned and he felt excessively cold。 His clothes were wet； and his feet so swollen that the power of the lower extremities was totally gone and that of the arms was much impaired。 For a long time he was unable to articulate or to summon assistance。 Early in September he heard some persons in the wood and； having managed to summon them in a feeble voice； told them his story。 They declared him to be an impostor and left him。 On the evening of the same day his late master came to his assistance and removed him to Swan Inn。 He affirmed that during his exposure in the woods he had nothing to eat； though distressing at first； hunger soon subsided and yielded to thirst； which he appeased by chewing grass having beads of water thereon。 He slept during the warmth of the day； but the cold kept him awake at night。 During his sleep he dreamt of eating and drinking。 On November 17； 1806； several surgeons of Bath made an affidavit； in which they stated that this man was admitted to the Bath City Dispensary on September 15th； almost a month after his reputed stroke； in an extremely emaciated condition； with his legs and thighs shriveled as well as motionless。 There were several livid spots on his legs and one toe was gangrenous。 After some time they amputated the toe。 The power in the lower extremities soon returned。
In relating his travels in the Levant； Hasselquist mentions 1000 Abyssinians who became destitute of provisions while en route to Cairo； and who lived two months on gum arabic alone； arriving at their destination without any unusual sickness or mortality。 Dr。 Franklin lived on bread and water for a fortnight； at the rate of ten pounds per week； and maintained himself stout and healthy。 Sir John Pringle knew a lady of ninety who lived on pure fat meat。 Glower of Chelmsford had a patient who lived ten years on a pint of tea daily； only now or then chewing a half dozen raisins or almonds； but not swallowing them。 Once in long intervals she took a little bread。
Brassavolus describes a younger daughter of Frederick King of Naples who lived entirely without mea