HerbertM.Shelton

TheSCIENCEandFINEARTofFASTING

TheHygienicSystem:VolumeIII

AmericanNaturalHygieneSociety,Inc.

FormerlycontainedwithinVolumeIII(Orthotrophy)ofTheHygienicSystem:FastingandSunbathing,

publishedbyDr.Shelton’sHealthSchool

Firstedition1934Second(revised)edition1942Third(revised)edition1950Fourth(revised)edition1963

Fifth(revised)edition1978Secondprinting1993

Copyright©1978byNaturalHygienePressAllrightsreserved.ISBN0-914532-21-9

LibraryofCongressCatalogNumber:77-99219

PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA

TableofContentsForewordtoTheFifthEditionIntroductiontoTheFourthEditionIntroductiontoTheFirstEditionI.DefinitionofFastingII.FastingAmongTheLowerAnimalsIII.FastinginManIV.ABill-of-FareForTheSickV.AutolysisVI.FastingisNotStarvingVII.ChemicalAndOrganicChangesDuringFastingVIII.RepairofOrgansAndTissuesDuringFastingIX.TheInfluenceofFastingonGrowthAndRegenerationX.ChangesinTheFundamentalFunctionsWhileFastingXI.TheMindandSpecialSensesDuringaFastXII.SecretionsandExcretionsXIII.BowelActionDuringFastingXIV.FastingandSexXV.RejuvenescenceThroughFastingXVI.GainandLossofStrengthWhileFastingXVII.GainandLossofWeightDuringFastingXVIII.FastingDoesNotInduceDeficiency“Disease”XIX.DeathintheFastXX.ObjectionstotheFastXXI.DoesFastingCureDisease?XXII.TheRationaleofFastingXXIII.TheLengthoftheFastXXIV.HungerandAppetiteXXV.Contra-IndicationsofFastingXXVI.FastinginSpecialPeriodsandConditionsofLifeXXVII.SymptomatologyoftheFastXXVIII.ProgressoftheFastXXIX.HygieneoftheFastXXX.BreakingtheFastXXXI.GainingWeightAftertheFastXXXII.LivingAftertheFastXXXIII.FastinginHealthXXXIV.FastinginAcuteDiseaseXXXV.FastinginChronicDiseaseXXXVI.FastinginDrugAddictionXXXVII.FastingVersusEliminatingDietsReferences

ForewordtoTheFifthEditionSciencestubbornlyclingstoitserrorsandresistsallefforttocorrectthese.Onceanallegedfacthasbeenwellestablished,nomatterhowerroneousitis,allthegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainstit.Nowhere in this fact sowell illustrated as in thehistoryof the efforts to breakdown the stubbornresistanceofscience to the idea that thehumanorganism, like theorganismsof the loweranimals,cansafelyabstainfromfood forprolongedperiods.Longafter thousandsofmenandwomen hadfastedforperiodsrangingfromafewdaystoseveralweeksandwerebenefittedbytheexperience,sciencepersistedinrepeating,asthoughitwereafullydemonstratedfact,itsstupidnotionthatmancannot fast for more than a few days without dying. Indeed, after some of these long fasts hadreceived much world-wide publicity and some of them had been studied by men of science, thedevoteesofthemoderninfalliblegod,science,continuedtorepeattheoldfallacythatifamanshouldabstainfromfoodforsixdayshisheartwouldcollapseandhewoulddie.

Kirk’sHandbookofPhysiology,17thAmericanedition,page440,says:“Inthehumansubjectdeathcommonly occurs within six to ten days after total deprivation of food, but this period may beconsiderablyprolongedby taking avery small quantityof food, or evenwater only.The cases sofrequently related of survival aftermany days, or even someweeks, of abstinence, have been dueeithertothelastmentionedcircumstancesortoothersnolesseffectual,whichpreventedthelossofheatandmoisture.Cases inwhich lifehascontinuedafter totalabstinencefromfoodanddrinkformanyweeksorevenmonths,existonlyintheimaginationofthevulgar.”

Statements of this nature led to much confusion andmisunderstanding about the possibilities ofabstinence and any possible benefit that may be derived from it. It is not true, as numerousexperienceshaveshown, thatmancannotgowithout foodandwater formore than six to tendayswithoutdying,buttheconfusingofthetwoformsofabstinenceinonegeneralstatementresultedinthe idea becoming current among thosewho presumed to know, that six dayswithout foodwouldhavefatalresults.Howlongthisideawascurrentamongthemedicalprofessionisdifficulttosay,butthestatementthatitwastruewasnotdeletedfromtheencyclopediasuntilaftertheMacSweenyhungerstrikein1920,althoughthousandsofcasesofabstinenceformuchlongerperiodshadbeenrecorded.

Aslateas1927aphysiciantoldapatientwhomIplaceduponafastthatifsheabstainedfromeatingforsixdaysherheartwouldcollapseandshewoulddie.Theoldprejudiceagainstfastingstilllingersin medical thinking. Although at intervals somebody makes the important discovery that thepopularityoffastinghaswaxedandwanedamongmedicalmenandthattheyhave,atseveraldifferenttimesinthepast,madeextensiveuseofit,Ihavebeenunabletodiscoveranyreference,inmcdicalhistory,totheirextensiveuseoffasting.Eversooftensomewiseacreamongmedicalmenwillassureusthathisprofessiongaveitatestandthat itwasfoundwanting,buthealwaysfails togiveus thedocumentationofthetests.Ithinkthatitisallmyth.Thatanumberofindividualmedicalmenhaveemployed fasting (and all of themhave been enthusiastic about it) is true, but the profession, as awhole,hasnotemployedit.

In1877HenryS.Tanner,M.D.,aregularphysicianingoodstanding,undertooktokillhimselfbyabstainingfromfood.Hehadbeentaughtthathecouldexpectdeathbytheendofthetenthday,andhehadsufferedsomuchandsolongwithhisailmentsthathedecidedthatthiswouldbethebestwayout.Hefoundhimselfgrowingbetterdaybyday,asthefastprogressed,and,insteadofdyingonthetenthday,hefastedforforty-twodays,torecovery.Thestorywaspublishedandhewasdenouncedbyhis

professionalbrethrenasafraud.In1880heunderwentasecondfastinNewYorkcityunderthemostrigidtestconditions.Thisfastlastedfortydaysandwhilenochargeoffraudcouldnowbelaunchedagainsthim,hismedicalcolleaguesstillrefusedtobelievethatamancouldlivemorethantendayswithoutfood.BelowIamgivingDr.Tanner ’sownstoryofhistwofasts.

Living at that time in Duluth, Minn., he journeyed to Minneapolis to secure professional aid.Rheumatismofan“aggravatedcharacter,”followedby“rheumatismoftheheart”wasthediagnosisof his case by seven reputable physicians and he was regarded by them as hopeless. He also hadasthma of a very distressing character,which prevented sleeping in a recumbent position, and hispainswereintense.Hetellsusthat:

At that time, in common with the profession, I entertained the fallacy that ten days totalabstinencefromfoodwouldprepareonefortheundertaker.Lifetomeunderthecircumstanceswasnotworthliving.Deathwouldhavebeenwelcomeatthatstageoftheproceeding.Tendaysoffastingwastheopendoortothedesiredend.Ihadfoundashortcutandhadmadeupmymindtorestfromphysicalsufferinginthearmsofdeath.

Iundertookthefast,withoutanypreparationmorethanwhatHopewithherbenignsmileheldout to me. To my agreeable surprise I found that every day of my stomach’s absolute rest,freedomfrompaincameasasequence.ThefifthdaycameandIwassofarrelievedthatIcouldliedownforashort timeandsleep. Icontinued thefasteveryday findingmyself relieved toasurprisingdegree.

The eleventh day came and found me breathing normally; the equilibrium of the entireorganismrestored,andIfeltaswellasinmyyouthfuldays.OnthenightoftheeleventhdayIretiredforanhour ’ssleepIhopedfor,buttomyprofoundsurprise,onwakingthesunwasupandwellontowardthezenith.Ihadsleptforhours,thefirsttimeinmanymonths.IsoughtDr.Moyer,thephysicianofmydesire,andaskedhimtogivemycaseacriticalexamination.Hedidso,anddumbfoundedattheresulthesaid:‘WhyDoctor,yourheartisbeatingperfectlynormal,the first time since I have known you.What have you been doing?’ ‘I have simply givenmystomachanabsoluterestforelevendays,andnowitwithmyself,isliving,rejoicingeveryday.’The good doctor ’s surprise grew upon him profoundly; mine was an experience without aparallelinmedicalhistory.‘Accordingtoallauthority,yououghttobeatdeath’sdoor,butyoucertainlylookbetterthanIeversawyoubefore.’

Thistalkledouttoamoregeneraldiscussionofthephenomenathecasepresented.Hecouldnot believe the evidenceof his senses. I continuedmy fast under his supervision for 31 days,making it42 inall.From thatday to this Ihavehadno returnofmyheart trouble, asthmaorrheumatism.

The story of my fast, contrary to my wishes, was accidentally made public by a brotherphysician and a sensational article of a column and a half was published in theMinneapolisdepartmentoftheSt.PaulPioneerPress.Thecryof impossible—fraud,etc.,was immediatelysetupby thepeople,and themedicalprofessionespecially,and thefeelingwasso intense thatfromthatmoment Iwaspublicly ridiculed,denounceda faker,andwas therecipientofall thebitterandbasedenunciationsthatwouldbearutterance.Proof—proofwasdemanded.Iofferedatanytimetorepeatthefastifthemedicalsocietywouldfurnishthewatchers,andaftermanytrialsforvolunteerstotakechargeoftheexperimentitwasarrangedtotakeplaceinClarendonHall,

NewYorkCity,underthesupervisionofthefacultyoftheUnitedStatesMedicalCollegeofNewYork.Thissecondfastwascommencedonthe28thdayofJune,1880,atnoon.

Asa resultof thegeneral skepticism thewatchwasmadeas rigidas satanic ingenuitycouldmake it. Every article of upholstered furniture was removed from the hall, the carpets wereremoved, a cane seated rockerwas brought in formy use. A canvas covered cotwas placeddirectlyunderachandelier,sothatatnighttheglareofsixgasjetswasshiningfullinmyfaceallnight.Onthecottherewerenosheets,nomattress,nopillow,nothingbutarubberpianospreadforcovering.Arailingwasplacedaroundtheenclosure,soarrangedthatnoonewasallowedwithin itbut thewatchers,notoneofwhomhadanyfaith that Iwashonest,butwouldcheatateveryturn.Insideof thewoodenrailingwasplaceda ropeextending theentiredistanceof theenclosure,beyond that Iwasnotallowed topass.Thedistance fromthewooden railing to therope was sufficient to prevent me from reaching out my hand to receive any article ofwhatsoever character from a person outside the wood-railing and vice versa. Inside of thatrailingwithitsonechairwithoutacushion,andthecot,likeRobinsonCrusoe,IwasLordofallIsurveyed.Thewatchwascomposedofsixtyvolunteerphysicians, themajorityskeptical in theextreme.TheauthoritiespredictedthatIwouldbedeadorcrazyifIpersistedintheexperimentfortendays.

Aboutthetwelfthdayofmyfastthepeopleweretakingcognizanceoftheinhumancharacterofthewatch;ofthefoulairofthehall;theentireabsenceofwaterinthebuildingforanypurpose;themethodof thedoctors todeprivemeof theghostofachance tosleep; thewithholding ofwatertodrink;nomattresstosleepon;nosheets;nopillowsformyhead;andbegantohintthatthesocietyforthepreventionofcrueltytoanimalsoughttobenotified,thattheirinterventioninmy behalf would be in order. About that time the New York Herald editorially stated that theconductof thewatcherswasbrutaland that thedoctorsneededwatchingmore than the fastingman,astheywereevidentlyendeavoringtothwartmeinmyefforttodomypartinanhonorablemanner, while the latter were endeavoring to do their utmost to prevent the success of myendeavor.Letterscamefromallpartsofthecountrydemanding‘fairplay’allaround.TheNewYorkHeraldestablishedaseparatewatchofitsowntowatchthedoctorsaswellasthefaster.TheHeraldexpendedseventeenhundreddollarsinitslaudableeffortstoinsureasquaredeal.

DuringthefirstfourteendaysofthefastIdranknowaterandbreathedairinthehallthatwouldvomitanArizonaMule.OnthefourteenthdayItoldDr.Gunn,thepresident,thatunlessIcouldhaveaccesstopurewaterIshouldfail.ItwasaboutthattimethattheHeraldpubliclyannouncedthat thedoctors’conduct towardmewasbrutal, for thereasonsalreadygiven.After this IwasallowedtorideouttoCentralParktwiceadayinthecompanyoftwoM.D.’sandareporter,thetrio,withthecoachmanbeingmyescort.TheclearsparklingwaterIdrankfromthespringinthepark, called to this day the “Tanner Spring,” and that pure air I breathed filled my cup ofhappinesstothefull.

The most gratifying episode of my 40 days’ imprisonment was the reception of the ‘Simscablegram.’Itcreatedthegreatestcommotionamongthedoctorsofanytranspiringeventuptothattime.ItcostProfessorSimssixtydollarstocableit,andread:

Paris,August2nd,1880

Dr.Tanner:

Don’twastestrengthdrivingout.Standardtelegramsrepublishedeverywhere,andreadbyeverybody. Your experiment watched with great interest by scientists all over Europe,ridiculedonlybyfools.Courage,bravefellow.Wishyousuccess.

J.MarionSims,M.D.

Whenthetimecametobreakthefast,August7,1880,atnoon,I ignoredallsuggestionsandbroke it with a peach. After eating the peach, watermelon followed, at the rate of forty-fivepoundsintwelveconsecutivehours,sufficientfoodtoaddninepoundstomyweightinthefirst24hoursafterbreakingmyfastand26poundsineightdays,allthatIhadlost.

Thus did Dr. Tanner receive a valuable object lesson in the viciousness and intolerance of hisprofession.Hehaddaredtochallengeoneoftheir“established”dogmas,anditdidnotmatterthathemightberight,hehadtobetreatedasalloffendersagainsttheprofessionaretreated.Insteadoftherascals taking the position of students and scientists, they started out tomake the test as tough forTannerastheycould,hoping,thereby,itseems,tocausehimtofail.ItseemsfromTanner ’saccountoftheirmaliciousness,thathehadnofacilitiesforbathing.Thisshouldnotsurpriseus,however,anymorethantheircoopinghimupinfoulairanddenyinghimwatertodrink.Atthattimetheywerenotevenpretending to think that freshairwasanythingbutharmful,cleanlinesswasaheresyand theywerestilldenyingwatertotheirfeverpatients.Myreadersshouldnotmissthesignificanceofthefactthattheyhadtobedrivenbypublicpressureandthecourageousstandofonenewspapertogivehimasgoodtreatmentaswasthenaccordedtocommoncriminals.

Europeanscientistsmayhavewatchedtheexperimentwithinterest,butnotAmericanscientistsnorAmericanphysicians.Neitherdidtheresultsoftheexperimentmakeanyimpressionupontheauthorsofarticlesonfastingthatwentintosubsequenteditionsofencyclopedias.Whatwasformerlyalittlewhitelie—mancannotlivemorethantendayswithoutfood—nowbecamearealviciousblacklieandcontinuedtobepeddled,bothinmedicalandphysiologicalworksandinencyclopedias.

Drs.TannerandMoyermayhavehadnoknowledgeofthepreviousemploymentofthefastingreatnumbersofcasesbySylvesterGrahamandDrs.Jennings,Trall,Taylor,Walter,Page,Densmore,etc.,buttheirpublishedaccountsofthefaststheyhadconductedandtheresultstheyhadobtainedwerenotwithheldfromtheworld.Therewasnoreasonwhyanyintelligentpersonshouldnotinformhimselfor herself in this matter and know far more than the physiologists, physicians and writers ofencyclopedias.

ToreturntoDr.Tanner ’sfasttakeninNewYork,notethathewasdeniedwaterforthefirstfourteendays of his fast. This is not a record for abstinence fromwater, but abstinence fromwater is noregularpartoffasting,notanymoresothanisabstinencefromair,whichhiswatchers (physicians)seem tohavealso tried to forcehim toabstain from.Thedehydration that results fromprolongedwater-abstinenceisveryweakeningandweemploysuchabstinenceonlyincertaintypesofcases,andthen only for brief periods—three and four days at a time. Often, even in these cases, instead ofcompleteabstinencefromwater,wepermitsipsofwateratfrequentintervals.

Aninterestingthingthatoccurredin thisfastbyDr.Tanner tookplaceon theseventeenthday.Hesays:“WhenIleftClarendonHall,inwhichmylastfastwasheld,afterfourteendaysabstinencefrom

water, Iwasveryweak, scarcelyable towalkdownstairswithout supportingmyselfwith thehandrail. On that day I made my first visit to Central Park. There I found a spring of very cool andrefreshingwater,ofwhichIpartookfreely.Returningtothehall,afteranabsenceofonehouronly,IclimbedthestairsofClarendonHalltwostepsatatimewiththenimblenessofaboy.IattributethatwondrouschangetothewaterIdrankandthepureairIbreathedonthatoccasion....ReturningfromoneofmymanyridesinCentralParkandfeelinggreatlyexhilaratedbythewaterandpureair,Ionthe seventeenthday, felt like loudlyextolling theoxygenof the air andwater asvaluable foods.Amedicalstudentwithmorezeal thanwisdom,tookissuewithmeonthevalueofoxygenasa food,andflippantlyremarkedthathowevergoodoxygenmightbe,beefwasbetter.‘Thatisanassumptionthatdemandsproof,’ I retorted. ‘Ichallengeyou to testyour theoryby taking lapsaround this halluntiloneortheothersurrenders.’Roundandroundthehallwewent,untiltheeighteenthlap,whenthestudentfellout,blowingandpuffinglikeaheavyoldhorse,leavingoxygenvictoroverbeef.”

ThisvictoryofthefasterovertheheavyeaterisallthemoreremarkablewhenweconsiderthatDr.Tannerwas already past fiftywhile his competitorwas a young student.Dr. Tanner had refrainedfromwater-drinkingduringthefirstfourteendaysofhisfirstfastofforty-twodaysandfoundthathislossofweightwasgreaterwhileabstainingfromwaterthanwhenwateristaken.

PerhapsafewremarksshouldbemadeaboutthemannerinwhichDr.Tannerbrokehisfastandthegreat quantities of food he ate immediately thereafter and the rapid gains inweight that hemade.Experiencehasshownthatsuchgainsaremoreinthenatureofbloat(awater-loggingofthebody)thanflesh.Thereisalsodangerineatingsomuchinbreakingalongfastandonespoilsmuchoftheeffects of the fast by suchpost-fastinggluttony.Peaches andwatermelons are excellent foodswithwhichtofollowafast,butsuchexcessesofthemasTannertookoverfillsthebodywithfluid.Thereisalsoneedformoreproteinthanthesefoodssupply.Afterthefourthorfifthday,duringwhich thefastisbeinggraduallybroken,proteinshouldbeaddedtothediet,butnotingreatquantities.

Dr.Tannerlivedwellintothepresentcenturyingoodhealthandwasnotmuchshortofninetyyearswhenhedied,althoughin1877attheageof47hisphysiciansconsignedhimtoanearlygrave.JustasthephysicianswhowatchedhimthroughhisfastinNewYorkmissedtheopportunityforgenuinescientific studies of fasting, so physicians of the present are unable to learn anything from hisexperience.

Itshouldbeagreatsatisfactiontoallofustorealizethat,intheend,truthwillprevail.Legislationcannotkillit;ostracism,prisonandthetorchcanonlydelay;theycannotpreventitsultimatetriumph.Fastingisgaininginpopularity.

During thepast twentyyears a numberof physiciansof high repute havemade experimentswithfasting, especially as ameans of reducingweight, andwhile some of these have been enthusiasticaboutthefastcomeupwithanumberofobjectionstothefast.Noneoftheseobjectionsarevalidandthey are one and all based on the result of fastingwhile partaking liberally of such drugs as tea,coffee,cocacolaandothersuchpoisonoussoftdrinks,beer,wine,ale,brandyandotheralcoholicliquors and smoking freely and taking aspirin and other drugs and taking liberal quantities ofsynthetic vitamins. The unpoisoned fast has not been tested by physicians and their persistentemployment of these and other drugs prevents them from observing the true effects of the fast.Although shouting from the housetops that no one should attempt a fast except under medicalsupervision,preferably inahospital,nothing ismoreobvious than thefact that themedicalman is

unfitted,bothbyhistraditionalprejudicesagainstthefastandbythecharacterofhisexperience, toproperlysuperviseafast.

IntroductiontoTheFourthEditionAfewyearsagoLouellaParsonssaidinhercolumn,Movie-Go-Round,“IfoundoutthereasonthatGloriaSwansonhasbeenincompleteseclusionsinceshe’sbeeninHollywood.She’sbeenonawaterdietforeightdaysandhastakenoff15pounds.Theonlynourishmentshehadwastoputcarrotsandother vegetables in water, let them soak, and drink the juices.” I think that she meant that MissSwansondrankthewaterinwhichthevegetableshadsoaked.Thisisnot,strictlyspeaking,afast,asweemploytheterminthisbook,butitissonearlysothatMissSwansonmaybesaid,forallpracticalpurposes,tohavebeenfasting.

It is significant that no criticism of Miss Swanson was offered. Perhaps this may be taken asevidenceofachangedattitudetowardsfastingandnear-fasting.Twenty-fiveyearsago,whenthefirsteditionof thisbookwas issued,MissSwansonwouldhavebeen the subjectofmuchcriticism andridiculeandshewouldhavebeenwarnedthatifshedidnotgiveupsuch“faddish”practicesandeatplentyof“goodnourishingfood,”shewoulddieofanemia,pneumoniaorotherdiseasethoughttobe the result of suchpractices. Indeed, shemight havebeenwarned that if she kept it up her heartwouldcollapseandshewoulddie.

In 1927 Iwas called to see awoman inNewYorkCitywho had been suffering for an extendedperiodandwhohadbeenunderthecareofanumberofthemostexpensivespecialistsandmedicalprofessors in the city. She had had a number of fancy and expensive examinations and oneexploratoryoperationandhadbeenthevictimoftwoormoreconsultations.Itwasdecidedthatthecauseofhercondition(shehadanaccumulationoffluidinherchest)wasnotknownandthatnothingcouldbedoneexcepttoaspiratethefluidatintervalsandtrustthatnaturewouldrightmatters.Shewasmadeweakerbyeachaspirationanddidnotrecoverfromonebeforesheneededanother.

I advised a fast. She feared that, as shewasweak already, shewould grow too weak to tolerateanotheraspiration.Istatedthatthefastwouldobviatetheneedforanotheraspiration.ItwasdebatedbythefamilyandIleftwiththeissueundecided.ThreedayslaterIreceivedanexcitedcallfromthehusbandwhourgedmetomeethimathishomeatonce,statingthathiswifehadbeenfastingsinceIleftandthatshehaddoneitwithouthisknowledge.Iexpressedsatisfactionwithheraction,buthewasdisturbedbecauseherphysician,whohadjustvisitedherandtowhomshehadrevealedwhatshewasdoing,hadtoldhimthatifshewentwithoutfoodforsixdaysherheartwouldcollapseandshewoulddie.Imetthehusbandattheirhomeandwehadanotherconference.Itwasdecidedtogoaheadwiththefastandlet thephysician,whohadwashedhishandsof thecase,sayinghewouldhavenothingmoretodowithituntilshecametohersensesandate,gohisownway.Shefastedtwelvedaysandgreatly improved inhealth.After an intervalof feeding she tookanother fastof thirteendayswithfurtherimprovement.Therewerenomoreaspirationsaftershebeganthefirstfastandthefluidwasrapidlyabsorbed.

Thewomanrecoveredherhealth,wassoonbackatherduties,andthephysician,whoapologizedforhishastyaction,inassociationwithothermenwhohadbeenonhercasebefore,tookhertoMt.SinaiHospitalforacompletecheckupandshewassaidtobefullyrecovered.ThephysiciansaidthathehadbeenreadinguponsimilarcasesandhehadfoundthatinGermanytheywereusingfastinginsuch cases with good results. Strangely, he was unable to find these German references before Iplacedheronafastandwasunabletoofferheranygenuinehope.Atanyrate,thebeliefthatfastingcauses the heart to collapse has been left behind and the fear of fasting that once existed has been

weakened.

Althoughattimesthereappearstobeanawakeninginterestinfastinginthemedicalprofession,thesignsprovetobeillusory.Theprofessionnevergivesupitssearchforcuresandtheseitseeksalmostexclusivelyintherealmofpoisons—intheexotic,adventitiousandhurtful.Theunendingsearchfornewandmoreeffectivecuressignifiesthelackofvalidunderlyingprinciplestoguidethephysicianinhiscareofhispatient.Perhapsatnootherperiodofhistoryhastherebeensucharapid turn-overofcuresaswehavewitnessedduringthepasttwentyfiveyears,yetatnotimeinallpasthistoryhastherebeensucharapidincreaseintheincidenceofandmortalityfromdisease.Withallthefailuresof all the cures of the past twenty-five hundred years, the search still goes on for foreign andadventitioussubstanceswithwhichtocurediseaseandnoattentionisgiventothemanagementofthenormalthingsoflifetotheendthatameansofrecoverymaybefoundintheseelementsofliving.

Innootherareaofhumanactivityhasanyendeverbeenpursuedwithamoreobsesseddevotionandlessappropriatetechniquesthanhasbeenthesearchforcures.Thissearchforcuresinexoticsourcesstemsfromatotallywrongconceptionofthenatureofdiseaseandfromawhollymistakenviewofitscauses.Fewpeoplearewillingtoadmitthattheirimprudencesinlivingareresponsiblefortheirdiseases.Theythinkthatdiseaseissomethingindependentoftheirbodies,thatitisevenanentitywithan independent existence that attacks them under circumstances over which they have little or nocontrol. It is to theirmisfortune, rather than to theirmisconduct that they owe their sickness. Thisview relieves themof all responsibility for their condition andmakes themunfortunate victimsofforcesbeyondtheircontrol.Hencetheirimplicitfaithinthepowerofdrugstocure them,that is, toexorcisetheattackinggermorvirus.

Believing disease to have a separate existence, they are easily led to believe that a drug or acombinationofdrugscanbegiven todestroy that existenceand, then,of course, theywillbewellagain. This view is not only held but fostered by the medical profession, which finds the viewfinancially profitable. Strangely enough, even those who persist in the old view that disease is apunishmentsentbyGodHimselfuponsinfulmenandwomen,donothesitatetostaythehandofGodwith their drugs and treatments. Whether it is believed that disease is a “dispensation of DivineProvidence,” the invasion of the body by a demon or an attack upon the body by microbes andviruses,theideathatitcanbecuredbydrugsprevailsandpracticesbasedonthisbeliefareinvogue.

Beforetheoriginofthemedicalprofessionthereexisted,andalthoughatalaterperiod,wascarriedoutco-incidentallywithmagicandreligiousprocedures,asystemofcaringforthesickthatconsistedof adjusting the normal needs of life to the crippled condition of the sick organism. Among themeasuresemployedunderthissystemwasthatoffastingorabstinencefromfood.Therewasalsoaclosely related procedure that consisted in feeding foods in smaller amounts or in feeding onlycertaineasilyutilizedfoods.WhenPlutarchadvised:“Insteadofusingmedicine,ratherfastaday,”hewasundoubtedlyadvisingareturntothepreHippocraticpractice,thathethoughtthatregulationofthewayoflifewassuperiortothedruggingplanthathaddevelopedafterHippocrates.Celsus,whowasnotaphysician,alsoadvisedabstinencefromfood, referring to the firstdegreeofabstinence,“whenthesickmantakesnothing,”andtheseconddegree,“whenhetakesnothingbutwhatheought.”

Idonotagreewiththecommonassumptionthatfasting,inthebeginning,wasareligiousactivityorthat itwasentereduponasadiscipliningmeasure.Neitherdo I agree that, in itsorigin, ithadanyspiritualsignificance.Apracticethatissowellrootedininstinctandthatisindulgedinbybothplants

andanimals,canhardlyhaveoriginatedinreligion.Thatithasbeenincorporatedintomostreligionsand has long been invested by them with disciplinary, spiritual and sacrificial significance is notdenied;itisonlydeniedthatithadareligiousorigin.Dr.M.L.Holbrook,aprominentHygienistofthelastcentury,declared:“Fastingisnocunningtrickofpriestcraft,butthemostpowerfulandsafeofallmedicines.”

“Everything according to law” is the testimony of scientists. Man becomes possessed of earth’streasuresassoonashelearnsthelawsoftheirproduction.Thediscoveryofthelawisthefirststeptowardsexactknowledge.Nolawsgoverningdrugoperationhaveeverbeendiscovered.Drugging,althoughtodayaccompaniedwithextensiveexperimentalwork,isstill,asitmustalwaysremain,anempiricalpractice.Asitisanefforttomakeuseof,inonedepartmentofnature,thingsthatnormallybelong in another, there are and canbeno lawsgoverning its operations in this other department.Regulationofthewayoflife,ontheotherhand,canandmustbebasedonthelawsgoverninglifeandtherelationsoftheseelementstolife.Thusitisthatfasting,whichweshalldemonstrateisanormalpartofthewaysoflife,maybecarriedoutaccordingtoascertainablelawsofnature.

Muchexperimentalworkhasbeendonewithfasting,butmostofithasbeentrivialandtheresultsinsignificant.Forthemostpart,theseexperimentshavebeencarriedoutonhealthyanimalsandnear-healthy human beings and they have been set up for the purposes of finding answers to certainproblemsinphysiology.Oftentheyhavebeensetupinsuchawayastofailtogivetheanswerstotheproblems;oftentheyhavebeenofsuchshortdurationthattheresultsweremisleading.Inalmostallinstances,theinterpretationsofresultshavebeenunworthyofschoolchildren.

InalettertomedatedApril4,1956,FrederickHoelzel,longassistanttoDr.AntonCarlsonoftheDepartmentofPhysiologyoftheUniversityofChicago,says:“Idonotknowwhereyouandothers,includingregularmedics,gettheideathatDr.Carlsonisagreatauthorityonfastingorhaspublisheda great deal on this subject except from the publicity he received in newspapers and popularmagazines.Hehastalkedalotonthesubjectandhaspromotedstudiesbyothersonthesubject,butaboutallhehasdonepersonallywastofastlessthan5fulldayshimselfin1914andthatwasforastudyofhungerduringwhathecalled‘prolongedstarvation.’”

Contrarytotheimplicationsofthisstatement,IneverregardedCarlsonasanauthorityonfasting.Thepublicityhereceiveddidstronglyindicatethathewasdeeplyinterestedinthesubjectandthathewascarryingonexperimentalworkinfasting.ButIwasalwaysconvincedthatmostoftheworkhedidandmostoftheworkdonebyhisstudentsandassistantswastrivialandlednowhere.Likemostresearch, it was a waste of time, money and human talents. As I shall show later, I regard hisconclusionsfromhisstudiesof“hunger”tobeerroneous.

Others have done a little clinical experimenting with fasting and semifasting, but they have notdifferentiatedbetweenthefastandthelimiteddietstheyhavefed,sothattheirconclusionsmaynotbeas conclusive as they seem to think. The Lancet (London) carried an article entitled “Influence ofFastingontheImmunologicalReactionsandCourseofAcuteGlomerulonephritis”(Brod,Pavkova,Fencl,Hejl&Kratkova,1958).Briefly,theexperimentwasasfollows:Thetestgroupwasfastedforsixtyhours,exceptforonehundredml.perdayofunsweetenedfruitjuice,andthenwasplacedona“semistarvationdiet”ofmostly fruitsandvegetablesyieldingnotmore than fivehundredcalories,until“allsignsoftheacutevascularreactionhadsubsided”(p.761).Thecontrolgroupwas treatedwithbedrestandalightdiet,whichisoneofthecurrentlyacceptedtreatmentsforthisdisease.

Itwasfoundthatthosewho“fasted”recoveredmuchmorerapidlyandcompletelythanthosewhomerelyhadbedrestandalightdiet.Butthetestgroupdidnothaveafullfast,norwastheperiodofabstinenceofsufficientlylongdurationtoprovideforfullresults.Suchtestsmayhavesomevalue,buttheycertainlyfallfarshortofwhatisrequiredtodeterminethevalueofthefast.

AnotherseriesofclinicalexperiencesthathavebutlimitedvaluearethosethathavebeencarriedoutbyWalterLyonBloom,M.D.,inthePiedmontHospital,Atlanta,Ga.Hisemploymentofthefasthasbeenincasesofobesity,allcasesbeingwhathedescribedashealthysubjects.Theylostweight,theysufferedno inconvenience fromhunger, they found fastingeasy,but theyprovidedBloomwithnoexperiencesor observations that are of dramatic significance.Bloom (1959) did comeupwith theobservation that “our present preoccupation with eating at regular intervals has led to themisconceptionthatfastingisunpleasant”(p.214).Hisobservationsshowedittobeotherwise.

Such tests as these may serve to confirm what we have known for a long time about theachievements of the living organism in a period of fasting, but they hardly add anything to ourknowledgeof thesubject. In this instance, in thepopularaccountsgivenofBloom’swork, readerswere warned not to undertake a fast except under the care of a physician (who would have noknowledgeofhow toproperlyconduct a fast)because if theyhadheartdiseaseor liverorkidneydiseaseoranemia,disastermightresult.HadBloomcarriedouthisstudiesinthesickhewouldhaveknownhowmuchbenefitpatientswiththesediseasesmightreceivefromaproperlyconductedfast.

Myopinion is that the timehasarrivedwhen thefastshouldreceivemoreattentionandapproval.Slowlytheignoranceofthepastthreecenturiesisbeingdispelledanditisbecomingmoreandmoreapparentthatourfathersandgrandfatherswerewrongintheirdeterminationtofeedthesick“plentyofgoodnourishing food.”Today theoldestnatural resort in sickness is about tobe re-recognizedandmankindisagaintobenefitfromameasurethatshouldneverhavebeenabandoned,whetherfordrugsor forsomethingelse. Itdoesnotmatter tomewhat themedicalprofessionelects todo; thepublicistheimportantfactorinthisrecognition.

IntroductiontoTheFirstEditionInpresentingthisvolumeonfastingIamwellawareofexistingprejudicesagainsttheprocedure.Ithaslongbeenthepracticetofeedthesickandtostufftheweakonthetheorythat“thesickmusteattokeepuptheirstrength.”Itisveryunpleasanttomanytoseelongestablishedcustomsbroken,andlongcherishedprejudicessetatnaught,evenwhenagreatgoodistobeachieved.

“Shallwenotrespect theaccumulatedwisdomof thethreethousandyears?,”ask thedefendersoftheregularschoolandtheirfeedinganddruggingpractices.

Where, we ask, is the wisdom for us to respect? We see little more than an accumulation ofabsurdities and barbarities. “The accumulated wisdom of three thousand years!” Look at sickhumanityaroundyou;lookatthemortalityreports;lookatgenerationaftergenerationcutoffintheveryspring-timeoflife,andthentalkofwisdomorscience!

Inthisvolumeweofferyourealwisdomandtruescience—weofferyoutheaccumulatedwisdomofmanythousandsofyears,wisdomthatwillstillbegoodwhenthemassofweakening,poisoningandmischiefinflictingmethodsofregularmedicineareforgotten.Abriefhistoryoffastingwillhelptoprovethetruthofthis.

During the past forty years fasting and its Hygienic accompaniments have gained immensepopularityandthepositiontowhichtheyareentitledbyvirtueoftheirintrinsicworth.Theadvocatesof fastingare constantly increasing innumber and the strenuousopposition that fastinghashad toface from the medical profession and from laymen alike has merely served to advertise itspossibilitiesand thesimplicityandreasonablenessof theclaimsmadefor it.Thebenefits that flowfromaproperlyconductedfastaresuchthatwedonothesitatetopredictthatitistheoneprocedureindiseasethatwillbeuniversallyemployedwhenitisoncefullyunderstood.

Theliteratureoffastingisnotwellknowntotheaveragepractitionerofwhateverschool.Fewofthemhavemadeastudyofthesubject.Likewise, theyhavehadnoexperiencewithfastingandlackconfidence in its application. A brief review of the history of fasting will serve, therefore, as abackgroundtothesubjectandwillgiveconfidencetopractitionerandpatient.

Aswillbeshownlater,fastingforthemanypurposesforwhichithasbeenemployed,hasbeeninusesincebeforethedawnofhistory.Indeed,itmaybesaidthatitisasoldaslife.Asaprocedureinthecareof thesick, it fellalmostwholly intodisuseduring theDarkAgesandwasrevivedonlyalittleoverahundredyearsago.

Records of fasting are found among almost all peoples in both ancient and modern times. Ourencyclopedias tell us that, although the objectives of fasting vary among individuals, the aims offasting fall, for the most part, into two distinct categories: (1) fasting for reasons of spiritualenlightenment, self-discipline and other religious motives; and (2) fasting for the purpose ofachieving political ends.Unfortunately thewriters of articles on fasting in the encyclopedias havelimitedthemselvestooseverelyintheirstudiesoffasting;perhapstheyhavedonethisforthedistinctpurposeofsuppressingmanyimportanttruthsaboutfasting.Writersofarticlesforencyclopediasarenotaddictedtothecommendablehabitoftellingthetruthandtheyareusuallyfromtentoahundredyearsbehindthemarchofknowledge.

Theauthorsofthearticlesonfastinginthevariousencyclopediasseemtoconfinetheirreadingandbibliographies to religious fasting. Although none of the present-day encyclopedias that I haveconsultedcarriestheoldstatementthatifamangoeswithoutfoodforsixdayshisheartwillcollapseandhewilldie,theycarrystatementsalmostasabsurd.Forexample,thearticleonstarvation in thelatest editionof theEncyclopediaAmericana carries the statement that the “preliminary” hunger isaccompanied with “severe pain in the stomach and epigastric region generally,” thirst “becomesintense,” “the face assumes meanwhile an anxious, pale expression;.. . the skin is said to becomecoveredwithabrownsecretion.”Itspeaksofthe“decompositionandorganicdecayofthetissues,”asthough the fasting person is undergoing a rotting process. “The gait totters, the mind becomesimpaired,deliriumorconvulsionsmayensue,anddeathoccurs.”“From8to10daysisregardedasthe usual period during which human life can be supported without food or drink. . . . A case isrecordedinwhichsomeworkmenweredugoutaliveafterfourteendays’confinementinacolddampvault;andanotherismentionedinwhichaminerwasextricatedaliveafterbeingshutupinaminefortwenty-threedays,duringthefirsttenofwhichhesubsistedonalittledirtywater.Hedied,however,threedaysafterhisrelease.”

Thereis,inthisdescription,andthereismuchmoretoit(Ihavemerelyrepeatedthehigh-lights),of“starvation,”nodifferentiationbetweenfastingandstarving,littledifferentiationbetweenfastingwithand fastingwithout water, and a gross exaggeration of the actual developments, together with theadditionoffictionalelementsthataredrawnfromtherealmoftheimagination.Thebibliographyattheendofthissectionlistsexactlythreepublicationsoneofthesedated1884-5,onedated1847andtheotherdated1915.Butthemostimportantpartofthe1915publicationisentirelyignored.

Physiologistswhodiscussfasting,oras theyprefer totermit,starvation,areasprone,asare thewriters of articles for the encyclopedias, to rely upon a limited and antiquated bibliography. Forexample, Howell (1940), a standard text, relies largely upon Voit. Its bibliography of “originalsources” includes: Lehmann, Mueller, Munk, Senator and Zuntz (1893); Luciani (1890); Weber(1902);andBenedict(1915).

Such deliberate suppression of all the accumulated information about fastingmakes it extremelydifficultforthestudentofthesubjecttolearnthetruthaooutfasting.Coupledwiththissuppressionofinformationisthehabitualfailureofallstandardauthorstodistinguishbetweenfastingandstarving.Is thisdone through ignorance,or is itdonewithmaliceaforethought; is itdone for thedeliberatepurposeof prejudicing the student against the subject? I leave this for the reader to draw his ownconclusions.

Fasting in its modern phase had its beginning with Dr. Jennings in the first quarter of the lastcentury.Jenningsmaybesaidtohavestumbleduponitbyaccidentatatimewhenhiswaningfaithindrugscausedhimtolookforotherandmoredependablemeansofcaringforthesick.

ItisquitecommontoseeDr.Deweyreferredtoasthe“FatheroftheFastingCure.”Dr.Hazzard,onthe other hand, declares that “Dr. Tanner is justly entitled to first place among the pioneers oftherapeuticfasting.”Ihavenodesiretodetractoneiotafromthecreditduetheseworthymen,butImust insist that first place, belongs to Dr. Jennings, and wish to point out in this connection thatJennings possessed a fairly accurate idea ot nature’s “bill-of-fare for the sick,” beforeDr.DeweydiscovereditinYeo’sPhysiology.

Dr.Henry S. Tannerwas born inEngland in 1831; died inCalifornia in 1919.His first fastwas

beguninJuly17,1877.Dr.EdwardHookerDeweywasborninWayland,PennsylvaniainMay,1839;diedMarch 28, 1904. In July, 1877Dr.Deweywitnessed the first case that fasted to recovery, thestomachrejectingallfood,andwhichsethimtothinkingaboutandfinallyemployingfasting.ThustheworkofDeweyandTannerbeganalmostsimultaneously.However,Dr.Jenningswasemployingthefastbeforeeitherofthesemenwerebornandwroteaboutitwhiletheywerebothboys.Dr.Trall,SylvesterGraham,Dr.Shew,andothersoftheirco-workerswerealsoadvocatingandusingthefastwhileDrs.TannerandDeweywereschoolboys,althoughonealmostneverseesthesemen’snamesintheliteratureoffasting.WefindDr.Jenningsusingfastingasearlyas1822andGrahamadvocatingfastingin1832.Inhisworkoncholera,whichishispublishedlecturesonthesubject,firstdeliveredin New York City in 1832, he recommends fasting for cholera and other febrile conditions. TheGrahamJournaladvocatedfastingin1837,itsfirstyear.

AwriterintheGrahamJournalforApril18,1837,writingunderthetitle“TheGrahamSystem—what is it?” includes in his item by item description of the system the fact that “abstinence shouldalwaysbepreferredtotakingmedicine—itisabenefittoloseamealoccasionally”(p.17).

Anotherwriter,who signs himself “Equilibrist,” quotesBeaumont (1833): ‘ “In febrile diathesis,very little or no gastric juice is secreted. Hence, the importance of withholding food from thestomachinfebrilecomplaints.Itcanaffordnonourishment;butisactuallyasourceofirritation tothat organ, and, consequently, to the whole system. No solvent can be secreted under thesecircumstances; and food is as insoluble in the stomach as lead would be under ordinarycircumstances.’”Headds,“IfIrememberright,thedoctorstatesthatfoodhaslaininthestomachofAlexis St. Martin from 6 to 30 or 40 hours, unchanged except by chemical affinities (he is herereferring to fermentation and putrefaction. H. M. S.) during some of his ill turns. And yet whatmultitudesthinkthatwhentheyhavea‘badcold’theymusteatortheywillcertainlybesick!O!Imust‘stuffacoldandstarveafever,’theywilltellyou,andgoatitinearnest;andnotunfrequentlyinthiswaybringona‘fever ’thatwillrequireweeksto‘starve’out.

“I can testify from my own ‘experiments’ as well as those of Doct. Beaumont, that any personhavinga‘badcold’mayfindentirereliefbyabstainingfromfood,one,two,three,orperhapsfiveorsixmealsifthecaseisabadone,andthattoowithouttakingaparticleofmedicine”(1837,p.187).

ItisworthyofnotethatGrahamandtheGrahamitesattemptedtoformtheirpracticesinconformitywithwhatwas known in physiologywhile themedical profession, though studying physiology incollege,were then as now, forgetting it as soon as they got into practice and followed the time-honored practice of drugging which bears no normal relation to physiology and violates everyphysiologicalprinciple.

Dr.Oswald,whowasacontemporaryofDewey,referstofastingas“theGrahamstarvationcure.”Itis quite probable also that Doctors Page, Oswald, andWalter preceded Dewey and Tanner in theemployment of fasting.Dr. Page’s book, published in 1883, recounts recoverieswhile fasting andurgesfastinginmanycases.Mr.Macfadden’sandDr.Oswald’sFastingHydropathyandExercisewaspublished in 1900. These threemenwere all acquaintedwith theworks of Dr. Jennings andwereinfluencedmuchbyhim,frequentlyquotinghim.IfeelsafeinassumingthattheyalsoreceivedmuchfromTrallandGraham.

Laboratoryconfirmationofthebenefitsoffastingisnotlacking;butitisnotneeded.Scienceisnotconfinedtothelaboratoryandhumanobservationisoftenasreliableinthefieldofpracticeasinthat

of experiment.Much experimentalworkwith fasting, both inmen and animals, has been done byapproved laboratory men. Little attention has been given by these men to the value of fasting in“disease”conditions,buttheirworkisofvaluetousinageneralstudyofthesubjectbeforeus.

In 1915 much credit was given to Frederick M. Allen, A.B., M.D., of the Rockefeller InstituteHospitalfor“discovering”the“starvationtreatment”ofdiabetes.However,otherscanbenamedwhoprecededhim.Dr.Deweysuccessfullyemployedfastingindiabetesasfarbackas1878.Dr.Hazzardemployedfastingindiabetespriorto1906.In1910Dr.Guelpa,ofParis,wroteabookbasedonhisexperiencewith short fasts in the treatment of diabetes and other chronic “diseases.” The Englishtranslationwaspublishedin1912underthetitleAutointoxicationandDisintoxication:AnAccountofaNewFastingTreatmentinDiabetesandotherChronicDiseases.Theso-called“Allen”treatmenthasbeendescribedbyseveralauthors(SeeAllen,1914;1915;Joslin,1915;1916;Hill&Eckman,1915;andStern,1916).

In 1923 Fasting and Undernutrition by Sergius Morgulis, Professor of Biochemistry in theUniversityofNebraskaCollegeofMedicine,waspublished. It isamost thoroughstudyof fasting,starvationandundernutritionasfarasthesesubjectshavebeenworkedoutinthelaboratory.

AlthoughProf.Morgulishasawideacquaintancewiththeso-calledscientificliteraturedealingwiththe subject of fastingor inanition, he voluntarily cuts himself off from all of the literature of so-calledtherapeuticfasting,andappliessuchtermsas“enthusiasts,”“amateurs”and“faddists”tothosewhoseyears of experiencewith fasting enable them to apply it to the care of humanbeings in thevariousstatesofimpairedhealth.Inanextendedbibliographyhementions,fromthemanyworksonfastingbyitsexponents,onlythatofHerewardCarrington.Mr.Carrington’sbookisoneofthebestbooks on the subject which has yet appeared, but it is by no means complete or even up-to-date,havingbeenpublishedin1908.MorgulisignorestheworksofJennings,Graham,Trall,Densmore,Walter,Dewey,Tanner,Haskell,Macfadden,Sinclair,Hazzard,Tilden,Eales,Rabagliati,Keith andothers who have had widest experience with fasting and who have written extensively upon thesubject.

Necessarily,thislimitshisfieldverylargelytothefieldofanimalexperimentationandalsolimitshis knowledge of the effects of fasting in various pathological states. In the book there is noinformationontheproperconductofthefast.Thehygieneofthefast,crisesduringthefast,dangersignalsduringthefast,breakingthefast—theseandotherverypracticalproblemsarenotconsidered.Neither does he distinguish between fasting and starving. The omission of these things from atechnicalbookisinexcusable.

ProfessorMorgulis’masterlyworkisfulloftechnicaldataontheeffectsofabstinencefromfoodupon the body and its various parts. However, since most of its data is based upon animalexperimentation,hehavingelectedtoignoretheworksonfastingbythosewhoemployit,andsincewhat is trueofonespecies isnotalways trueofanother, theconclusionshearrivesat in thisworkmaybeacceptedonlyinageneralwayanddonotalwaysharmonizewiththefindingsofthosewhoemployfastinginmen,andparticularlyinthecareofthesick.

Mostofthe“scientific”worksoninanitionhavelittleornovalueforusinastudyoffasting.Thisissoforthefollowingreasons:

1.Abstinencefromfoodmaymeanmissingonemeal,oritmaymeanabstinencefromfooduntil

deathresultsfromstarvation.Intheseworkslittleornoeffortismadetodifferentiatethechangesthatoccurduringthedifferentstagesofinanition.

2.Mostofthestudies(inman)havebeeninfaminevictimsandthesearenotcasesoffasting,nordothesepeoplesufferonlyfromlackoffood.Thereisoftenexposure,thereisalwaysfearandworry,there are also the effects of one-sided diets. Findings in death in famines are classed as due toinanitionandarenotdifferentiatedfromfastingchanges.

3.Intotalinanitionnowateristakenandmanyofthescientificexperimentswithholdwateraswellasfoodfromtheanimals.Theresultsofsuchexperimentscannotbeusedtodeterminetheresultsoffasting.

4. Inanition studies are all mixed up with pathologies of all kinds that occasion more or lessinanition.Manyof thestudiesofstarvationinhumanshavebeencomplicatedwithotherconditionsthataccountformuchofthefindings.

5.Studiesof fastingchangesare somixedupwith starvationchangesandchangesdue todietarydeficienciesandthereissolittlediscriminationbetweenthethreetypesofchanges,thatthesebooksbecomeverymisleading.

6.Noneoftheexperimentershaseverobservedproperlyconductedfastsofthesickunderfavorableconditions,hencetheyknowalmostnothingofitsvalueundersuchconditions.

7.Thereisanothersourceofconfusioninthesebooks.Irefer tothefrequentuseofpathologicaltermstodescribewhatisnotpathologicalatall.Theword“degeneration”isoftenusedwhennorealdegeneration isevident.Or, shallwesay that there isa formofdegeneration thatmaybe properlydesignated physiological to distinguish it from another form that is distinctly pathological. Forexample,muscular“atrophy”thatfollowscessationofmuscularworkisnotpathological.Decreasein size of a part from lack of foodwith no actual pathological changes in the tissues and no realperversionofitsfunctionisnotdegeneration,thoughcommonlyreferredtoassuchinthesebooks.

The same criticismmay bemade of The Effects of Inanition andMalnutrition uponGrowth andStructure (1925),byC.M. Jackson,M.S.,M.D.,LL.D. In abibliographycovering108pages, Iwasunable to locate the name of any man, other than Carrington, who is in a position to speak withauthority on fasting. Jackson’s is a very valuable book, crammedwith technical data and detailedexperimentalresults,butlackinginanyreferencetothehygienicvalueofthefast.

Much valuable work has been done by laboratory experimenters, but it is obviously lacking incertainimportantparticulars.Forexample,Morgulispointsoutthatfastingdecreasessugartoleranceindogs,butinnootheranimal.Indeed,herecordsthatfastingisdistinctlybeneficial indiabetes inman.He records an experiment performed on fasting rats and pigeons inwhich the rats gave oneresultandthepigeonsanexactlyopposite result. Insomespecies fastingdiminishes the reaction tocertaindrugs,inotherspeciesitincreasesthisreaction.

Incertainanimals,suchasthefrog,someofthesensesarediminished;whileinmanthesensesareremarkably improved. So distinctive is this sign that we regard it as evidence that our patient isfasting. Sight, become so acute that the faster is annoyed by noises and odors that are ordinarilyunheardandunsmelledbyhim.Blindness,catarrhaldeafness,sensoryparalysisandlossofthesenses

oftasteandsmellhaveallbeenknowntoyieldtothekindlyinfluencesofthefast.Thecleansingofthesystemoccasionedbyfastingquicklyrevivifiesthementalandsensorypowers.

While fasting frequentlyproduces temporarysterility inmen, ithasnosucheffect in salmonandseals.Thegonadsofsalmonactuallyundergoagreatincreaseinsizewhilefasting,whileboththeyandmaleseals fast during their entiremating season. It is only right that I add that it is deniedbysomethatsalmonactuallyfastduringthisseason.

Prof.C.M.Child,oftheUniversityofChicago,experimentingwithworms,foundthatifawormisfastedforalongtimeitdoesnotdie,butmerelygrowssmallerandsmaller,livingonitsowntissuesformonths.Then,afterithasbeenreducedtoaminimumsize,ifitisfeditbeginstogrowandstartslifeanew,asyoungaseveritwas.Whileweknowthatfastingrenewsthehumanbody,wealsoknowthatitwillnotrenewittotheextentthatitdoesthebodyoftheworm.Manisnotaworm,noradog,norapigeon,norarat.Inabroadgeneralsense,allanimalsarefundamentallyalike;but therearespecificdifferences,bothinstructureandfunctionandininstinctandreactionaswellasinindividualneeds,andforthisreasonitisalwaysdangeroustoreasonfromwormordogtoman.

This,however,doesnothinderus fromstudying thesimilaritiesanddifferencesexistingbetweenmanandthesub-ordersandmakingwhateveruseofthesestudieswemay.Itmaybesaidthatthereisoneparticularinwhichallanimals,includingman,arealike;namely,theirabilitytogowithoutfoodforprolongedperiodsandtoprofitbythis.

Forthemostparttheregularprofessionhaseitherignoredorelse,denouncedfasting.Fastingisafadorit isquackery.Theydonotstudyit,donotemployitanddonotendorseit.Onthecontrary,theydeclarethat“thesickmusteattokeepuptheirstrength.”

Itisgratifyingtoseethatachangeisunderway.Justrecently(1933)ameetingoffamousmedicalconsultants from different parts of the British Isles, was held at Bridge of Allen, Stirlingshire,Scotland.The conferencewas presided over bySirWm.Wilcox.Among other notable physicianspresentwereSirHumphreyRolleston,theKing’sPhysician,LordHorder,PhysiciantothePrinceofWales,SirJamesPurvesStewart,SirHenryLunn,andSirAshleyMackintosh.

Thesemenurgedthevalueoffastingin“disease.”SirWilliamWilsonsaid“themedicalprofessionhad been neglectful of the study of dietetics and fasting.” Sir Henry Lunn, noted that there wereseveralinstitutions(naturecureplaces)inEnglandemployingfastingandurgedthatfastingisnotamatterfor“unqualified”practitioners.OnlyashorttimepriortothisSirHenryhadsaidintheDailyMail(London)thatthe“unqualifiedpractitioners”weretheoneswhowerecuring theirpatientsandadded,“Iamconvincedthattheresultwillbethatheterodoxy,nowclaimedastheirownpossessionby various unqualified healers,will become themedical orthodoxy and commonplace of the nextgeneration.”

Theconference,insteadofofferingalittlepraisewhereitwaslongoverdue,prepared,asSirHenryhadpredicted,tostealthethunderofthe“NaturalHealers,”brandingtheselatteras“unqualified.”

In1927LordHorder(thenSirThomas)declared:“Ithinkthereisvalueintheoccasionalmissingofameal,orinthesubstitutionofameal,...buttheelaborateandprolongedprocessofactualfastingwhichrequiresforitspropercarryingoutacompleteorpartialcessationfromactiveworkhasneverseemedtometopromiseanybenefits.”

Whatcausedthiseminentmedicalmantochangehismind?Onlyonethingcouldhaveforcedhimto join theconference inendorsingprolonged fasting—namely: the steady streamof recoveries in“incurable” cases which the British Nature Curists and Natural Hygienists continue to effect. AretheseNaturalHygienistsunqualified?Dr.Liefaddresses thefollowingquestions toLordHorder intheJuly,1933issueofHealthforAll:

“Whichofthesetwoisbetterqualifiedtousefastingasamethodoftherapy:(1)thepractitionerwhohasstudiedovermanyyears thespecial techniqueofcurativefasting,whohasadministeredfastingtreatmentinverymanycases,andsoisfullyconversantwithhowtodealwiththevariouscrisesandreactionsthatveryfrequentlyappearinfastingcases,or(2)themedicaldoctor,whoseprofession,asa body, has done nothing for years but condemn fasting,without investigation, andwhose presentinterest in the treatment has only arisen as a result of the remarkable successes and the ensuingpopularityoftheso-calledunqualifiedman?”

CertainlythestudyofMateriaMedicaandyearsspentinadministeringdrugscannotqualifyonetoconduct fasts. No intelligent person can investigate the subject of fastingwithout endorsing it andwithoutbeingstruckbythemarvelousresultsitproduces.Butthissameintelligenceshouldleadhimtofastunderthecareofonewhofullyunderstandsfastinginallitsdetails.

I will conclude this introduction with an endorsement of fasting by a physician of the higheststanding,who,twentyyearsafterhemadethestatementbelow,stillendorsesandemploysfasting.In1922MajorReginaldF.E.Austin,M.D.,R.A.M.C.,M.R.C.S.,L.R.C.P.,BritishArmyMedicalService,wrote“somesixteenyearsexperienceofthetreatmentofthesickandailingwiththeaidoffastinghasconvincedmethatmanyoftheso-calledcomplicationsandsequelasofdiseasearelargelytheresultofforcingnourishment intoanorganismthat is tellingoneasplainlyas itcan: ‘Forheaven’ssakekeepfoodwayfrommeuntilmyappetitereturns.Inthemeantime,Iwillliveonmyowntissues.’”

I.DefinitionofFastingNutrition may be conveniently divided into two phases—positive and negative—corresponding toperiods of eating and periods of abstaining from food. Negative nutrition has received the termsfasting,inanition,starvation.Fastingandstarvingareseparatephenomena,welldemarkedfromeachother.Inanitioncoversboththeseprocesses.

FastisderivedfromtheAnglo-Saxonword,/aesf,whichmeans“firm”or“fixed.”Thepracticeofgoingwithoutfoodatcertaintimeswascalledfasting,fromtheAnglo-Saxon,fasten,toholdoneselffrom food. Like most English words, the word fasting has more than one meaning. Thus, thedictionarydefinesfastas“abstinencefromfood,partialortotal,orfromprescribedkindsoffood”(TheCollegeStandardDictionary,1933,p.424). Inmostreligiousfastsabstinencefromprescribedfoodsisall that ismeant.Wemaydefineit thus:Fasting—isabstention,entirelyor inpart,and forlongerorshorterperiodsoftime,fromfoodanddrinkorfromfoodalone.

A misuse of the term fasting, is quite common. I refer to the use of the word fasting when aparticulardietisreferredto.Wereadandhearoffruitfasts,waterfasts,milkfasts,etc.,whentalkingofafruitdiet,amilkdiet,etc.Afruitfastisabstinencefromfruit;amilkfastisabstinencefrommilk;awaterfastisabstinencefromwater.

The dictionary defines a diet as (1) “a regulated course of eating and drinking; a speciallyprescribedregimen;”(2)thedailyfare;victuals;”and(3)“allowanceoffood;ration.“Todietis(1)“toregulateorrestrictthefoodanddrinkof;”(2)“totakefoodanddrinkaccordingtoaregimen;eatcarefullyorsparingly;”and(3)“totakefood;eat”{TheCollegeStandardDictionary,1933,p.328).

Fasting,asweemploytheterm,isvoluntaryandentireabstinencefromallfoodexceptwater.“Littledribletmeals,” saysDr.Chas. E. Page, “are not fasting. There should not be amouthful or sip ofanythingbutwater,afewswallowsofwhichwouldbetakenfromtimetotime,accordingtodesire.”Wedonotemploythewordfastingtodescribeadietoffruitjuice,forexample.

Awriterspeaksoffastingachildonfruits—butthismeansthat thechildwasfedonfruits; that itwas on a fruit diet. Fasting and feasting, no matter what one may feast upon, are not identicalprocesses.Weshouldbemorecarefulofouruseofterms.

Inanitionisatechnicaltermliterallymeaningemptiness,whichisappliedtoallformsandstagesofabstinence from food and to many forms of malnutrition due to various causes, even though thepersoniseating.Ifwekeeptheterminanitionforallabstinencefromfood,thetermfastingforthatperiod of abstinence from the omission of the first meal to the recurrence of hunger, the termstarvationforthatperiodofabstinencefromthereturnofhungertodeath,wemayavoidconfusion.Prof.Morgulisclassifiesthreetypesofinanitionaccordingtoorigin,asfollows:

1. “Physiological inanition which is a normal, regular occurrence in nature. The inanitionconstitutes either a definite phase in the life cycle of the animal, it is a seasonal event, or itaccompanies the periodic recurrence of sexual activity.” The cases of the salmon and seal and ofhibernatinganimalsareexamplesofthis.Voluntaryfastingofnormalsubjects,eitherforexhibitionpurposes or for scientific study, Benedict calls “physiological fasting.”Why this should be called“physiologicalfasting”andperiodsofenforcedfasting,duetoshipwreck,minedisasters,etc.,should

be called “starvation through accident,” hedoesnot explain, although theminers and shipwreckedsailorsdonotalwaysstarve.Oftentheirperiodsofabstinencearerelativelyshortandtheylive.

2. “Pathological inanition,” which is in “various degrees of severity associated with differentorganicderangements”—“obstructionofthealimentarycanal (oesophagealstricture),”“inability toretainfood(vomiting),”“excessivedestructionofbody tissues (infectiousfevers),”and“refusal totake food either because of loss of appetite or mental disease.” Benedict applies the phrase“pathologicalfasting”todisturbancesofthedigestivetractwhichprecludethetakingoffood.

3. “Accidental or Experimental Inanition.” “In this category, of course, belong all individualexperienceswhichhavebeenthesubjectofcarefullyconductedscientificinvestigation.”

Tothisshouldbeaddedafourthclassification,aclasswithwhichProf.Morgulisseemstobeverylargelyunacquainted,whichislargelyorwhollyvoluntarybutinwhichabstinencefromfoodisnotformereexperimentalpurposes,butforthepromotionorrestorationofhealth.Iprefertocall thishygienicfasting.Othersrefertoitastherapeuticfasting.Fastingofthistypeisnotwhollyvoluntaryinacute“disease,”exceptinthesensethatallinstinctiveactionisvoluntary.Itisthehygienicfastthatwearechieflyconcernedwithinthisvolume,althoughwearegoingtomakeuseofdatagainedfromtheothertypesoffastingthatmaybeofservicetousinbetterunderstandingandmoreintelligentlyconductingafast.

Benedict mentions cases of fasting in hypnotic sleep, but provides no details. I have had noexperiencewith such cases and havemade no study of them. I should think that the phenomena inhypnoticsleepwouldfollowtheusualcourse.Itmaybepossiblethattherewouldbemorecompleterest in hypnosis, although I am inclined to regard the state as one of tension. I certainly do notrecommendhypnosisatanytimeforanypurpose.Iregarditasanunmixedevil.

Jackson(1925)saysthetermstarvation“ismorefrequentlyusedtoindicatetheextremestagesofinanition, leading todeath” (p.xi).Unfortunately, this is toooftennot thecase.Toooften the termstarvation is applied to thewhole period of abstinence from food from the first day to the end indeath.

Carrington (1915) says: “Many doctors speak of‘the fasting or starvation cure’—which simplyshowsthattheydon’tknowwhattheyaretalkingabout.Fastingisanabsolutelydifferentthingfromstarvation.One is beneficial; theother harmful.One is a valuable therapeuticmeasure; the other adeath-dealingexperiment.”

A distinctionmust bemade between fasting and starving, aswill be seen as our study proceeds.Fastingisnotstarving.Thedifferencebetweenfastingandstarvingisimmenseandwelldemarcated.Dr.Hazzard(1910)expressedthisfactinthesewords:“Starvationresultsfromfooddenied,eitherbyaccidentordesign, toa systemclamoring for sustenance.Fastingconsists in intentional abstinencefromfoodbyasystemsufferingandnon-desirousofsustenanceuntilrested,cleansed,andreadyforthelaborofdigestion”(pp.54-55).

Fastingisneithera“hungercure”nora“starvationcure,”asitissometimescalled.Fastingisnotstarving.Thefastingpersonisnothungry,andfastingisnotamethodoftreatingorcuring“disease.”Dr.Pagesays,“Thetermfrequentlyapplied—‘starvationcure’—isbothmisleadinganddishearteningto thepatient: the fact ishe isbothstarvedandpoisonedbyeatingwhen thehopeofdigestionand

assimilation isprohibited,as is, ingreatmeasure, thecase inall acuteattacksandmore especiallywhenthereisnauseaorlackofappetite.”

Fastingisarest—aphysiologicalvacation.Itisnotanordealnorapenance.Itisahouse-cleaningmeasurewhichdeservestobebetterknownandmorewidelyused.

II.FastingAmongTheLowerAnimalsFastingWhenNotHungryFoodScarcityFastingInAccidentalImprisonmentFastingWhenAngryOrExcitedFastingInCaptivityExperimentalFastsFastingAfterBirthPupalSleepFastingDuringTheMatingSeasonHibernationHibernationInPlantsHibernationInAnimalsHibernationByBearsHibernationInRodentsHibernationAmongBatsHibernationInCold-BloodedAnimalsHibernationOfInsectsInitiationAndDurationOfHibernationAestivationFastingWhenWoundedFastingInDiseaseNoFearOfFastingFastingAsAMeansOfSurvivalHowLongCanAnimalsAbstainFromFood?

In the studyof fasting it isnecessary thatweapproach the subject frommanyangles.Perhapsnosubject is less understood by the public and the “healing” professions that this oldest ofmeans ofcaringforthesickbody.

Weare justified in studying everyphenomenonwhichmay throw light upon the subject and thusenableustobetterapplythefastinourdealingswiththesick.Thefastinghabitsofmanandanimalsare all legitimate objects of study. Not alone the fasting practices of sick animals, but fasting inhealthy animals, whether voluntary or enforced, will aid us in more clearly understanding thissubject.Particularlywillsuchastudyaidusinovercomingourcultivatedfearoffasting.Hence thefollowingstudies.

Themoreoneattemptstofindoutaboutthehabitsandmodesoflivingofanimals,themoreoneisimpressedwith thepaucityofourdependableaccumulatedknowledgeof theanimalkingdom.Ourbiologistsseemtobemoreintentuponclassificationthanupontheimportantphasesof life.If theystudyananimal,theyprefertokillitanddissectit,perhapstomountitandplaceitinacase.Theyaremore intent upon a study of death than of life. All unconsciously, perhaps, they have convertedbiology into necrology. I have, however, after much searching, succeeded in accumulating aconsiderable amount ofmaterial about the fasting habits ofmany animals. This I here propose todiscussunderitsvariousheads,asIhaveclassifiedit.

FastingWhenNotHungryManyanimalsnormallygofor longperiodsbetweenfeedings,noteatingfor thereason that they

arenothungry.Forexample,therearemanysnakesthateatonlyatlongintervals.Prolongedperiodsofabstinence from food and evenwater in some animals is compatiblewith both violent physicalactivityandunusualactivity.Inotheranimalsitiscompatiblewithreproductiveprocesses,althoughphysicalactivityisreducedtoaminimum.

FoodScarcityIneeddevotebutlittlespacetothefactthatanimalsfastforshorteror longerperiodsintimesof

food scarcity when floods, droughts, storms, etc., destroy their food supplies, or when snow hascovered their food and rendered it temporarily inaccessible. It often happens in the lives for thereasonthattheycannotfindit.Theysometimes,thoughrelativelyrarely,perhaps,gosolongwithoutfoodthattheydieofstarvation.Luckily,theypossesssufficientreservestoenablethemtogowithoutfoodforprolongedperiodsandsurvive.Animalsthatenterthewinterseasonwithconsiderablefat,commonlyemergefromwinter rather thindue to thefact that theyare forced tosubsistongreatlyreducedfoodsuppliesandoftenhavetogofordaysatatimewithoutfood.Evenattheheightofthefoodseasoninsectsmaysocompletelydestroythefoodsupplythatmanyanimalsareforcedtogoforconsiderableperiodswithoutfood.

FastingInAccidentalImprisonmentAnumber of accidental emergencies force both domestic andwild animals to fast at times.How

frequentlysuchaccidentsoccurinnaturewearenotinapositiontosay,buttheyareprobablymorefrequentthanwemaysuppose.

KarlVogttellsofthecaseofaspanielwhichvisitorshadaccidentallylockedupintheatticofanoldcastle-ruin.Thedoghadbeenabletosecureafewdropsofwaterbygnawingtheedgeofacleftinaslatecoveredroof.Afewheavyrain-showershadsuppliedhimwithwater,buthehadhadnofoodofanykind—nograin,leather,ratsormice—duringthewholesummerandpartoftheautumn.ApicniconthecastlemountainduringthefirstweekinOctoberresultedinhisrescuebyawanderingpartyofsight-seers.Theribsofthelittleprisoner,whohadbeenlockedupsincethemiddleofJune,couldbecountedaseasilyasinaskeleton,buthewasstillabletodraghimselfacrossthefloorand lick thehandsofhisdeliverers(Macfadden&Oswald,1900).

Thefollowingaccountof“Bum”appearedinTimeforApril27,1931:

WhenJosephCarroll,engineerofaBrooklynlaundryheardtheNegronightwatchmantellofa “ghost”hehadheardonenight lastweek, hewalked into the engine-roomand straight to aboarded-upholeinthefloor,relicofanunsuccessfulwell-digging.Stoppinghisears,holdingaknifeinhisteeth,hetouchedtheknifetoapipewhichwentdownward.Presentlyhecouldhearadistantmoaning.

Heknewwhatwasinthehole.EarlyinJanuaryhehadfoundandadoptedamongrelpuppy.Butafterafewdaysthepuppy,whichhecalled‘Bum,’disappeared.Thesameday,theholeovertheexcavationhadbeenboardedupsecurely.Theengine’snoisemusthavedrownedthedog’scrieseversince.

HastilyEngineerCarrollrippeduptheboards,descended,broughtBum,askeletaldog,unabletostandalone,tothesurface.

No local veterinarywouldbelieve that a dog couldhave fasted for 14weeks. Some thoughtBummusthavelivedbyrat-catching;somecried:‘Impossible!’(p.41).

Localveterinarianswereasignorantoffastingaswasamedicalmanwhoonceroundlyscornedawoman who had undertaken to fast, under my direction, after he and several of his big pricedcolleagues(specialistsandmedicalprofessors)haddeclaredtheydidnotknowandcouldnotfindoutwhathertroublewasandcoulddonothingforher.Hedeclaredthatifshewentsixdayswithoutfoodherheartwouldcollapseandshewoulddie.

Shehad twofasts,oneof twelvedays, theotherof thirteen,andrecoveredherhealth.Thedoctorcame crawling back some three months later and apologized for his ungentlemanly andunprofessionalconduct.“IhavebeenreadinguponthesecasesandIfindthat inGermanytheyareusingfastinginthemwithexcellentsuccess,”hesaid.

AnAssociatedPressdispatchfromWarsaw,Ind.,datedDec.31,1931,tellsofasowsurvivingfourandahalfmonthswithoutfood.BuriedunderanavalancheofstrawontheOscarRebmanfarm,eastofWarsaw, on July 15,while threshingwas in progress, she remained buried until Dec. 30,whenworkmenwhowerepullingoutstrawheardagruntandweresurprisedtoseethesowwalkoutminusabouthalfofherformerweight.Thiswasaperiodof168dayswithoutfoodandwater.

AReutersdistpachfromDurban,So.Africa,datedNov.3,1955tellsofacatthatwasfoundthedaybeforebyworkersinanassemblyplant,whichhadbeenaccidentallysealedintoacaseofautomobileparts,inCrowley,England,August1.IthadmadethejourneyfromEnglandandhadlivedforthreemonthswithoutfood.Thenewsaccountsaidnothingofwater,but,presumablythecathadalsobeenallormostof this timewithoutwater.Thecatdied. Itwasstated that“aveterinarian treated the catthroughoutthenight,butitdiedofgeneralexhaustion.”Itispossiblethatitdiedofthetreatment.Fewifanyveterinarianswouldknowhowtoproperlycare forananimal thathadbeenso longwithoutfood.Ontheotherhand,ifthecathadbeenwithoutwaterforthreemonths,itisremarkablethatitwasstillalive.Itmusthavebeenalmostcompletelydehydrated.

The“GreatBlizzardof‘49”wassoterriblethatmanymen,womenandchildrenandmuchlivestockintheWestfrozetodeath.Manysheepfrozearoundthehaystacks.Unusuallyheavysnowsfellandinsome places remained for long periods. The snow was deep and animals were, buried. Severalreports of animals being buried deep in the snow for long periods were published. These are ofspecialinteresttoushere,forthereasonthattheseburiedanimalsweredeprivedoffoodandofallpossibilityofobtainingfoodbythesnowthatcoveredthem.

AnAssociatedPress dispatch fromRapidCity,S.D., tells of a pig found fifty-four days after theblizzaredinthatstate.ThedispatchsaysthatbeforetheblizzardofJan.2,1949struck,JessSparks,afarmerwho livednorthwestofRapidCityhad twenty-onepigs.After the stormwasoverhecouldfindbuttwentyofhispigs.Hegaveup,aslost,themissingpig.Forty-fourdaysafterthesnowstormhadburiedthepig,Mr.Sparksheardagrunt.Diggingthroughseveralfeetofsnowhesoonreleasedthepig,whichwalkedoutunderitsownpowerand,althoughverythin,didnotresumeeatingatonce.

Asimilar incidentwasreportedbyJackStottsofCody,Wyo.,whodugouta straw-stack thathadbeenburiedtwentyfeetdeepforsixtythreedaysandfoundtwoHerefordheifersa littlewobblybutotherwise ingoodcondition. JohnLemke, a farmer, inDupress,S.D.,dugout a sow thathadbeenburiedforthreemonths.Atthetimeofherburialsheweighedthreehundredpounds.Shewasskinny

whenrescued,butabletowalkthreequartersofamiletoafeedtrough.

OntheWm.BrandtfarmnearFortMorgan,Colo.,asheepwasfoundaliveonFeb.12,1949,afterhavingbeenentombedinasnowdriftforfortydays,havingbeenhemmedagainstaboardfencebythebigblizzardthatstruckinearlyJanuary.Acompanionsheepwasdead.Thetwosheephadeatenawayasmallportionofawoodenfence.Otherthanthis,theyhadnofoodwhileburiedinthesnow.

Theseareexamplesofburialofdomesticanimals.Wildanimalsmustalsofrequentlybeburiedbythe snow andmust remain for shorter or longer periods in their prisons.Howmany examples ofburialssimilartotheforegoingburialsofdomesticanimalsthatblizzardwouldhaveafforded,hadtheybeenrecorded,wecanonlysurmise.Asthesnowoftheblizzardblanketedmanythousandsofsquaremilesofterritory,wildlifecouldnothaveescapedit.Smallanimalsespeciallywereburied.Theywereforcedtolivewithouteatingduringtheirburial.Theabilityofananimaltofastforlongperiodsundersuchconditions,meansthedifferencebetweensurvivingandperishing.

Rabbitsarewell-knowntobefrequentlyburiedinthesnow.Ifwecouldknowjusthowoftensuchthingsoccurinnatureandhowmanyhundredsofthousandsofanimalsarethusforcedtogowithoutfood for considerable periods each year,wewould probably find that the ability to fast is a veryimportantmeansofsurvival.

FastingWhenAngryOrExcitedAn animal will refuse food when angry or excited. Indeed, an animal that is hungry and in the

processofeatingmaybeangeredandwillceaseeating.Angryanimalsdonot resumeeatinguntiltheir anger has subsided. Reports of dogs grieving over the absence or death of their owners,refusingfoodforlongperiods,areoftencarriedbythepress.

Ofasimilarcharacterare thosefastsundergonewhilestandingguard.Thepolarbear, that is, themale,atleast,willgowithoutfoodfordays,ifhismateiswoundedorkilled.Hestandsguardoverherandwillattackwithgreatferocityanymanoranimalthatcomesnear.Justhowlonghewillstandguardoveradeadfemaleandgowithoutfoodisunknown.Butafewdaysofthishungerwatchisallthathaveyetbeenverified.

FastingInCaptivitySome animals refuse to eat when held in captivity. They will starve to death rather than live as

captives,thusmakinggoodPatrickHenry’sringingcry:“Givemelibertyorgivemedeath.”Oneofthese is the famous marine iguana, Ambyrhymchus Cristatus, a seashore lizard, of the GalapagosIslands,describedasthe“Vegetariandragon”and“Fastingman.”Theiguanafeedsonsea-weedsandcanabstainfromfoodforlongperiods—overahundreddays.

ExperimentalFastsManythousandsofanimalsofallkindshavebeenemployed inexperimental fasts. Insects, fishes,

snakes, birds, rodents, rabbits, badgers, cows, horses, andmany other types of animals have beenusedinfastsofvaryinglengthsoftime.Inmanyofthesefasts,theperiodofabstinencefromfoodhasbeen extended far beyond the normal limit of the fast into the period of starvation, some of thembeingendedbeforedeathoccurred,othersbeing carriedon todeath.Whilewe areopposed to thesufferingcausedinanimalsbypushingtheperiodofabstinencebeyondthereturnofhunger, ithasbeendoneandtheinformationthusobtainedisavailableandweareatlibertytomakeuseofitinourstudiesofthesubject.Manyoftheseexperimentalfastswillbereferredtoasweproceedinourstudy.

Writingoffastingexperimentsinanimals,Benedict(1907)hasthefollowingtosayaboutdogsandmen: “The results obtained are of value to physiology in general, but of less value to humanphysiology.Themetabolismof thedog isnot thatofman, for thenatureof the food is such as todemandmarkedly different treatment in the alimentary tract. Both the stimuli to secretion and thecompositionofthedigestivefluidsaremarkedlydifferent,anditseemsprobablethatthedeductionsfromtheexperimentswithanimalsareofquestionablevaluewhenappliedtoaman.Thisisperhapsevenmorenoticeableinexperimentinginpharmacologythaninphysiology,yetitistruethatmarkeddifferencesinphysiologicalcharacteristicsareobservedbetweenanimalsandmen”(p.5).

FastingAfterBirthFastsoflongerorshorterdurationareseeninmanyanimalsimmediatelyafterbirth.Forexample,

Fabre tellsus thatcertain spiderseatno food for the first sixmonthsof their lives,but feastuponsunbeams.Chickenstakeneitherfoodnorwaterforthefirstthreedaysaftertheyhatchfromtheegg.Inmostmammals there isnomilksecretedfor threeormoredaysafter theiryoungareborn.Thefluidsecretedduringthisperiodisdevoidoffoodvalue.

PupalSleepThepupalstageofinsectswhichundergometamorphosis,isthatimmediatelyfollowingthelarval

stage.The term chrysalis has almost the same value as pupa. If the insect is notwholly quiescentduring thispupal stage the word nymph is used. Since the larval stage of most insects differs somarkedly from the adult stage, the pupal stage constitutes the intermediate stage in which thenecessarybodilychangesareeffected. It is aperiodof internal transformation,duringwhichmostpupaareoutwardlyquiescent,theymoveverylittle,anddonoteatatduringthisperiodofabstinencefrom food, the pupa depending entirely upon its stored reserves for the accomplishment of itsstructuralrevolution.Pupalsleepmaybeartificiallyprolonged.

FastingDuringTheMatingSeasonThat someanimals fastduring thematingseason iswellknown,butourknowledgeof the living

habitsoftheanimalkingdomissomeagerthatitisnotknownhowmanyanimalsdoso.Sofarasitisatpresentknown,fastingduringthebreedingseasonisveryrareamongmammalsandbirds.Amongmammalswherethereiskeencompetitionbetweenthemalesforpossessionofthefemales,feedingiscurtailed,butthisishardlyafast.

Quite a number of fishes fast during the breeding season, the female of the Cichlidae, ormouthbreeders,mustfastatthistime.SeeHistoryofFishes,byJ.R.Norman.Thebestknownexampleoffastingbyfishduringthematingseasonis thatof thelongfastof themalesalmon.Prof.Morgulisdescribesinthesewords,theannualfastofthesalmon:“Atthetimetheycommencetomigratefromthe sea towards the streams, their muscles are thoroughly encumbered with huge masses of fat.Fastingalltheirjourney,whichlastsmanyweeksandmonths,theyareinamuchemaciatedconditionwhentheygettotheupperreachesoftheriverswherethecurrentsareroughandswift.Freedfromthefat,however,theirmusclesarenowagileandnimble,anditisatthistimethatthesalmondisplaysthemarvelousenduranceandskilladmiredbyallsportsmen,inprogressingsteadilyagainstalloddsofthetumultuouscurrent,waterfallsandobstructions.”

Penguins and the male goose are the only birds I find mentioned as fasting during the matingseason. The gander loses about one-fourth of his body-weight during this period. George G.Goodwin,AssociateCurator,DepartmentofMammals,TheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory,NewYork,says:“Itisquestionableifanyofthebirdsarecapableofaprolongedfast—theirrateof

metabolism is too high. I have never heard that a gander fasted during themating season and aminclinedtoquestionsuchastatement.”

Thebasisofhisquestioningisnotverysolid;hehasneverheardofit.Itmaybeassumedthatifitweretruehewouldhaveheardofit,butnomanknowseverythinginbiologyandthisisoutofhisspecialfield.Theotherpartofthisobjection,thehighrateofmetabolismofbirds,isnobasisatall.Itonly reveals that he knows little of fasting. It is not likely that the rate ofmetabolismof themalesalmonislowwhileheswimshundredsofmilesup-stream,Hisaprioridoubtsmustbeconsidered,buttheyarenottobetakenasfinal.

TheAlaskan fur seal bull is the best known example of fasting by amammal during thematingseason.Ihavenoinformationontherateofmetabolismin thismammal,butI thinkwearesafe inassumingthat,sinceheisawarmbloodedanimaland,atthesametime,extremelyactiveduringthewhole of the fasting period, his metabolic rate is high. During the entire three months breedingseasonofeachyear,theAlaskanfursealbulldoesnoteatnordrink(althoughwithineasyreachofabundant food) fromMayor themiddleof June to the endof Julyor early daysofAugust.Afterfighting forhis placeon the shore and for his haremof from five to sixty females, themale sealspendsthesummerfightingtokeephisharemtogetherandtokeephisgirlssatisfied.RoyChapmanAndrewssays,inhisEndsoftheEarth:“Allthroughthesummerheneithereatsnorsleeps.Itisjustone long debauch of fighting and love-making and guarding his harem against unscrupulousinvaders.”

Asaresultofallthisactivity,Mr.Andrewssaysthat“bySeptemberheisawreckofhisformerself.Allhisfathasdisappeared,forthatiswhathehasbeenlivingonbyabsorptionallsummer.Hisbonesprotrude, his side is torn and scarred, he is weary unto death. Blessed sleep is what he needs.Forsakinghisharem,hewaddlesbackintothelonggrassfarawayfromthebeach, there tostretchoutinthewarmsun.Hewillsleepforthreeweeksonendwithoutwaking,ifundisturbed.”

Afterlongmonthsofincessantphysicalandsexualactivity,withoutfood,thesealthinksfirstofrestandsleep.Foodmaybehadafter the long sleep.Withman, also, despitepopular prejudices to thecontrary,therearetimeswhenrestisofmoreimportancethanfood.

Thesealionalsofastsduringthematingseason.Althoughlesstempestuous,thedomesticlifeofthesealionisdescribedasbeingverysimilartothatofthefurseals.ComingashoresometimebetweenthemiddleofMayandearlyJune,thesummerisspentinfastingandsexualactivities.Bytheendofsummer,themasteroftheharemisexhaustedandhaslostmuchweight,butisstillabletowearilyslipdowntheslopingbeachintothesea,whereafewmonthsoffatlivingrestorehisemaciatedform.Theexertionsofthesesealions,bothsexualandphysical,astheyfightmuch,isdescribedastremendous.Ihavenoinformationastowhetherthey,likethefursealbull,gowithoutwaterduringthisperiod.

Whatmaybe regardedas fastingduring thematingseason is thephenomenon seenamongmanyinsectswhichhavebut a short adult life.The caterpillardoes little else than eat. In certain species,afteritbecomesabutterfly,itnevereatsatall.Febreshowedthatsomeinsectshavenoprovisionforhunger, thedigestiveorgansbeingabsent in the fullest developed insects.Perhaps such short-livedspeciesasephemerashouldnotbeconsideredinthisconnection.Theseinsectscomeintotheworldintheevening,mate,thefemalelayshereggsandbymorningbothsexesaredeadwithouteverhavingseenthesun.Destinedforlittleelsethanreproduction,theyhavenomouthanddonoteat,neitherdotheydrink.Butthepeacockbutterfly,whichoftentravelsformilesinsearchofamateandlivesfora

fewdays,thoughithasthemerestsemblanceofadigestiveapparatus,doesnoteat.Theinsectworldpresentsuswithmanyexamplesofthiskind.

Fastingduringthematingseasonprobablyservessomeveryusefulpurpose.Weknowatleast,thatin the case of certain very low forms of life, it restores the male after several generations ofparthenogenetic reproduction. For best results, animals that fast during themating season seem torequire a reduction of surfeit. They purchase rejuvenescence by curbing their anti-symbioticpropensitiesandabandoningconditionsof surfeit. Instability resulting fromsurfeitand illegitimatefoodcanbegottenridofandstabilityregainedonlybyareturntomoderationandappropriatefood.Forimmediateresultsabstinencefromfoodisessential.

Reinheimer (1915) thinks that fasting has the effect of assisting towards a re-establishment of atolerable degree of domestic symbiosis— both for ordinary physiological, as well as for geneticpurposes—in those cases where domestic symbiosis is in danger of becoming perverted by theparticularorganism’stransgressionsagainstthelawsofbiologicalsymbiosis.

HibernationAllanimalsadaptthemselvesinsomemannertothewinterseason.Winterisadifficultperiodfor

manyplantsandanimalsinnortherncountries.Withitsshortdays,lowtemperature,stormyweather,andscarcityoffoodbothanimalsandplantsarefacedwiththeproblemofkeepingaliveunderveryunfavorable circumstances. Both animals and plants have found many solutions to this problem,adaptingthemselvestowinterinawidevarietyofways.Migration,asbybirds,isbutoneofmanysolutionsanimalshavefoundforthisperplexingproblem.BirdsthatmigratemayleadalifeasactiveintheirsouthernhomesastheydointheirnorthernhomesintheSpringandSummer.Thisisnotsoofanimalsthatdonotmigrate.

Someanimalsstoreawaysuppliesoffoodforthisperiod.Beesstoreuphoney,squirrelsstoreawaynuts,themousestoresawayfoodinvariouscaches,thebeaverstorestwigs,gophersandchipmunksstore up roots and nuts onwhich they feedwhen they awaken on an occasionalwarmday.On thecolderdays,thesesleepandtakenofood.Thisistosay,manyanimalsthatstoreawayfoodinvariouscachesfastmuchduringthewintermonths.

Other animals store their food supplieswithin themselves.These internal food supplies serve theanimalaswellasdothecachesoffoodstoredoutsidethebodybyotheranimals.Wemaysay,then,thatsomeanimalsstoreuptheirwinterfoodsupplywithinthemselves.Hibernationbythoseanimalsthatdependuponinternalstoresduringthewinterseasonisthesolutionfortheexigenciesofwinterthat has been adopted by more forms of life than any other solution. Bats, mice, hedgehogs,woodchucks, toads, newts, lizards, snakes, snails, flies,wasps, bees, and the great hosts of insects,bears, crocodiles, alligators, andmany other animals do notmigrate, but go intowinter quarters.Animals that storeup foodoutside themselves also carry internal supplies, for they, too, are oftenforcedtogoforextendedperiodswithoutfood.Squirrels,forexample,frequentlyforgetwheretheyhaveburiedtheirstoreofnuts.

Hibernation is a dormant state of existence, accompanied by greatly diminished respiration,circulationandmetabolism,inwhichanimalsinthetemperateregionsspendthewinter.Duringthisperiodtheanimalfunctionsarenearlysuspended;thebodyheatisloweredtoornearlythatoftheair,theactionoftheheartismuchreducedandtheanimallosesfromthirtytofortypercentofitsweight.Duringhibernationthemammalmaynotfeed,dependingentirelyonthestoredfoodreserveswithin

thebody.The’evidenceathandindicatesthatinsuchinstancesthebodyweightmaydropasmuchasfifty per cent. Indeed, in bats, it dropsmore than this. In other animals food is storedwithin theirwinternestandthehibernatinganimalawakensfromtimetotimetoconsumeitsfood.

WritinginTheNationalGeographicMagazine(July1946)underthetitle“MysteryMammalsoftheTwilight,”DonaldR.Griffinsaysthathibernationofbatsandotheranimalsis“stillinmanyrespectsamysterytobiologists”(p.126).Mysteryornot,itisacommonfactofnatureandrepresentsoneofthemeansadoptedbyanimalstoadaptthemtotheexigenciesofwinter.

Hibernation ismost common in cold-blooded animals that are unable to leave regions of severewinters, but it is also practiced by numerouswarm-blooded animals. Some biologists say that thetermhibernationshouldberestrictedtoafewmammalsandpreferthephrase“lyinglowandsavingnothing” forwhat theydescribe as the comaor lethargyofmanyof the lower animals, like somefrogsand fishes,manysnailsand insects.Otherbiologists, althoughseeming toprefer to limit theterm hibernation to the “winter sleep” ofwarm-blooded animals, also include under this term the“seasonaltorpidity”offrogs,toads,reptiles,certainfishes,insects,thehorseshoecrabandsnails.

Amongthemanydifferentformsof“lyinglow”seeninthewinterlifeofanimalsare:

1.The relapsed lifeof some insectpupae,where thebodyof the larva (i.e.,maggot)hasbecomegreatlysimplifiedinstructure;infactalmostembryonicagain.

2. The arrested development of other insect larvae, such as caterpillars and pupae, where themetamorphosisintothewingedformhasceasedforthetimebeing,likeastoppedwatch.

3.Thesuspendedanimationofsmallcreatures, likebearanimalcules (someof themquaintly likemicroscopichippopotami)andwheelanimalculesandsmallthreadworms,inwhichwecandetectnovitalityforthetimebeing.

4.Thecomatosestateofsnailsandfrogs,wherewecanseetheheartbeating,thoughthelifeofthebodyasawholeisataverylowebb.

5. The state of true hibernation, restricted to a fewmammals, such as hedgehog and dormouse,marmotandbat.This isapeculiar stateveryunlikenormal sleep,withmostof thevital functions,evenexcretion,inabeyance,withtheheartbeatingveryfeeblyandthebreathingmovementsscarcelyperceptible.

Inalloftheseformsof“lyinglow”theanimalshideawayandceasetheiractivitiesandapproachastate of suspended animation during the winter months. Hibernation, so common among animals,appears,then,tobeoneaspectofthegeneraltendencyofanimalstowithdrawfromanunfavorableenvironment.Inhibernationtheanimalpassesthroughtheunfavorableperiodoflowtemperatureandfoodscarcityinadormantstate.Thushibernation,likemigration,isoneofthemeansofsolvingthefoodproblemduringtheperiodofacutescarcity.

Mammalsthathibernatearereferredtobycertainbiologistsas“imperfectlywarm-bloodedtypes,”which are unable to produce enough animal heat tomake good their losses in coldweather. It isdoubtfulifthisistrueofthosespeciesinwhichonlythefemalehibernates.Foodscarcity,ratherthandepressed temperature, seems to be the chief reason for hibernation. As aestivation is practically

identicalwithhibernation,onlytakingplaceundercertainoppositeconditions(whenitishotratherthancold)butwhere,asinhibernation,thereisfoodscarcity,thosemammalsthataestivatecannotbesaidtobe“imperfectlywarm-bloodedtypes.”Theexampleofthetenree,thataestivatesatthetimeforaestivation,evenwhenfarremovedfromitsMadagascarhomeandplacedwherethetemperatureiswarm and there is an abundance of food, would seem to indicate that there is more to thisphenomenonthanmerelytheexternalcircumstancesunderwhichitoccurs.

Hibernation resembles sleep andhasbeen likened to a trance, but it is not sleep.Thehibernatinganimaldoessleepallormostofthetimeithibernates,buthibernationisdifferentfromsleep.Sleepisnot seasonal and is not occasioned by scarcity of food. Hibernation is prolonged and bodytemperaturedropsvery lowin thisstatewhereas it tends to remainnormal insleep.Heartbeatandrespirationareverylowinhibernation,theyarereducedbutslightlyinsleep.Excretionissuspendedinhibernation,itmaybeincreasedinsleep.Thereisgreatlossofweightduringhibernation,insleeptheremaybeagainoftissue.Hibernationisconfinedtothecoldseason,sleeptakesplacethroughouttheyear,bothatnightandinthedaytimeandlastsbutafewminutestoafewhoursatatime.Griffin(1946)saysthatthe“torporofhibernationismuchmoreprofoundthanordinarysleep”(p.127).

Is it correct to refer to hibernation as a comatose condition? Is the animal in a coma? Is thehibernation state one of torpor, lethargy, stupor?These terms are frequently used by biologists indescribing the hibernation condition. Coma is defined as an “abnormal deep stupor occurring inillnessorasa resultof it,”suchasalcoholiccoma,apoplecticcoma,uremiccoma,diabeticcoma,coma vigil, etc. It would be interesting to know what a normal coma is. Stupor is defined as a“condition of unconsciousness, torpor. A state analogous to hypnotism, or the first stage ofhypnotism.” It is seen in African sleeping sickness, encyphalitis lethargica, hysteria and otherpathologicalstates.Torporis“numbness,abnormalinactivity,dormancy,apathy.”Torpidmeans“notactingvigorously,sluggish.”Biologistsusesuchtermsascoma,comatose,lethargic,stupor,trance,etc.,indescribinghibernationasthoughthereissomethingessentiallypathologicalaboutit.

Dormant isperhaps thebetterword, as the rootdormeans sleep, although, aspreviouslypointedout, hibernation isnot synonymouswith sleep.Dormantmeans “being in a state resembling sleep,inactive, unused.” That hibernation does resemble sleep in many particulars is certain; that thehibernating animal is even more inactive than in sleep is equally true. Perhaps we can definehibernation as a dormant state of existence accompanied with greatly diminished respiration,circulationandmetabolisminwhichmanyanimalsinthetemperateregionspassthewinter.

Inhibernationtheanimalseeksoutasecludednookorburroworacave,wherethetemperatureishigherthanthatoutsideandsinksintoastrangereptile-likestate.Thereitlies,orasinthecaseofthebat,hangs, in safety through thecoldandstorm. Iteatsnothing, it excretesnothing, theheartbeatsfeebly,thebreathingmovementsarescarcelyperceptible—yetitsurvives.Indeed,itseemscertainthatitwouldnotsurviveotherwise.Thus,hibernationviewedbiologically,isseentobeanadaptationtothecoldofwinterbywhichtheanimalisenabledtosurvive.

Dangerliesinsub-freezingweatherforthehibernatingmammalandmanyarefrozentodeathwhentheir place of abode becomes too cold. Griffin (1946) says of the bat: “Another importantrequirementalsousuallysatisfiedbycavesandburrowsisthatthetemperatureshouldnotgobelowfreezing. Apparently no mammal, can survive freezing when it is hibernating and its bodytemperatureisat themercyofthesurroundingair temperature”(p.128).Hetellsoffindingbatsin

caves,theopeningsofwhicharegreatenoughtopermit freezing, frozenup inhuge icestalactites.Mostofthebats,hesays,awakenandflyawaytoanotherandbettershelteredcave,whenthecaveinwhichtheyarehibernatingbeginstogetcold.

HibernationInPlantsPerhaps beforewegive further attention to hibernation among animalswemayprofitably take a

hastyglanceatthehibernatingpracticeofplants.The“wintersleep”oftrees,shrubsandmanyotherplantsisseenoneveryhandduringwinter.WiththeapproachofFall,theseshedtheirleaves,theirsapdescendsandtheyexist inadormantstateuntil thecomingofSpring. In likemannerbulbs, tubers,etc.,undergoaprolonged“wintersleep.”Theseplantsfastthroughthewholeofthewintermonths,taking no food during the time. They take no carbon and nitrogen from the air and extract nominerals and nitrates from the soil.Metabolism is practically non-existent during this period. Thecessation of the flow of sap in trees during thewinter season is similar to the almost ceasing ofcirculation in hibernating animals. Plants like the daffodil, onion, beet, turnip, etc., store up largesuppliesoffoodintheirroots—bulbsandtubers—duringtheSummer.TheirtopsdieoffinthelateFall or earlyWinter and they lie dormant during the longWinter, only to send up new stems andleaveswhenSpringarrives.Thisstoringupoffoodintheirrootsissimilartothestoringoffatbythebear.

HibernationInAnimalsHibernationiscommonamonginsectsandisseenineverygroupofvertebratesexceptbirds,which

substitute migration for hibernation. It is largely found in insect and vegetable eating species.Hibernation occurs regularly throughout the winter in such invertebrates as snaiis, crustaceans,myriapods,insects,arachnids,andthelowervertebrates,suchasreptiles,amphibiansandsomefresh-waterfishes.Manymammalsinhabitingthecolderregions,especiallyspecieslivingontheground,orwhose principle sources of food are unavailable in thewinter, are known to hibernate. In suchhibernatinganimalsasthebat,groundsquirrel,marmot,hedgehoganddormouse,thetemperatureofthebodydropsfromits typicalwarmconditiontooneortwodegreesCentigradeabovethatofthesurroundingair.Inmaximumdormancytheheart-rateisslowedconsiderably,sometimestoonlyoneortwopercentofthenormalheartrate,therespiratorymovementsdropofftoasimilarextentanddetermination of oxygen consumption indicates a reduction to as low as three to five percent ofnormalconsumption.

During hibernation the animal may not feed, depending entirely upon the stored food reserveswithinhisbody.Theevidenceathandindicatesthatinsuchcasesthebodyweightmaydropasmuchas fifty per cent. In other cases food is stored within the winter nest and the hibernating animalawakensfromtimetotimetoconsumeitsfood.Inwinterthereareperiodsoffastinginthoseanimalsthathibernateonlyinalimitedsense.Miceandsquirrels,forexample,thatstorefoodforthewinter,oftensleepfordaysatatime,withouteating.

HibernationByBearsThebearisatypicalhibernator,althoughnotallbearshibernate.Forexample,theAmericangrizzly

beardoesnot.IntheHimalayanorAsiaticblackbear,hibernationisnotcompleteasthebearcomesoutonwarmwinterdaystofeed.Thebrownbear,ontheotherhand,hibernates.Inseveralspeciesofbearonlythefemaledensupinwinterandappearstoundergoapartialhibernationduringwhichtheyoungareborn,theyoungcubsandtheemaciatedmotheremergingintheSpring.ThePolarbearisanexampleof thiskind.Theblackbear,native toNorthAmerica,givesbirth to twoor threecubswhile hibernating. At birth these cubs are naked and and blind, and are but eight inches long.

Hibernatingbearsarebelievednottoattainfulldormancy.

The big black bear of northern Russia retires to a bed of leaves and moss about the end ofNovember and “sleeps,” if not disturbed, until about themiddle ofMarch; living during this time,uponthenutritivesuppliesstoredinhisowntissues.Thefat,orwell-fedbearwillbegintofastsomeweeks before he retires to his den for his longwinter ’s “sleep.” Disturb him in the latter part ofFebruaryandhewillbeinstantlyawakeandalert,andwillattacktheintruderwithafurywhichhasgivenrisetotheexpression,“assavageasawakedwinterbear.”

HibernationInRodentsNearly all the burrowing rodents hibernate. Notable exceptions are gophers, chipmunks and

squirrelswhich store up roots andnuts onwhich they feedwhen an occasionalwarmday inducesthemtoarouse.Onthecolderdayseventhesehibernate.Theprairiedogandsquirrelaresaidtobepartial hibernators. In the northern part of his range the badger hibernates during the winter. Hepassesthroughalongwinterwithouteating.Afteranabsolutefastoftenweekshewilltrotformilesinsearchofacornsorrootswhichhemaythenbeforcedtodigoutofthehalf-frozenground.

Theformouse(sleepingmouse)atermappliedintheoldworldtoasmallsquirrel-likerodentandintheU.S.tothecommonwhite-footedmouseisalong“sleeper ’butseemsnotto“sleep”asdeeplynor to be as far from consciousness as some other hibernatingmammals.Hemakes himself verycomfortablebyweavingathicknetworkofdrygrassintohiswinterbedclothes.Thisissoneatlyandskillfully designed that it keeps in the heat and, yet permits a fair amount of air slowly to filterthrough.Socarefullydoeshefilluptheholeinhiswarmlightwrapping,afterhegoesinside,thereisnohintofajointoraweakplace.Herehespendsalongwinteroffivemonthsindeep“sleep”withnofoodandoftenlosesmorethanfortypercentofhisweightduringthisperiod.

Thewoodchuckisthemostprofoundsleeperamongthecommonmammals.Feedingonredclover,itgoestobedOctober1,anddoesnotcomeoutuntilApril1.Itshibernationperiodis,therefore,sixmonths.Thebeardoesnotsleepsoprofoundlyand,iffoodisplentifulandthetemperaturemild,doesnothibernateatall.Theraccoonandgraysquirrel sleepduring the severestpartof thewinter; theskunkspendsJanuaryandFebruaryinhishole; thechipmunkwakesupoccasionallytoeat; the redsquirrelisabroadalmostallwinter.Manyothermammalshibernateforagreaterorlesserperiodoftime.

HibernationAmongBatsThehibernatinghabitsofdifferent speciesofbatsdiffer somuch that it isdifficult togeneralize.

There is some evidence that some bats migrate upon the approach of winter, but most of themhibernate.Bats live onwinged insects andmust catch their prey in the air. Their feeding days arelimited,except in theSouth,where insectsflyaboutfora longerseason. Indeed, their feedingdaysmustbeveryshortiffrostcomesearlyinAutumn.Theirperiodofhibernationmaybemorethanhalfayear.Theirdeath-likeinactivityismadenecessarybecauseoftheneedtomaketheirmeagersupplyofstoredfoodholdoutoversuchalongperiodoftime.Inthelongwintersofthenorth,hibernationoftenmeansgoingwithoutfoodforfive,sixandsevenmonths.Ifbatsaretosurvive, it isessentialthattheirfoodresourcesbemadetoholdoutaslongaspossible.

Batsclusterinmasses,usuallyincaves,oldbarns,andotherplacesthatofferprotectionfromtheinclemenciesofwinter.Thehibernatingbat appears in all respectsdead. Its temperature sinksverylow,itsheartbeatssofeeblyitisbarelyperceptible,andittakeslongtoawakenfromitssleep.One

naturalist describes the “winter sleep” of bats in the followingwords: “Most batswhen fallen intotheirwintersleeplookdeadasnearlyasmaybe.Theygrowcold,theirheartbeatsfeebly,andwhentheyhangthemselvesheaddownwardonsomedustybeamorcrouchinsomesmolderingwood,theymightbetakenforlumpsofleather.Nothingaboutthemsuggestsalivingcreature,andnoonewouldimagineforamomentthattheywouldpresentlybeflyingwithadashandaskillandacommandofquickturnsbeyondthepowerofabird.”

Griffin (1946) says of the hibernating bat, “the heart rate slows to a point where it cannot bedetected.Breathingalmostceases.Thebloodmovessluggishly.Thebodytemperaturefallsalmosttothatofthesurroundings.

“Batshibernatinginacavewheretheairtemperatureis33°F.mayhaveabodytemperatureof33.5°F. They feel cold to handle, and they are stiff and unresponsive. It requires close observation todistinguishahibernatingbatfromadeadone”(p.127).

There is evidence that batsmay awaken spontaneously during thewinter and fly around in theircave, in rare instances flying considerable distances to other caves.Griffin says that “they are notcontinuouslydormantthroughoutthewholewinter.Onsuccessivevisitstothesamecaveweusuallyfoundthebatsindifferentpartsofthepassages,evenwhentheywerenotdisturbedonthepreviousvisit.Probablytheywakeupfromtimetotimeandflyaboutabit,perhapsoccasionallyventuringoutofthecavetoseewhetherspringhascomeyet,andthenhangthemselvesupagainforanotherlongsleep”(p.126).“Flyingfromcavetocaveinwinterseemstobearareoccurrence,butweobtainedthree returns of banded batswhich had flown 55 to 125miles from one cave to another during asinglewinter”(p.128).

HibernationInCold-BloodedAnimalsWhilehibernatingmammalsseekcaves,densorhollow logs,usuallymaking themselvesdensof

dryleavesorgrasstosleepthroughthewinter,thelowerordersremainburiedthroughoutthewinterwiththebodytemperatureapproximatelythatoftheexternalenvironment,andwithgreatdecreaseinmetabolism.Reptileshideawayamongstonesorpitsorcaves,oftencoilingtogether,toformahuge,inertmass.Frogs,lizards,salamandersandcertainfishesburythemselvesintheearthbelowthereachoffrost, theacquaticformsdiggingintothemudatthebottomofthestream.Thefewfisheswhichareknowntoliedormantandtakenofood,sinkintothemudofthestreamsorofthesea.Somefish,as thecarp, liequietonmudbottoms.Thehorseshoecrabburies into themudbeyond thereachofoyster dredges inNovember, remaining in deepwater until themiddle of Spring. Because snakeshibernatesodeeplybelowthegroundthatfrostneverreachesthem,theylivefurthernorththananyotherreptile.Spidersandsnailshibernateunderstones,moss,etc.,whileslugsburythemselvesinthemudandmusselsandothermolluskslivinginthestreamsandlakes,descendintothemud.

Ascoldweathercomesandwinterapproachesthepurelyacquaticspeciesoffrogstaketothewaterandburrowintothemoistmudat thebottomof thepondsbelowthefrost line.Here theyhibernatethroughoutthewinter,becomingcoldanddormant,wheretheclimateissevere,untilrevivedintheSpring.Othersboreintothesoil,orbeneaththefallenleaves,orintotherottingstumps,etc.,andexistquietlyanddormantuntilthecomingofwarmweatherandfood.Duringthisperiod,mostofthelifeactivitiesofthefrogcease.Theheartbeatsveryslowlyandthereislittleevidenceoflife.Thefrogdoesnotbreathethroughitslungsduringthisperiodbuttakesinoxygenthroughitsskin.Toadsalsohibernatethroughthewinter.Hibernatingfrogsandtoadstakenofood,beingdependentduringthistime on the food reserves stored in their bodies as fat and glycogen. All activities are suspended

exceptthosenecessarytomaintainlife,suchasthebeatingoftheheart.Metabolismismuchreduced,littleoxygenisrequired,andrespirationtakesplaceentirelythroughtheskin.Manyotheramphibiansburythemselvesinmud,thisbeingparticularlytrueofthosethataestivateduringthedryseason.

Lizardsresidinginthetemperatezoneshibernateduringthewinter.HereintheSouthwest,thegreatvarietyoflizards,somebrilliantlycolored,othersdullanddrab,likethenotedhornedtoad,thatoneseesintheSummermonths,isalmostbewildering.UpontheapproachofWintertheydisappear.Theymaybe found under boards, piles of straw, logs, etc., dormant and almost incapable of activity. Ifplacednearafireandmadewarm,theybecomeasactiveasintheSummermonths.

Newtsaremoredifficulttofindthanlizards,butifonedigsintothehole,oftenfardownintotheground,whereanewt isspendingthewinter,onemayfindablackshriveledobject that isscarcelyrecognizable.

Thesnailpreparesareallytoughdefenseforitself.Itseeksahidingplace,preferringadampandratherwarmatmosphere,andwhen,ensconcedinitsnewhome,manufacturesfromitsownjuicesachalklysecretioncoveringthemouthofitsshell.Bypuffingfromitslungsitseparatesthiscoveringfromcontactwith itself.Thisdefensivecovering isporous to theair so that the sleeping snail canbreathe.Itthenshrinksintothedeeprecessesofitsshellinsteadoffillingoutthewholeofit.Hereitspendsthewinterinsleep;takingnofoodduringthewholeofthisperiod.

HibernationOfInsectsMostinsectshibernateinthelarvalorpupalstage.ThelarvaeofmanycaterpillarshatchinSummer

and sleep allWinter.A few insects, as certainmoths, butterflies and beetles, hibernate in the adultstage.Caterpillarshideundermoss, thebarkof trees,etc.,but theyfreezesolidandmaybebrokenintopieceslikeanicicle;theygraduallythawInEuropeinsectspassthewinter,notasadults,butinthepupastage,wellwrappedupinacocoon.

Thequeenbumblebeemakesforherselfaholeintheground,thesidesofwhichshepolishesverythoroughly.ShegoesintothiswinterhomeinearlyOctoberanddoesnotcomeoutforfivemonthsormore.Sheshiftsherpositionandhasmomentsofrestlessness,butdoesnottakefood.Shesleepsthroughallormostofherperiodofhibernation.

Queenwasps,thoughpreferringaholebehindapieceofloosebarkorinthewoodofadecayingtree, employagreatervarietyofhidingplaces than does the bumble bee, and retire in September.Theyarewideawakeandactiveiftheweatherbecomeswarm.

InitiationAndDurationOfHibernationIngeneralthetimeoftheinitiationofhibernationcorrespondscloselywiththescarcityoffoodand

lowering of temperature.The termination coincideswith the return of favorable conditions. Somespecies,orsomeindividuals,however,maycommencethehibernatingperiodwhilefactorsarestillquite favorable, or may terminate the period at an unfavorable time. Modern theories of themechanism stress the physiological sequence of events characteristic of the process. These eventsmayapparentlybesetintoactivityunderanyoneofseveralexternalconditions.

Intemperateclimatesbearseatmore,especiallyoffleshintheFall,astheyarelayingupastoreoffoodinpreparationfortheirwinterhibernation.Theyliterallygorgethemselvesonfoodswhichtheyconvertintofat,butwhentheyenterthedormancyperiod,stomachandintestinesareempty.

Hibernatinganimalsmaybeinducedtoawakenreadilyby“strongexternalconditions.”Followingawakening,thereisgradualelevationofbodytemperatureandaregainingofnormalphysiologicalactivityandbehavior.Loweringthetemperatureofthebodytoapproximately0°C.(32°F.)hasbeenreportedtoawakenhibernatingmammals, thoughsomeinvestigatorsreport thatanimalsmayoftenbekilledbyfreezingwithoutawakening.

JustastherearesomemigratorybirdsthatdonotreturnhomeuntilMayandleaveagaininAugust,sosomehibernatinganimalsdonotcomeoutof theirdarkquarters forasmanyas sevenmonths.Theirhibernatingperiodisoneofcompletefasting.Ingeneral,theperiodofhibernationcorrespondswiththeperiodofcoldandfoodscarcity.

AestivationAestivationissimilartohibernation,if,indeed,itisnotidenticalwithit.Ifhibernationistobecalled

“winter sleep,” aestivation may be with equal propriety, called “summer sleep.” In zoology, it isdefined as a state of reducedmetabolic activity inwhich certain animals become quiescent. It is arestingintervalassociatedwithwarm,dryperiodsinareasthathavealternatingwetanddryseasons.Animalsareinducedtoasstivatewhendroughtandheatinterferewiththeiractivities.Withtheirbentforpathologicalinterpretations,biologistsalsodefineaestivationas“thestateoftorpidityinducedinanimalsbyexcessivedryheat.”Physiologicalandphysicalquiescenceshouldnotbemistakenforastateoftorpor.Thesameobjectionstocallingitsleepthatwemadeinthecaseofhibernationarealsovalidwithreferencetoaestivation.

Aestivationisseenchieflyinthetropicsduringthelong,hot,dryseason,whenfoodisscarceandvegetationistakingarest.Afewanimalsinthetemperatezones,especiallyinthedesertregions,alsoactivate.Alligators,snakes,certainmammals,astauree,insectsandlandsnailsbecomedormant.

During the dry season in the tropics the pools and streams dry up. The crocodiles activate inSummer,“sleeping”throughthedryseasonwithoutfeedingoremergingfromthemudinwhichtheyhaveburiedthemselves.Itissaidthattheyareableto“sleep”inthisalmost“lifeless”stateforawholeyear. The alligators, theAmerican division of the crocodile family, hibernate in this country verymuch like frogs, but in the tropics they aestivate. When water is no longer obtainable the SouthAmericanalligator,andsomeotheranimals,burythemselvesinthemud,reducetheirphysiologicalactivitiestoabareminimum,whiletheearthabovethemisbakedintoahardcrust.Whentherainscomeagain,theyresumeactivity,andcomeforwardrenewedbytheirlongfastandrest.

Certainfishareable,whenthepoolsandstreamsdryup,toburrowdeepdownintothemudandliethereuntilthecomingoftherainyseason.Themud-fishofAustraliaisanexampleofthesefish,butmanyexamplesexistinthedrycountrieswheresummer,ratherthanwinter,isthe“hardtime.”Indeed,ifwearetojudgebythefishthatmaybefoundinadrypondafteraheavyrain,wemayhavesuchfish in thiscountry.The lungfishes,ProtoperisofAfricaandLipidosirenofSouthAmerica, live inmudcocoonsduringthedryseason.Whenthericefieldswhichitinhabitsdryupduringthedrought,the spearhead fish,Opiocephidae, buries itself in themud.Natives of Indo-Malaya “fish” for theseanimalswithdiggingimplements.TheAfricanlungfishdigsintomudalmost twofeet,curls its tailarounditsbodywhichbecomescoveredwithmucus,andthereexists,drawingairthroughalongtubeandlivingonthebreakdownofbodyfatandtail.

During droughts, planarians (flatworms) and leeches (annelids) bury themselves in mud. Smallcrustaceans,mollusks,etc.,thatarefoundinthepoolsandpatchesofwaterthatfrequentlyforminthe

desert,bury themselvesdeep in the clayorbakedmud,when thesepoolsdryup, and aestivate forlongperiods.Turtlesaestivateinmud,whilelizardsandsnakesretiretocrevices.TheIberianwaterturtlehidesunderrocks.

Frogsburrowintomudandexistformonthsinitssunbakedhardness.Duringperiodsofaestivationfrogs can survive the loss of half their bodymoisture.CertainAustralian frogs become distendedwithwaterduringthewetseasonandusethisstoredwaterduringtheaestivatingperiod.Thisstoringofwaterbythesefrogsissimilartothestorageoffatbyhibernatinganimals.

Birds are not known to aestivate, but a number ofmammals, such as aardvark, Orycteropus, andsomelemurs,ChirogalemilliiandMicrocebus,undergoperiodsofquiescence.

MostprominentamongaestivatinganimalsofAmericaare the landsnails, although frogs, slugs,somefishesandotheracquaticandsemiacquaticanimalsalsoaestivate.Whenthedryseasoncomes,landsnailssecreteamembrane-likesubstance(epiphram),acrosstheopeningoftheirshells,leavingasmallopeningfortheadmissionofairinbreathing.Somesnailssecreteseveralepiphramsacrosstheopeningoftheirshells.ThereisanAustraliansnailthatplugsthemouthofitsshellwithamorselofclaybeforeenteringuponitsperiodofaestivation.Afteraprolongedshowersnailsbecomeactive.Aestivatingdesertsnailshavebeenknowntoreviveandcrawlaboutafteryearsinthedormantstate.Records show that the African snail, Helix desertorum, may remain in aestivation as long as fiveyears;theCaliforniadesertsnail,Helixveatchii,hasbecomeactiveafterasixyearaestivationperiod.

Inthedesertsoftheworldtherearemanyplant-eatinganimalsthatliedormantintimesofdrought,when vegetation ismore scarce than during those periodswhen there is rainfall. There aremanydesertplantsthatalsoliedormantduringperiodsofdrought.Bothplantsandanimalsfastduringthisperiodofdormancy.

InAustraliathenymphsofaspeciesofdragonfliesaestivateindryland.Slugsburythemselvesinthegroundandbivalvemolluskshideinthemud.Smallcrustaceans,mollusks,etc.,thatarefoundinthepoolsandpatchesofwaterthatfrequentlyforminthedeserts,burythemselvesdeeplyintheclayorbakedmud,whenthesepoolsdryupandaestivateforlongperiods.

Whileitseemsthatheat,dryness,andlackoffoodarethefactorsthatinduceaestivation,ascoldandfamineseemtoinducehibernation,thereisreasontobelievethatthereismoretothepracticethanthemere existence of certain external factors. For example, the persistence of the aestivating habit isillustratedbythetenree,whichintemperatezoologicalgardens,wherefoodandwaterareabundant,aestivates at the time of their scarcity in its native Madagascar. This would seem to indicate thatsomethingother thanscarcityof foodandhigh temperature isatwork inaestivation,and,perhaps,alsoinhibernation.

ApeculiarexampleofananimalthatbehavesoppositetoaestivationistheEgyptianjerboa.Itissaidtobesocloselyadaptedtodryconditions(of thedesert) thatrainordampatmosphere induce it topassintoadormantcondition,inwhichstateitdoesnoteat.

Thoseanimalsthathibernatethroughthewinterandaestivatethroughmuchofthesummer,mayandoftendospendmoreoftheir lifefastingthaneating.Themanyexamplesof thiskindthatcouldbecitedareenoughtodemonstrateconclusivelythatabstinencefromfoodisnotthenaturalcalamitythatwearetaughttobelieve.

FastingWhenWoundedBiologists, physiologists and research workers of all kinds are very fond of animal

experimentation.Butalloftheseworkersareinthehabitofignoringimportantpartsoftheregularactivities of animals. For example, they ignore, nevermention, in fact, the numerous instances ofdogs and other animals having fasted ten, twenty or more days when they have received internalinjuries or a broken bone. That a sick animal refuses food is well known to all laymen, butphysiologistsandbiologistsseemtothinkthatthisfactisunworthyevenofmentioning.Canwenotlearn from observing the normal and regular activities of animals living normal lives—must weassumethatanimalsarecapableofteachingussomethingonlywhenunderartificialconditions,andwhensubjectedtoprocessesthattheyneverencounterinthenormalcourseoftheirexistence?

Dr. Oswald tells of a dog that had been put into the loft of a barn by the sergeant of a cavalryregiment. Losing its balance, while in the door of the loft and barking, it fell, turning a fewsomersaults as it camedown, and landedon the hardpavement, “with a crack that seemed to havebroken every bone in his body.”He says “bloodwas trickling fromhismouth and nosewhenwepicked him up, and the troopers advised me to ‘put him out of his misery,’ but he was my littlebrother ’spet,and,aftersomehesitation,1decidedtotakehimhomeinabasketandgivetheproblemofhiscare thebenefitofa fractionalchance. Investigationproved thathehadbroken two legsandthree ribs, and judging by the way he raised his head and gasped for air, every now and then, itseemedprobablethathislungshadbeeninjured.”

For twenty days and twenty nights the little terrier stuck to life in its cotton-lined basketwithouttouchingacrumbofsolidfood,buteverready to takea fewdropsofwater, inpreferenceeven tomilkorsoup.Attheendofthethirdweekitbrokeitsfastwithasaucerfulofsweetmilk,butonlyonthe evening of the twenty-sixth day did it begin to betray any interest in a plateful ofmeat scraps(MacfaddenandOswald,1900).

ErwinLick,notedGermanphysicianandsurgeon, tellsof instinctivefasting in threeofhisdogs.Oneofthesehadbeenrunoverbyatruckwhichhadbrokenseveralbonesandinjureditinternally.Thesecondhad “devoured a considerablequantityof rat poison. It becamevery, very ill, sufferedfrom diarrhea containing blood and pus” and “collapsed completely.” The third lost an eyewhile“mixingit”withacat.Allthreeofthesedogsfastedandrecovered.

Physiologistshavepersistentlyignoredcaseswheredogshavevoluntaryfastedfortenortwentyormore days when suffering from broken bones or internal injuries. Here is an action invariablypursuedbynaturewhichtheypersistinrefusingtoinvestigate.

Itissaidthattheelephant,ifwounded,andstillabletotravel,willgoalongwiththerestoftheherdandcanbefoundsupportingitselfbesideatreewhiletheremainderoftheherdenjoysaheartymeal.Thewoundedelephantistotallyobliviousoftheexcellentfoodallaroundhim.Heobeysaninstinctasunerringastheonethatbringsthebeetohishive;aninstinctwhichiscommontothewhole

FastingInDiseaseIneeddevotebutlittlespacetoadiscussionofwhateveryonealreadyknows;namely,thatthesick

animalrefusesallfood.Thefarmerknowsthathis“foundered”horsewillnotcat—is“offhisfeed.”asheexpresses it.The sickcat,dog.coworotheranimal refuses food.Animalswill abstain fromfoodwhensickfordaysandweeks,refusingallfoodthatmaybeofferedthemuntiltheyarcwell.

MacfaddenandOswald(1900)say:“Serioussicknesspromptsallanimalstofast.Woundeddeerwillretiretosonicsecludcdglenandstarvelorweekstogether”(p.40).Dr.ErwinLickendorsesfastingandobservesthat“smallchildrenandanimals,guidedbyaninfallibleinstinct.limittotheutmosttheirintakeoffoodiftheyarcsickorinjured.”

Arthur Brisbane disapproved of fasting and tookMr. Sinclair to task for advocating it. After alengthycorrespondenceaboutthematter,Mr.Brisbaneacknowledgedthat“evendogsfastwhentheyarcill.”Sinclairretorted,“Ilookforwardtothetimewhenhumanbeingsmaybeaswiseasdogs”(1911.p.46).

Adogorcat,ifsickorwounded,willcrawlunderthewoodshedorretiretosomeothersecludedspotandrestandfastuntilwell.Occasionallyhewillcomeoutforwater.Theseanimalswill,whenwounded or sick, persistently refuse the most tempting food when offered to them. Physical andphysiologicalrestandwateraretheirremedies.

Asickcoworhorsewillalsorefusefood.Theauthorhasseenthisinmanyhundredsofcases.Infact,allnatureobeysthisinstinct.Thusdocsnatureteachusthatthewaytofeedinacute“disease”isnottodoit.

Domesticcattlemayoftenbefoundsufferingfromsomechronic“disease.”Suchanimalsinvariablyconsumelessfoodthanthenormalanimal.Everystockmanknowsthatwhenacoworhorseorhogorsheep,ctc..persistentlyrefusesfood,ordayafterdayconsumesmuchlessthannormally,thereissomethingwrongwiththatanimal.

NoFearOfFastingIhavemadenoefforttoexhaustthelistofanimalsandplantsthatfastunderconditionsotherthan

thoseofsicknessorabsenceoffood.Theexamplesthathavebeengivenaresufficienttoshowthatnaturehasnofearofprolongedabstinencefromfoodandthatabstinenceisfrequentlymadeuseofinnature, by animals in both the active and .he dormant states, as ameans of adapting the animal tovarious conditions of life, or as a means of internal alteration when this is needed. Under allconditionsinwhichanimalsfast,theinternalresourcesoftheanimalaredrawnupontonourishthevitaltissuesandcarryontheindispensablefunctionsoflife.

In sickness, orwhen severelywounded,when no food can be digested, the organism also drawsupon its internal store of supplies for these same purposes. Fever, pain, distress, inflammationsuspend the sccrction of the digestive juices, inhibit themuscular actions of the stomach and takeawaythedesireforfood.Insuchconditionsthereisbutonesource

Insickness,asinanimalsfastingthroughthematingperiod,thereismuchactivitygoingoninthebody.Thereis,therefore,muchmorerapidwastingofthebodyinthesetwoconditionsthanisseeninhibernationandaestivation.

Viewingthewastedconditionofanimalsattheendoftheirvariousfastingperiods,itbecomesveryobvious that,whiledifferent speciesof animalsvary in the amountof loss theycan safely sustain,noneof themare injuredor endangereduntil after a largepercentageof thenormalweight of thebody has been lost. There is, therefore, no danger in a fast of such lengths as are employed insickness.

FastingAsAMeansOfSurvivalAfterthissurveyofthemanyandvariedconditionsunderwhichanimalsfast,andthedifferentuses

towhich fasting is put, it becomesobvious that fasting is one of themost commonphenomena innature. It issecondonly to feedingandreproduction,withbothofwhichphenomena it isallied, inimportanceandinbreadthofapplication.

FastingundersomanydifferentconditionsissocommoninnatureandisemployedasameansofmeetingsomanyoftheexigenciesoflifethatIamforcedtowonderwhyanyoneisafraidtofastandwhyanyoneshoulddoubtitsnaturalnessandhelpfulness.Itisoneofnature’sbestestablishedmethodsof dealingwith certain physiological problems. The hibernating bear, the aestivating alligator, thesick elephant, thewounded dog—these all fast tomeet the problems before them. Fasting in acutedisease,whenthereisnodigestivepower,canbeviewedonlyasaveryusefulmeansofadaptation.

AsIhavepreviouslypointedout,biologically,hibernationisameansofadaptationtotheconditionsofwinterwhichenablestheanimaltosurvive.Theabilitytogowithoutfoodduringthisperiodisanimportant element in survival. Except for its ability to fast for extended periods, the hibernatinganimalwouldstarvetodeathduringthewinter.

Ourso-calledscientists,sticklersastheyareforclassificationsandminutedifferentiations,arestillinthehabitofreferringtoallabstinencefromfoodasstarvation.Buttheysayofhibernationthatitisaformof“starvation”that“spellssurvivalinsteadofdeath.”Strangelyenough,thesemenrefertotheabstinence of hibernation and that seen in the mating season in some animals as “physiologicalstarvation.”Thisisamisuseofterms.Starvationisatalltimespathologicalorpathogenic.

The ability of an animal to fast, even for long periods, under many and varied conditions andcircumstancesoflife,isavitallyimportantfactorinsurvival.Itisnature’sbestestablishedmethodofdealingwithcertainphysiologicalandbiologicalproblems.Itmaybeproperlyregardedasameansof adjustment or adaptation—the hibernating bear, the aestivating alligator, the sick elephant allfastingtomeettheproblemsbeforethem.

Ifananimalcanfastitisonlybecauseitcanrelyuponadequateinternalresourcesanditcanaffordto fast precisely in so far and so long as it duly conserves these provisions. This is the reasonhibernating and aestivating animals function on the lowest physiological level compatible withcontinued life.With no physical activity and only a bareminimum of physiological activity, theirinternalreservesareconservedandmadetolastforprolongedperiods—monthsorayear.

Salmon and the fur-seal bull do not rest and theymake no effort to conserve their resources. Itwouldbeinterestingtoknowhowlongtheseanimalscouldfastiftheyceasedtheiractivity—physicalandsexual.

HowLongCanAnimalsAbstainFromFood?Themostremarkablerecordsofcontinuedabstinencefromfoodaretobefoundamongthelower

animals.Comparedtosomeofthese,manisapiker.Itisoftensaidthatthemarvelsoflong-continuedabstinencefromfoodreachtheirmaximuminthe“wintersleep”ofseveralspeciesofwarm-bloodedanimals,butthereareactuallylongerrecordsthanthesepresent.

The American Peoples Encyclopedia (1956) tells us that the average survival time of “acutestarvation”(completeabstinencefromallfoodsavewater)is5to6daysfortherat;7to8daysfor

theguineapig;15daysfortherabbit;20daysforthecat;and38daysforthedog.Therangefordogsisgivenas21to117days.Thereissomeconfusionabouthowlongthedogmaysurvivedeprivationoffood;however,sizemaybeadeterminant.

Reportsofspidersundergoingincrediblylongfasts,spinningwebsdaily,thesemadeofsubstanceswithintheirbodies,untiltheweightofthewebssoproducedfaroutweightheweightsofthespidersatthebeginningofthefast,causemetosuspectthatthespidershadsourcesoffoodsupplyofwhichtheobserverswere unaware. I find it difficult to believe that spiders havemastered the art ofmakingsomethingoutofnothing.

Even one-celled organisms (amoeba, paramecia, etc.) can exist without food for from four totwenty-one days.Likemuscle cells in a fastingman, fasting one-celled organisms only undergo adiminutioninthesizeof thecell.Thesedieonlyafter thecellular reserve isexhausted.These littlebeingspossessafoodreservewhichtheycanliveoninemergencies.Inthesameway,eachcellinthebodiesofthehigheranimalspossessesitsownprivatefoodreserve.

Amongvertebratesthetimetheycansubsistwithoutfoodrangesfromafewdaysinsmallbirdsandmammals to possibly years in some reptiles. The time they can go without food depends on theamount of reserve possessed and the rate at which it is consumed. In cold-blooded animals, thereservesareusuallyplentifulandthedemandmadeuponthemissmall,sothattheymayfastforlongintervals,withoutbeingforcedtorenewtheirstores. Inwarm-bloodedanimals,whosereservesarefrequentlylowerandwhosegreatactivitiesmakeagreaterdemanduponthese,thereservesaremorerapidlydepleted.

Amongcold-bloodedanimals thesurvival timewithout food isusuallymuchgreater thanamongwarm-bloodedanimals,sincetheformerdonothaveto“burnfuel”inordertomaintainahighbodytemperature.Snakesandotherreptileseasilygoforlongperiodswithoutfood.Snakeshavebeenkeptalivewithoutfoodforalmosttwoyears.Apythonincaptivityhasbeenobservedtogowithoutfoodforaperiodofthirteenmonths.Frogshavesurvivedsixteenmonthsandfishestwentymonthswithoutfood. Invertebratescanstandeven longerperiodsofdeprivation; the larvaof thebeetle Trogdermatarsalelivingforfiveyears,duringwhichtimetheylost99.8percentoftheirbodysubstance.Spidershavebeenobserved toexistwithout food for seventeenmonthsandmore.Fabre tellsusof certainspiders that they eat no food of any kind for the first six months of their lives but feast uponsunbeams.Goldfishhavebeenknowntogoforlongperiodswithoutfood,whileproteusangeainus,anamphibian,hasbeenknowntoliveforyearswithoutfood.InhisRecherchesExperimentalessurL’Inanition,ChossattellsusthatthelandtortoiseofsouthernFrance,can“starve”forayearwithoutbetrayingareductionofvitalenergy,andthatProteusanguinus, theserpentsalamander,evenforayearandahalf,providingthetemperatureofitscageiskeptabovethefreezingpoint.Rhinesalmonhavebeenknowntogowithoutfoodforeighttofifteenmonths.

MacfaddenandOswald(1900)say:“Reptiles,withtheirsmallexpenditureofvitalenergy,caneasilysurvivedieteticdeprivations,butbearsandbadgers,withanorganizationessentiallyanalogoustothatofthehumanspecies,andwithacirculationofbloodactiveenough tomaintain the temperatureoftheir bodiesmore than a hundred degrees above that of thewinter storms, dispensewith food forperiodsvaryingfromthreetofivemonths,andattheterminationoftheirordealemergefromtheirdensinthefullpossessionoftheirphysicalandmentalenergies”(p.60).Thecondor, likeallothervultures,isabletofastfordays.Itusuallygorgesitself,however,whenitdoesgetfood.

Slosson (1924) says inhisKeepingUpWithScience: “Among the lower animals existence underinanitionmay extend over incredibly protracted periods. Scorpions are known to have starved for368days,andspidershavesurvivedstarvationforseventeenmonths.Thelarvaeofsmallbeetleshavebeenknowntolivethroughmorethanfiveyearswithoutfood,theirbodymassbeingreducedinthistime toonlyonesix-hundredthofwhat itwasat thestart.There isauniquerecordofa fresh-waterfish,AmiaCalva,whichfastedtwentymonthsandeventhenhadnotyetapparentlyreachedtheendofthe ropebutwaskilled.Frogssurvive starvation for sixteenmonths, and snakes remainalive evenaftertwoyearsoffasting.Thelongestrecordedfastenduredbyadogwas117days,ornearlyfourmonths”(p.261).A.S.Pearse,ProfessorofZoologyatDukeUniversity, tellsus that“certain tickscanexistinanactivestateforaslongasfouryearswithouteatinganything.”

Perhapsthelongestperiodsofabstinenceareseeninaestivatinganimalsofthedeserts.Itshouldnotbeoverlooked,also,thatsnailsandotheranimalsofnortherndeserts,thatactivateinthedryseasonandhibernatethroughthewinter,spendmostoftheirlivesfasting.

III.FastinginManReligiousFastingFastingAsMagicDisciplinaryFastsPeriodicAndYearlyFastsHungerStrikesExhibitionOrStuntFastsExperimentalFastsFastingWhenEatingIsImpossibleShipwreckedSailorsAndPassengersEntombedMinersFastingInIllnessFamineAndWarFastingUnderEmotionalStressFastingByTheInsaneHibernationInManInstinctiveFastingLongFastsInManFastingAbilityAndSurvival

Manisananimaland,assuch,issubjecttothesamelawsofexistenceandthesameconditionsofliving,asareotheranimals.Asapartof thegreatorganicworld,heisnotabeingthat issetapartfrom theordinary and regular conditions of life, governed by different laws and requirements ofexistence.Itisnotsurprising,therefore,thatwefindmannotonlyabletofastforprolongedperiodsandabletodosowithbenefit,butalsofindhimfastingunderawidevarietyofcircumstancesandforawidevarietyofpurposes.Inthefollowingpages,weshallbrieflyreviewthemostimportantoftheconditionsunderwhichmanfastsandthepurposesforwhichhefasts.

ReligiousFastingFastingasareligiousobservance,haslongbeenpracticedfortheaccomplishmentofcertaingoods.

Religious fasting is of early origin, antedating recorded history. Partial or entire abstinence fromfood,orfromcertainkindsoffoods,atstatedseasons,prevailedinAssyria,Persia,Babylon,Scythia,Greece, Rome, India, Ninevah, Palestine, China, in northern Europe among the Druids, and inAmericaamongtheIndians.Itwasawidelydiffusedpractice,oftenindulgedasameansofpenitence,inmourningandasapreparationforparticipationinreligiousrites,suchasbaptismandcommunion.

At the very dawnof civilization theAncientMysteries, a secretworship orwisdom religion thatflourishedforthousandsofyearsinEgypt,India,Greece,Persia,Thrace,ScandinaviaandtheGothicandCelticnations,prescribedandpracticedfasting.TheDruidicalreligionamongtheCelticpeoplesrequiredalongprobationaryperiodoffastingandprayerbeforethecandidatecouldadvance.Afastoffiftydayswasrequired in theMithriacreligion inPersia. Indeed, fastingwascommontoall themysteries,whichwereallquite similar to theEgyptianmysteries andwereprobablyderived fromthese.Moses,whowaslearnedin“allthewisdomofEgypt,”issaidtohavefastedformorethan120daysonMountSinai.

Themysteries ofTyre,whichwere represented in Judea in the days of Jesus, in a secret society

knownas theEssenes,alsoprescribedfasting.In thefirstcenturyA.D., thereexisted inAlexandria,Egypt, an ascetic sect of Jews, calledTherapeutas,who resembled theEssenes andwho borrowedmuchfromtheKabalaandfromthePythagorianandOrphicsystems.TheseTherapeutaegavegreatattentiontothesickandheldfastinginhighesteemasacurativemeasure.FastingismentionedquitefrequentlyintheBible.Severalfasts—someofconsiderableduration—arerecordedtherein:Moses,fortydays (Exodus 34:28);David, sevendays (2Samuel 12:16);Elijah, forty days (1Kings 19:8);Esther,threedays(Esther4:16);Jesus,fortydays(Matthew4:2);andSaul,threedays(Acts9:9).Lukesays, “I fast twice aweek” (Luke 18:12). Jehoshaphat “proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2Chronicles 20:3). In his “Sermonon theMount,” Jesus cautions against fasting formere notoriety(Matthew6:16-18).Elsewhere,speakingofanepileptic,hesays,“Thiskindnevercomesoutexceptbyprayerandfasting”(Matthew17:21).

WemayveryproperlyassumethatsomegreatgoodwastheobjectofthemanyfastsmentionedintheBibleeventhoughwemaybesurethattheywerenotalwaysintendedforthe“cure”of“disease.”Wemayalsobesurethattheancientshadnofearofstarvingtodeathbymissingafewmeals.

FortwothousandyearstheChristianreligionhasrecommended“prayerandfasting”andthestoryofthefdrtyday’sfastinthewildernesshasbeentoldfromthousandsofpulpits.Religiousfastswerefrequently practised in the early days of Christianity and during the Middle Ages. ThomasCampanellatellsusthatfrailnunsoftensoughtrelieffromperiodsofhysteriabyfasting“seventimesseventyhours,”ortwentyandonehalfdays.JohnCalvinandJohnWesleybothstronglyurgedfastingasabeneficialmeasureforbothministersandpeople.

Among the earlyChristians, fastingwas among the rites of purification. Fasting is yet a regularpractice among the nations of the Far East, especially among the East Indians. Themany fasts ofGandhiaregenerallyknown.

Penance-wornmembersof theearlychurchfrequentlyretired to thedesert foramonthor two tofightdowntemptations.Theywoulddrinkwaterfromsomedilapidatedoldcisternduringtheperiod,buttoeatsomuchasamillet-seedwasconsideredabreachoftheirvowsanddestroyedthemeritsoftheirpenance.Attheendofthesecondmonththe“gauntworld-renouncers”generallyhadsufficientstrengthtoreturnhomeunassisted.

Thewriterof ‘PeregrinatioSilvia’, indescribinghowLentwasobserved in Jerusalem,when shewas there about 386 A.D., says: “They abstained entirely from all food during Lent, except onSaturdaysandSundays.TheytookamealaboutmiddayonSunday,andafterthatthey tooknothinguntilSaturdaymorning.ThiswastheirrulethroughLent.”

AlthoughtheCatholicChurchhasno lawrequiringfasting,asweuse the term, itwasvoluntarilypracticedbymanyindividualsinthepast.Fasting,whethertotalabstinencefromfoodorabstinencefromproscribedfoods, is regardedby thisChurchasapenance.TheCatholicChurch also teachesthatJesusfastedinordertoinstructandencouragebeliefinthepracticeofpenance.

TheRomanChurchhasboth“fast-days”and“abstinence-days,”thoughtheyarenotnecessarilythesame.The“lawofabstinence”isonadifferentbasisand“isregulated,notbythequantity,butbyuseofmeatormeatbroth,butnoteggs,‘lacticinia’(milk)orcondimentsofanykindevenfrom‘thefatofanimals’.”Theruleofthechurchinfastingis:“Whatconstitutesfastingisthetakingofonlyonefullmealinaday.”“Inearliertimesastrictfastwaskeptuntilsunset.Nowthisfullmealmaybetaken

anytimeaftermid-day,or,asthechurch’sapprovedauthorshold,shortlybefore.Someevenholdthatthefullmealmaybe takenatany timeduring the24hours.”But this“onefullmeal in twenty-fourhours”doesnotprohibitthetakingofsomefoodinthemorningandevening.Indeed,“localcustom,”whichisoftenasomewhatundefinedphrase,asdeterminedbythelocalbishop,determineswhatextrafoodmaybetakendaily.InAmericatheruleisthatthemorningmealshouldnotexceedtwoouncesofbread;inWestminster(England)thelimitisthreeounces.Obviouslya“fast”ofthisnatureisnotwhatwemeanbyfasting,foramanmayeatenoughinthismannertogrowfat.NorcanHygienistsaccept the socalledmoral principleof theRomanChurch—“parvumpronihilo reputatur” and “nepotusnoceat”—“alittleisreckonedasnothing,”“lestdrinkunaccompaniedbyanythingsolidshouldbeharmful.”Wehold,asPageexpressedit,thatlittledribletmealsarenotfasting.

TheLentenfastofCatholicsisalsomerelyaperiodofabstinencefromcertainproscribedfoods,althoughthereareCatholicswhotakeadvantageof theperiodforareal fast.Theearlypracticeoffastinguntilsundown,thenfeasting,issimilartothepracticeofMohammedansintheirsocalledfastofRamadan.During this season thepeopledonot eat andcannotdrinkwinenor smokecigarettesfromsunrisetosunset,buttheyhavetheircigaretteshandy,readytobeginsmokingassoonasthesungoesdownandtheyenjoyanightoffeasting.Agrandcarouseatnightmakesupfortheirabstinenceduringtheday.Theircitiesholdnightlycarnivals,therestaurantsarelightedandthestreetsarefilledwithrevelers, thebazaarsarewell illuminatedand thepeddlersof lemonadeandsweetmeatsare intheirglory.Thewealthysitupallnightreceivingandreturningcallsandgivingdinnerparties.Afterdaysofthisfeastingandrevelling,thepeoplecelebratetheendoftheirmonthof“fasting”withthefeastingofBairam.

WhenweareinformedthattheArchangelMichaelappearedtoacertainpriestofSipponte,afterthelatterhadspentayearinfasting,wearenottothinkofthepriestashavingabstainedfromallfood,butfromcertainfoodsduringthisperiod.Thisisareligioususeofthetermfastingthatcloudsmanyof the storieswe receiveof religious fasts.We are not always certain that the individual abstainedfromfood.Hemayhavemerelyabstainedfromcertainproscribedfoods.

Whenpeoplearecommandedby religion toabstain from fleshoncertaindaysof theweek, as ameans of subduing their “animal appetites,” but are permitted to drink wine, eat liberally of fish(which is also flesh), to which are added rich and stimulating sauces, such as they add to eggs,lobsters,andvariousshell-fish,wehaveanobviousabandonmentofwhatmayhavebeen,originally,asoundviewofdieteticsandtheobservanceofameresuperstitiousrite.WhentheMohammedansareforbidden to drinkwine, but are permitted to intoxicate themselves by unrestrained use of coffee,tobaccoandopium,thereisanobviousdeparturefromaformerruleagainstinebriationofallkinds.When,duringRamadan,theMohammedaniscommandedtotouchneithersolidnorliquidfoodfromsunrise to sunset, but is permitted to revel in gluttony, inebriety and debauchery from sunset tosunrise,whereisthegain?Wehavebutasymbolicabstinence,amereriteorceremonialthatfeeblyimitateswhatmayhavebeen,originally,awholesomepractice.

Thefactis,andthisshouldbeobvioustotheleastintelligent,thatthereisnothinginnaturallawthatsanctionsanyinterruptionsofordeparturesfromsobriety,abstinence,moderationandrightconduct.Naturallawsindicatenospecificdaysandnospecialnumberofdaysforspecialfastsorforspecialperiodsofabstinencefromanyfoodorindulgence.Afastistobetakenundernaturallawwhenthereisaneedforitanditistobeabstainedfromwhenthereisnoneedforit.Hungerandthirstaretobesatisfiedonalldaysandatalltimesoftheyearandshouldatalltimesbesatisfiedwithwholesome

foodandpurewater.Themanwhorefuses tosatisfy thenormalneedsof thebody,as indicatedbythirst and hunger, is as guilty of a breach of natural law as is the man who abuses his body byoverindulgence.

AtthepresenttimeChristiansofallsectsanddenominationsrarelyundergoarealfast.MostfastsofRoman,EasternOrthodoxandProtestantcommunicantsaremerelyperiodsofabstinencefromfleshfoods.Abstinence from flesh foods other than fish on “fast” days appears to have been enjoinedmerely to aid the fishingand shipbuilding industries.Among the Jews fastingalwaysmeansentireabstinencefromfood,andat leastoneof theirfastdayscarrieswith itabstinencefromwater,also.Theirperiodsoffastingarecommonlyonlyshortones.

While theHinduNationalists’ leader,Gandhi, fullyunderstood thehygienicvalueof the fast, andoftenfastedforhygienicpurposes,mostofhisfastswere“purification”orpenancefastsandpoliticalweaponsbywhichhecompelledEnglandtoaccedetohisdemands.Heevenfastedforthepurificationof India, and not merely for his own cleansing. “Self-purification fasts” of several days are offrequent occurrence in India.A few years ago JayaprakashNarayan, leader of the Indian Socialistparty,underwentafastoftwenty-onedaystoenablehimtofulfillbetterhispublictasksinthefuture.HeunderwentthispurificationfastinanaturecureclinicunderthesupervisionofthemanwhohadsupervisedseveralofGandhi’sfasts.

FastingformedpartofthereligiousobservancesoftheAztecsandToltecsofMexico,theIncasofPeruandofotherAmericantribes.FastingwasalsopracticedbythePacificIslanders;whiletherearetracesof fasting inChinaand Japan, evenbefore their contactwithBuddhism. InEasternAsia andwhereverBrahmanismandBuddhismhavespread,fastinghasbeenkeptalive.Benedict (1907)saysthat themany recorded instances of prolonged andmore or less complete religious fasts are “socloudedbysuperstitionandshowsucha lackofaccurateobservation that theyarewithoutvalue toscience”(p.2).WhileIagreethattheirvaluetoscienceislimited,Idonotagreethattheyaredevoidofallvalue.Theyarecertainlyofvaluinconfirmingthepossibilityofabstainingfromfoodforlongperiods of time under varying circumstances of life. The fact is that scientists havemade so fewobservationsoffastersthattheyarestillascloudedintheirviewsoftheprocessasaretheaccountsofreligiousfasters.

FastingAsMagicWithfastingasmagicwehavenothingtodo,excepttostudythephenomenon.Tribalfasts,asseen

amongtheAmericanIndians, toavertsomethreatenedcalamity,orfasting,asbyGandhi, topurifyIndia, is the use of fasting as magic. Fasting was widely observed, both in private and in publicceremonials by theAmerican Indians.Fathers of newborn children are required to fast among theMelanesians. Fastingwas often part of the rite of initiation intomanhood andwomanhood or forsacredandritualactsamongmanytribesofpeople.David’ssevendays’fast,asrecordedintheBible,while his son was ill, was a magic fast. Ceremonial fasting carried out in several religions mayproperlybeclassedasmagicfasting.Ifwecarefullydistinguishedbetweenmagicfastingandprotestfasting, as in hunger strikes,wemay say thatmagic fasting is fasting undergone to achieve somedesiredendoutsidethepersonofthefaster.Weareinterestedinsuchfasts,simplyasanotherpartoftheevidencethatman,liketheloweranimals,mayfastforextendedperiodsandmaydoso,notonlywithoutharm,butwithpositivebenefit.

DisciplinaryFastsMajorW.C.Gotshall,M.S.,says:“There isnothingnewabout fasting.Among theancients itwas

recognized as a sovereign method of attaining and maintaining marked mental and physicalefficiency. Socrates and Plato, two of the greatest of the Greek philosophers and teachers, fastedregularlyforaperiodoftendaysatatime.Pythagoras,anotherofthegreatGreekphilosophers,wasalsoaregularfaster,andbeforehe tookanexaminationat theUniversityofAlexandria, fastedforfortydays.Herequiredhispupilstofastforfortydaysbeforetheycouldenterhisclass”(1926,pp.356-357). H. B. Cushman tells us in hisHistory of the Choctaw, Chickasaw and Natchez Indians(1899), that the Choctaw warrior and hunter “often indulged in protracted fasts” to train him to“endurehunger.”

PeriodicAndYearlyFastsLukementionsinhisGospelthepracticeoffastingonedayoutofeachweek,whichseemstohave

beenverygeneral inhisday.Periodic fastinghasbeenpracticedbymanydifferentpeoplesandbymanydifferentindividuals.ItisassertedthattheancientEgyptianswereaccustomedtofastingforabriefperiod,abouttwoweekseachsummer.Manypeopleof todaydothissamething.Theyhaveafastortwofastseachyear.OthersfollowthecustomreferredtobyLukeandfastonedayoutofeachweek.Othersfast threetofivedaysoutofeachmonth.Thepracticeofperiodic fasting takesmanyforms withmany different individuals. These fasts are usually of but short duration, but they arealwaysofdistinctbenefit.

HungerStrikesHungerstrikeshavebecomeveryfrequentduringthepastfortyyears.Perhapsthemostfamousof

thesehavebeen theprotest fastsofGandhiand thehunger strikeofMcSwineyandhisco-politicalprisonersinCork,Ireland,in1920.JosephMurphy,whowentonthehungerstrikewithMcSwiney,diedonthe68thdayofhisfast;McSwineyonthe74thday.

OlderreaderswillrecallthatsomeyearsagowhenthesufragettesofEnglandwouldgoonhungerstrikes,theywouldbeforciblyfedbyapainfulprocess,while,atthesametime,therewasmuchtalkoflettingthem“starve”inprison.

ThenumberofmenandwomenwhohavefastedinIndia,largelyinprotestagainstsomegrievance,sinceGandhipopularizedthepractice,runsintomanythousands.Massfastinghasbeenpracticedonalargescaleinseveralinstances.Mostofthesefastshavebeenforbutafewdays,butinsomeinstancestheywereannouncedtobe“untodeath”unlesstheiraimwasachieved.Sofar,eachcaseoffastinghasbeenbroken shortofdeath,usuallyupon importuningsof family, friendsorphysician.One of the“untodeath”fasts,whichdidnotgosofar,wasthatofShibbanLaiSaksena,leaderofthePeasants,WorkersandPeoplesParty.AfastoffortydayswasundergonebyRamchandraSharmawhileafastofthirty-sixdayswasundergonebySwamiSitaram,allthreeofthesefastsbeingofapoliticalnature—hungerstrikes.

Politicalfastingisnotwithoutitshumorousside.ThenewsofOctober2,1961carriedthestoryofthebreakingofa46-dayfastundertakenbyMasterTaraSingh,Sikhleader,todramatizehisdemandforaseparateSikhstate in thePunjab.On thesameday76-year-oldHogirajSuryadey, ascetic andreligious leader, started his fast in protest against the Sikh’s having their own state. The fastsneutralizedeachother,althoughitwouldseemthatbymaintainingthestatusquo,Suryadeywon thecontest.Itmustbeconceded,however,Ithink,thatafightofthisnatureislesstaxingontheresourcesofthepeopleandresultsinlessbloodshedthandoesanold-fashionedshootingrevolution.

Gandhi’s frequent fastswereusuallyprotests against someBritishpolicy, although sometimes he

fastedtopurifyIndiabecauseofsomewrongsshehadcommitted.Hewas,however,fullyacquaintedwith theHygienic value of the fast andwas fully conversantwith the literature on the subject.Hislongestfastseemstohavebeenabouttwenty-onedays.Manymenandwomeninallpartsoftheworldhavestagedhungerstrikesoflongerorshorterduration.

ExhibitionOrStuntFastsTherehavebeenanumberoffasterswhoweremoreorlessprofessionalfasters,fastinglargelyfor

showandmakingmoneyoutoftheprocess.Thesehavefastedpubliclyandhavechargedadmissiontothepublictogetintoseethem.OfsuchwereSucciandMerlatti,twoItalianexhibitionfasters,andJacques.Jacquesfasted42daysinLondonin1890and50daysinthesamecityin1891.Hefasted30days inEdinburgh, in1889.Merlatti fasted50days inParis in 1885.Succi took several long fastsrangingfrom21to46days.OneofhisfastswascarefullystudiedbyProf.Luciani,famousItalianauthorityonnutrition.

ExperimentalFastsExperimentalfastsinwhichmenandwomenhavetakenpartare,perhaps,morenumerousthanwe

think.Profs.CarlsonandKunde,oftheUniversityofChicago,madeafewexperimentsofthisnatureafewyearsago.Theirfastswereofrelativelyshortduration.BeforehisdeathDr.Carlsonconductedseveral experiments with the fast and he took short fasts himself. But few experimental fasts ofconsiderable duration have been made in man. Dr. Luigi Luciani, professor of Physiology in theUniversityofRome,studiedathirtydaysfastundergonebySucciin1889.

VictorPashutin,directoroftheImperialMilitaryMedicalAcademy,Petrograd,Russia,performedanumberofexperimentsuponanimals,andinvestigatedcasesofdeathfromstarvationinman.

Dr.FrancisGanoBenedict,oftheCarnegieInstituteatRoxbury,Mass.,publishedabooksomeyearsago,entitledTheInfluenceofInanitiononMetabolism.Inspiteofthecareobservedintheconductofhisfastingexperimentsandtheskillwithwhichthevarioustestsandmeasurementswerecarriedout,veryfewdecisiveresultscamefromtheseexperiments,fortheywerebasedonshortfasts,thelongestoneofsevendayshavingbeenthatofahypochondriac,who,accordingtoTucsek,beingabnormal,couldnotproducenormalphysiologicalresults.Itisalsotruethatthefirstfewdaysofthefastwitnesstheworsttroubles,sothattheresultsoftheseshortfastswereverymisleadingor,asProf.Levanzinsays,“thatgreatbookonwhichthecarnegieInstitutesquanderedsixthousanddollarsisnotworththepaperonwhichitwasprinted.”Benedict’sdiscussionofpastexperimentswiththefastisdevotedtofastsinhealthysubjectsandthiscanthrowbutlittlelightontheimportanceofthefastindisease.

In1912ProfessorAgostinoLevanzin,ofMalta,cametoAmericatobestudiedbyProf.Benedict,whileheunderwentafastofthirty-oneday’sduration.HisfastwascommencedonApril13,1912ataweightof“less than twopoundsover132pounds,normalweight,according to theYaleUniversitymeasurements, [his] height being five feet, six and one-half inches.” Levanzin points out thatprofessional fasters, like hibernating animals, generally overeat before they start fasting andaccumulate a good store of fat and other reserves. He thinks that, due to this fact, the long fastspreviouslystudiedwereofthedestructionofadiposetissueandnotofthewholebody.Heattemptedtoavoidthis“mistake”bystartinghisfastat“normal”bodyweight.Itwashisopinionthatthelengthofthefastisofnoimportanceifitisnotstartedfromnormalbodyweight.Hewasoftheopinionthatman can lose sixtypercent of his normal body-weightwithout any risk of death or damage to hishealth.Hesaysthatthegreatestpartofthenormalbodyweightisalsoastorageoffood.

“Attheoutsetofmyfastmyexactweightwasashadeover133½pounds(60.6kilograms).Attheconclusionofthethirty-onedaysofmyfast,Iweighedbarely104½pounds(47.4kilograms),atotalloss of twenty-one pounds during the fast. Throughout the fast tests were taken ofmy pulse rate,blood pressure, respiration rate, respiration volume, blood examination, anthropometricalmeasurements,urineanalysis,andgrowthofhair,nottomentioninnumerableotherobservationsofmymentalandphysicalconditionfromdaytoday.”

FastingWhenEatingIsImpossibleTherearepathologicalconditionsunderwhicheating is impossible.Suchconditionsascancerof

thestomach,destructionofthestomachbyacids,andbyothercauses,rendersitnolongerpossibletotakefood.Personsinthisconditionoftengoforextendedperiodswithoutfood,before theyfinallydie. A few such cases will be mentioned in the text as we proceed with our studies. In certainconditionsofgastricneurosisfoodisvomitedaboutasfastasitisswallowed,oritispassedintothesmallintestinewithalmostequalrapidityandhurriedtotheexitandexpelledwithoutbeingdigested.Such an individual, though eating, is to all practical purposes, goingwithout food.Such a state ofaffairsmaylastforanextendedperiod.

ShipwreckedSailorsAndPassengersShipwreckedsailorsandaviatorsforceddownatseahave,inmanyinstances,beenforcedtoexist

for long periodswithout food, and oftenwithoutwater.Many have survived long periodswithoutfoodunderthemanysevereconditionsthat theseaoffers.Duringtherecentwarmanyinstancesofthisnaturereceivedmuchpublicity.

In“MyDebutAsALiteraryPerson”(1899),MarkTwain,seriouslyinthisinstance,recordssomeofhisexperienceswithandobservationsoffasting.Hesays:“Alittlestarvationcanreallydomorefortheaveragesickmanthancanthebestmedicinesandthebestdoctors.Idonotmeanarestricteddiet;Imeantotalabstentionfromfoodforoneortwodays.Ispeakfromexperience;starvationhasbeenmycoldandfeverdoctorforfifteenyears,andhasaccomplishedacureinallinstances.ThethirdmatetoldmeinHonoluluthatthe‘Portyghee’hadlaininhishammockformonths,raisinghisfamilyofabscessesandfeedinglikeacannibal.Wehaveseenthatinspiteofdreadfulweather,deprivationofsleep, scorching, drenching, and all manner of miseries, thirteen days of starvation ‘wonderfullyrecovered’him.Therewerefoursailorsdownsickwhen theshipwasburned.Twenty-fivedaysofpitilessstarvationhavefollowed,andnowwehavethiscuriousrecord:‘Allthemenareheartyandstrong;eventheonesthatweredownsickarewell,exceptpoorPeter.’WhenIwroteanarticle*somemonths ago urging temporary abstention from food as a remedy for an inactive appetite and fordisease, I was accused of jesting, but I was in earnest. ‘We are all wonderfully well and strong,comparativelyspeaking.’On thisday the starvation regimendrew itsbelt a coupleofbuckle-holestighter:thebreadrationwasreducedfromtheusualpieceofcrackerthesizeofasilverdollartothehalfofthat,andonemealwasabolishedfromthedailythree.Thiswillweakenthemenphysically,butifthereareanydiseasesoftheordinarysortleftinthemtheywilldisappear”(p.83).

*Twain,M.Attheappetite-cure.TheCosmopolitan.1898,25(4)425-433.

EntombedMinersFrequently,whenthereareminecave-ins,oneormoreminersareentombedforshorterorlonger

periods,duringwhich time theyarewithout foodandoftenwithoutwater.Theirsurvivaluntil theycanberescueddependsnotuponfood,butuponair.Iftheoxygensupplyisexhaustedbeforerescuersreach them theyperish,otherwise, they survivedayswithout food.Theentombedminer is like the

animalburiedfordaysandweeksunderasnow-drift.Heisabletogoforprolongedperiodswithoutfoodandsurvive,justasaretheseanimals.

FastingInIllnessItisestimatedthatfastingforthealleviationofhumansufferinghasbeenpracticeduninterruptedly

for10,000years.Nodoubtithasbeenemployedfromthetimemanfirstbegantogetsick.FastingwaspartofthemethodsofhealingpracticedintheAncientAesculapianTemplesofToscurdGuido,1300yearsbefore the timeof Jesus.Hippocrates, themythicalGreek “FatherofPhysic,” seems tohaveprescribedtotalabstinencefromfoodwhilea“disease”wasontheincrease,andespeciallyatthecriticalperiod,andasparedietonotheroccasions.Tertullianhasleftusatreatiseonfastingwrittenabout200A.D.Plutarchsaid:“Insteadofusingmedicineratherfastaday.”Avicenna,thegreatArabphysician,oftenprescribedfastingforthreeweeksormore.

I think that there is no room to doubt that man, like the lower animals, has always fasted whenacutelyill.Inmoremoderntimesthemedicalprofessionhastaughtthesickthattheymusteattokeepuptheirstrengthandthatiftheydonoteattheirresistancewillbeloweredandtheywilllosestrength.Thethoughtbehindallofthisisthatunlessthesickeattheyarelikelytodie.Thereverseofthisisthetruth—themoretheyeat,themorelikelyaretheytodie.InhisEatingforStrength,M.L.Holbrook,anoutstandingHygienistofthelastcentury,says:“Fastingisnocunningtrickofpriestcraft,butthemostpowerfulandsafestofallmedicines.”

Whenanimalsaresicktheyrefusefood.Onlywhentheyarewell,andnotbefore,willtheyresumeeating.Itisasnaturalornormalformantorefusefoodwhensickasforanimalstodoso.Hisnaturalrepulsiontofoodisasafeguide tonoteating.Theaversionsanddislikesof thesick,especially tofood, noise,motion, light, close air, etc., are not to be lightly dismissed. They express protectivemeasuresofthesickbody.

FamineAndWarWarandfamine,whetherthefaminehasbeenproducedbydrought,insectpests,floods,tornadoes,

earthquakes, freezes, snows,etc.,have frequentlydeprivedwholepopulationsof food for extendedperiods,sothattheyhavebeenforcedtofast.Inmanyoftheseinstancestheyhavehadlimitedfoodsupplies,butinothersnofoodhasbeenavailableforlongperiods.Theabilityofmantofast,evenforlongperiods,provestobe,aswiththeloweranimals,animportantmeansofsurvivalundersuchcircumstances. Such prolonged periods of deprivationweremuchmore frequent in past ages thantoday,whenrapidtransportationandmodernmeansofcommunicationmakeitpossibletogetfoodtopeopleinfaminedistrictsinaveryshorttime.

FastingUnderEmotionalStressGrief,worry, anger, shockandother emotional irritationsarealmost as potent in suspending the

desire for food and in rendering digestion practically impossible as are pain, fever and severeinflammation.Anexcellentexampleofthisisthatoftheyounglady,inNewYork,whoafewyearsago attempted to drown herself and who explained, when rescued by two sailors, that when hersweetheartwhohadbeeninporttwodayshadnotcalledtoseehernorcommunicatedwithher,shethought she had been jilted. Her sailor friend, kept on duty and not having opportunity tocommunicatewithher,waspermittedtoseeher.Heaskedwhenshehadeatenandshereplied:“Notsinceyesterday,Bill,Icouldn’t.”Hergrieforsenseoflosshadresultedinasuspensionofdigestivesecretionsandalossofdesireforfood.

FastingByTheInsaneTheinsanecommonlymanifestastrongaversiontofoodand,unlessforciblyfed,willoftengofor

extendedperiodswithouteating.Itiscustomaryininstitutionsdevotedtothecareofthementallyill,to force-feed such patients, often by very cruel means. This aversion to food by the insane isundoubtedly an instinctivemove in the right direction. In his Natural Cure, pp. 140-143,Dr. Pagepresentsaveryinterestingaccountofapatientthatrecoverednormalmentalhealthbyfastingforty-onedays,afterothertreatmenthadmiserablyfailed.Onecaseofinsanityinayoungmanwhocameundermycarerefusedfoodforfasting,greatlyimprovedinmentalcondition.Ihaveusedfastinginother cases of mental disease and have no doubt that fasting is distinctly beneficial and, I amconvincedthatwhentheinsanepatientrefusesfood,thisisaninstinctivemeasuredesignedtoassistthebodyinitsreconstructivework.

HibernationInManOfpossiblehumanhibernation, it hasbeen said that it is “aconditionutterly inexplicable on any

principle taught in the schools.” Nonetheless, there are a number of peoples who practice a nearapproachtohibernationduringthewinterseason.ThisistrueoftheEskimosofnorthernCanada,aswellasofcertain tribesofnorthernRussia.Byputtingonfatandwinteringverymuchasdoes thebear, only much less completely, the Eskimo reveals that man has some hibernating power. Bykeepingwarm,usuallybyhuddlingtogetherinthehome,andmovingverylittle,hegoesthroughthelongwinteronhalftheusualfood.Attheonsetofwinter,theEskimowillsewhimselfupinhisfur-linedparka,leavingaccessibleopeningsforcertainphysiologicalnecessities,andwillstayinhishutforthedurationofthewinter,existingondriedsalmon,hardtack,groundcorncakesandwater.Thefactthatheundertakesverylittlephysicalactivityreducestheamountofenergyspent,thusaidinghimin sustaining the food reserves accumulated in his body at a level at which there is no danger ofsystemicdetriment.

CertainRussianpeasantsofthePskoyregionhavebeenknowntosleeparoundafireduringmostofthe winter, awakening once daily to eat. There is no evidence that this is anything other than aquasihibernation,astheyemployfiretokeepthemselveswarm,awakendailytoeatand,itshouldnotbeforgotten,itiseasilypossibletotakeallthefoodrequiredbyanevenactivelifeinonedailymeal.ReportsthatcertainIndianfakirshavebeenabletoassumeadormantstateandsurviveburial forayearormoremustbetreatedwithskepticism.

InstinctiveFastingFastingaboveallothermeasurescanlayclaimtobeingastrictlynaturalmethod.Therecanbeno

doubtthatitistheoldestofallmeasuresofmeetingthosecrisesintheorganismcalled“disease.”Itismuch older than the human race itself, since it is resorted to instinctively by sick and woundedanimals.

“Thefasting-cureinstinct,”sayMacfaddenandOswald(1900),“isnotlimitedtoourdumbfellow-creatures.Itisacommonexperiencethatpain,fevers,gastriccongestions,andevenmentalafflictions“take away the appetite,’ and only unwise nurses will try to thwart the purpose of Nature in thatrespect”(p.44).

Thedoctrineoftotaldepravitytaughtmentodistrustthepromptingsoftheirnatural instincts,andwhilethedoctrineisslowlyfadingfromreligion,itisasstrongaseverinmedicine.Thepromptingsof instinct are ignored and the sick are stuffed with “good nourishing food” to “keep up theirstrength.”

“There is a very general concurrence of opinion,” says Jennings, “that the aversion to food thatcharacterizesallcasesofacutedisease,whichisfullyinproportiontotheseverityofthesymptoms,isoneofNature’sblundersthatrequiretheinterventionofartandhenceenforcedfeedingregardlessofaversion.”Dr.Shewdeclared:“Abstinence isby far toomuch feared in the treatmentofdiseasegenerally. We have good reason for believing that many a life has been destroyed by theindiscriminatefeedingwhichissooftenpracticedamongthesick.”

In the human realm, instinct prevails only to the extent thatwe permit. Although one of the firstthingsNaturedoestothepersonwithacute“disease”istostopalldesireforfood,thewell-meaningfriendsofthesickmanencouragehimtoeat.Thesemaybringintastyandtemptingdishesdesignedtopleasehistasteandexciteanappetitebutthemosttheyeversucceedindoingistogetthepatienttonibble a few bites. The ignorant physician may insist that he must “eat to keep up strength,” butMotherNature,whoiswiserthananyphysicianwhoeverlived,continuestosay,“donoteat.”

Themanwhoissick,butwhoisabletobeabouthiswork,complainsofhavinglosthisappetite.Henolongerenjoyshisfood.Thisisbecausehisorganicinstinctsknowthattoeatintheusualwayistoincrease the “disease.” Theman thinks the loss of appetite is a great calamity and seeks away torestoreit.Inthisheisencouragedbyphysicianandfriends,who,alike,erroneouslythinkthatthesickmanmusteattokeepuphisstrength.Thephysicianprescribesatonicandstuffingand,ofcourse,thepatientismadeworse.

LongFastsInManIn the preceding chapter it was shown that animalsmay gowithout food for prolonged periods

withoutdamagetotheirbodiesortoindividualorgans.Theobjectionisoftenraisedthat,whilesomeanimalsmay do this, man cannot. For, there are still those who would place man outside of theuniformitiesofNatureandmakehimanexception.Nevertheless,thefactsprovethatmanmaygoforlongperiodswithoutfood,notalonewithoutinjurytohimself,butwithpositivebenefit.

Old mistakes are repeated year after year in reference works, so that the public is at all timesmisinformed.TheNewStandardEncyclopedia(1937)says:“Generallydeathoccursaftereightdaysofdeprivationoffood”(p.383).ThisencyclopediamentionsthefifteenmensurvivorsofthefrigateMedusa (1876),whowere thirteendaysonanopen raftwithout food, andalsoacase instancedbyBerard which was “sustained on water alone for 63 days” (p. 383). Succi’s forty-day fast is alsomentioned. No mention is made of fasting as a Hygienic or remedial measure, and not a singlescientificandup-to-datebookonfastingisincludedinthebibliography.

Thousandsoffastsofmuchlongerduration,evenupto70and90days,hadbeenrecorded;butthemedical profession and scientists gave no attention to them. The “authorities” gave up their falsenotionsonlyaftertheMcSwineyhungerstrikeforcedthemtodoso.

That “common sense” may still be arrayed against the demonstrated facts of experiment andexperience,andthatmenwhoposeasscientists,maydenywhatmaybeknownaboutthebodybecauseitdoesnotseemtothemtoharmonizewithwhattheythinktheynowknowaboutthebodyisamazingproofthattherehavebeenignorantbigotsandthattheyarenotalldead.

Sinclair (1911a) says he talked with a well-known and successful physician, “who refused pointblanktobelievethatahumanbeingcouldsubsistfivedayswithoutanysortofnutriment.Therewasnousetalkingaboutit—itwasaphysiologicalimpossibility”(p.329).Herefusedtoinvestigate the

evidenceofferedthatitcouldbedone.Bigotrywehavewithusalways.Menwhoformtheiropinionsinadvanceofinvestigationand,thenrefusetoinvestigate, lest theyhavetheiropinionssweptaway,arealltoocommon.

The American Peoples Encyclopedia (1956) says that the survival time of “acute starvation”(completeabstinencefromallfoodsavewater)averagesfortydaysinman.Itsaysthatinindividualmenthesurvival time(asdeterminedin laboratory“starvation”experiments)rangesfrom17 to76days.Itisnotlikelythatanysuchlaboratoryexperimentshaveeverbeenmade.Onethingwemaybecertainof;namely,thesurvivaltimesgivenarenotaccurate.Ababymaysurvivemorethanseventeendaysoffasting.Numerousfastershavenotonlysurvivedbutbenefitedbyfastslastinglongerthan76days.

Whileman is, apparently, not capableof fasting for such longperiods as aremanyof the loweranimals,manylongfastshavebeenrecordedinman.“Modernscience”issaidtobeveryskepticalofthese reported long fasts; but “modern science,” despite its proud boasting of its experimentalmethodsanditsreadinesstoinvestigate,isnotwillingtoinvestigatefasting.Ifanyofthenit-witswhoare called scientists really desire to observe and study long fasts at firsthand, it may be easilyarranged.Thereisnoexcuseforeitherdoubtorincredulitywhenknowledgemaybehad.

Inthisconnection,itshouldbenotedthattheso-calledauthoritieslookwelluponthereportedfastof65daysunderwentbyMarionCrabtree,ofSavanna,III., in1911at theageof101,because, theysay,oldpeopleneedmuchlessenergythanyoungerones;accordingly,theysay,oldpeoplewouldbethebestofallpeopletotakelongfasts.

Manyreportsareonrecordofpeoplefastingformanyyears.Thesefastsnevertookplaceandmayallbesetdownasfrauds.Althoughmostofthese“fasts”havebeeninwomen,thereisoneinstanceofamanwhoisreportedtohavelivedforanincrediblylongtimewithoutfood.Thisflowersand theassistanceofthesaintsandwithouttakingamorseloffood.ThenthereisthefamouscaseofMaryJ.Fancher,ofBrooklyn,N.Y.,whowasreportedtohavefastedfor thirteenyears,beginningin1866.Clergymen,physiciansandmanyfamousfiguresvisitedher,in1866aNewYorkmagistratereportedthatthisfasthadnotaffectedherhealthatall.

Among the reported long fasts that never took placewas that of AnnMoore, the “StaffordshireWonder,”whowasreportedtohavegonewithoutfoodformorethantwoyears.Skepticalphysiciansproposedatesttowhichshereadilyconsented.Thetestlastedthirteendaysandwassuccessful.Stillskeptical, the physicians proposed amore stringent test to which she assented. After nine days ofactuallyfasting,shegaveupandconfessedthatinherpreviousfasts,foodhadbeensmuggledintoher.

MissMariadeConceicas,ayounggirlofaboutseventeenyearsofage,ofMendes,Brazil, fastedsomeyearsagoforthe“cure”ofepilepsy.AtthetimeherfastwasreportedintheNewYorkJournal,shewas said tohave fasted for sixmonths,greatlypuzzlingherphysicians.Her fast continued forsome time thereafter. After six months without food a medical examination, showed: “Pulse,temperatureandrespirationnormal,completevacuityofthebowels;allorgansperfect; repugnancetoallkindsoffood.”Atonetimeprevioustothissheisreportedtohavefastedfortwomonths.Atwomonth’sfastisentirelypossible,butIhavedoubtsaboutherfastofmorethansixmonths,despitethemedicalreport.

Inthemid-nineteenthcenturyLouiseLateauclaimedthatshehadneithereaten,drunk,norsleptforfouryears.Herstorywasattested tobyfivephysicians.Religiousfolks thoughtshewasamiracle.Otherphysicianswereskepticalandpointedoutthatshewassubjecttoparoxysmsandothernervoussymptoms.Finally,aphysiciansentbytheBelgianRoyalAcademyofMedicinesearchedherroomanddisclosedastoreoffoodinacupboard.Louisethenconfessedthatshehadnocturnalperiodsofforgetfulness.Anothercaseofthiskindwasthe“fast”ofSarahJacob,aWelshgirl,whowasreportedtohavelivedfortwoyears,twomonthsandaweekwithoutfood.Undertestconditionsshedied ineightdays.Her speedydeath (of starvation, it is said)would seem to indicate that shehad actuallybeenfastingprevioustothetest,butnotformorethantwoyears.

ThereisthenowfamouscaseoftheBavariangirl,ThereseNewman,whomaintainsthatforseveralyears shehas eatennothingbut a tinyportionof theSacredHost taken eachmorning.TheSacredHostisthewafereatenbyCatholicsin“holycommunion.”Atinyportionwouldbebutafragmentofthis.In1927aGermanphysicianandateamofnursesstudiedherfor twoweeksmaintainingstrictwatchtoguaranteethatshehadnofood.Herweightdroppedinthistimefrom121to112pounds.SheisreportedtohavelostalmostninepoundsonFriday,incrediblelossinoneday.Sherapidlyregainedherweightafterthewatchwasdiscontinued.Physicianswhohavestudiedthiscase,fearingtotellthetruth,merely say that theyareunable toexplain it.Theymerelypointout that shehas ahistoryofnervoushysteria.

Anyonewhohashadextensiveexperiencewithfastingknowsthatfastersinvariablyloseweightandthatatimeisreached,aftervariableperiodsofabstinence,whentogolongerwithoutfoodistoresultindeath.Fourmonthsmaybesomewhereabouttheextremelimitthatahumanbeingcangowithoutfood and still live, and this is possible only in a relatively few individuals. To fast for such anextended period, one must begin the fast with an abundant reserve of food stores and one mustconserve this reserve to make it hold out as long as possible. Certainly nervous individuals(epileptics,hysterics,etc.)woulduseuptheirmeagerreservesinfarlesstimethanthis.Most,ifnotallthesereportedlongfasts,havebeenincasesofhysteriaandinvestigationsofthemhaverevealedthattheyweregettingfoodonthesly.Thefastshavebeenfakesandundertestconditionshaveprovedtobeso.

Thefactthatfakershavepretendedtofastforsuchincrediblylongtimes,andhavebeenrevealedasfrauds,however, isnotevidence that real fasting forprolongedperiodshasnotbeendone.Abriefmentionofafewfastsinmenandwomenwillhelptodispelthelingeringdoubtsabouttheabilityofmantogowithoutfoodforlongperiodsoftime.MuniShriMisrilji,amemberoftheJainreligioussect,underwentafastwhich lasted132days, to impressuponhisco-religionists theneedforunity.Althoughthisfastwasnotcarefullywatched,thereseemstobenodoubtthatthemanactuallyfastedthis long. In1828 theParisianmedical journals reported thecaseofayounggirlwhohad typhoidfeverandwhotooknofoodfor110days.

RobertdeMalone,founderoftheCistercianbrotherhood,beingovercomewithgriefuponhearingofthedeathofafemalefriend,decidedtofollowherintothehenceforth.Hisreligionforbadedirectsuicide,soheretiredtoamountain-lodgeofarelative,andabstainedfromfood,hopingthatoneofhisfrequentfaintingfitswouldresultindeath.Afterseventydayswithoutfood,hebegantosuspectthe miraculous interposition of Providence, reconsidered his resolution and resumed eating. Hebegantakinghisfoodinhalfounceinstallmentsandsoonrecoveredfromhisgreatemaciation.Heled an active life for the next fourteen years, supervising an ever-increasing number of scattered

monasteries.

Augusta Kerner, of Ingolstadt, a trance faster, survived in a semiconscious condition nearly aquarterofayearwithoutfood.

Dr.Deweytellsoftwochildren,ofaboutfouryears,oneofthemhispatient,whosestomachsweredestroyedbydrinkingasolutionofcausticpotash.ThepatientofDr.Deweywas“adelicateboyofsparemake.”Itrequiredseventy-fivedaysforthebodytoexhaustitsreserves,and“thereseemedtobeonlyaskinandaskeletonwhenthelastbreathwasdrawn.”Dr.Deweytellsusthat“notonelightdrinkofwaterwasretainedduringlifeandyetthemindwasclearuptoeventhelasthalfhour.”“Theotherchild(withalargersupplyofreserves)livedthreemonths.”

Dr.Hazzardtellsusofanemaciatedpatientwhohadbeenbed-riddenforyears,becauseofchronicfunctional “disease,” themusclesbeinggreatlywasted from lack of use,who fasted a total of 118daysoutofaperiodof140dayswithpracticallycompleterecoveryofhealthasaresult.

Mr.Macfaddenhadonemantofastforninetydaysinhis institution.While theMcSwineyhungerstrikewasinprogress,IheardDr.Lindlahrtellofonemanwhofastedseventydaysinhisinstitution.ThelongestfastIhaveeverpersonallyconductedupto thepresentwritingwasoneofninetydays.Longfastsinmenandwomenhavebeennumerous.Literally, thousandsofthemhavegonebeyondfortydays,someofthemgoingbeyondahundreddays.ThehungerstrikeofMcSwiney,LordMayorofCork,andhiscompanionsattractedagoodlyamountofattention in1920.Nineof thesestrikerskept up their fast for ninety-four days, and then returned to eating, and to health and strength.AlthoughthesemenfastedlongerthandidMcSwiney,theyallrecuperatedrapidly,aftertheirreturntonormal feeding,andare reported tohaveacquireda conditionofbody superior to that existingbeforethefast.

On the47thdayofhis fast,McSwiney’ssisteraddresseda letter toCardinalBourne inwhichshesaid: “Those of us who have been watching him through all these weary days have come to theinevitableconclusionthathehasbeensupernaturallysustainedinhisstruggles.”ArchbishopMannixofAustraliasaidofhim:“Ifindhimtobeaveritablemiracle.”

No assumption of divine intervention in such cases is needed to explain them. God does notinterveneinthecasesoffastingworms,hibernatingbears,andsexuallyactivesealsorsalmon.Manissustainedwhilefastingastheseanimalsaresustained.Nomiraculouselemententersintoalongfast.Thewholethingmaybeexplainedbyordinarynaturalcauses.

StrychninewasinjectedintotheveinsofMcSwineyafterfoodandalcoholwereforceduponhim.Undoubtedlyhewouldhavelivedlongerexceptforthisandthenervoustensionunderwhichhewaskeptthroughouthis“strike.”Oneofhiscolleaguesdiedafter68daysoffasting.

Pashutin records the case of a youth, age eighteen, who took a spoonful of sulphuric acid afterwhichhewasunableto takeanyfoodatallfor thefirstweek, tookonlya little liquidfoodfor thenext fourweeksand the last tenweeksnofoodbutwater.Hereports that therewasnoalbumen orsugar in the urine and that theman vomited after every attempt to eat.He died at the end of threemonthsandtwentydays.

Herecordsthecaseofaman,ageforty-two,whodiedinfourmonthsandtwelvedaysafterdrinking

somesulphuricacid.Pashutinsaysofthiscase“starvationappearscomplete,”butinformsusthattwodaysbeforedeaththebloodcontained4,849,000redand7,852whitecellspercu.mm.

AthirdcaserecordedbyPashutinisthatofayounggirl,agenineteen,whodranksulphuricacid.Hesays:“Someliquidfoodwasgivenforfourmonthsbutnotbelievedabsorbedasitwaseliminatedtoorapidlyandnochlorides inurineatall.”Her“deadbodywas likeaskeleton,butmammaryglandsremainedunaffected.”Herbodytemperaturebegantodecreaseonlyduringthelasteightdaysofherlife.Thegirlcomplainedonlyofthirst,notofhunger.

Dr.Hazzarddescribesasixtyday’sfastbyawoman,age38,whosufferedwithobesityandBright’s“disease”.Thewomanrecoveredhealth,andthoughshehadbeenmarriedtwentyyears,hadherfirstbabyoneyearafterthefast.Sherecordsthecaseofanotherwoman,age41,withhearttrouble,whofastedsixty-threedaysandattendedherhomedutiesandvisitedDr.Hazzard’sofficedaily.

InJanuary,1931,thepresscarriedthefollowingaccountofawomaninAfrica,whofasted101daystoreduceherweight:

CapeTown,SouthAfrica,Jan.31—AuthenticreportsfromSalisbury,SouthRhodesia,statethatMrs.A.G.Walker,anotedRhodesiansinger,hasbeenfasting101days,duringwhichtimeshehasconsumedonlytwoorthreepintsofcoldandhotwaterdaily.

LastOctoberMrs.Walkerweighed232pounds,soshedesidedtofast.Shehaslostsixty-threepounds.Shesaysthatsheisinperfecthealth,goesouttopartiesandcarriesonwithherpublicsinging.

Atnoon,Oct.31,1932,anEnglishbusinessman(age53years)ofLeeds,London,whorefuses topermithisnametobepublished,butwhofreelydiscussedhisfastwithreporters,beganafastunderthe direction ofMr. JohnW. Armstrong, who, though not a doctor of any school, has conductedhundredsoffastsandhasbeenverysuccessfulinhiswork.

Thismanreceivednothingbutwateruntil6:30P.M.,Feb.8,1933,whenhewasgiventhejuiceofoneorange.ThereafterhereceivednothingbutwateruntilnoonofFeb.9.Heweighed191lbs.(13st.9lb.)atthebeginningofthefast;132lbs.(9st.6lb.)attheendoffiftydaysoffastingand102lbs.(7st.4lb.)atthecloseofthe101dayswithoutfood—alossof89lbs.

Beforegoingon the fast thepatientwasblind (cataract inbotheyes),hadno senseof smell, hadhardening of the arteries and heart trouble. He had previously been treated with iodine, aspirin,atropinandotherdrugs.InAugustbeforecommencingthefasthewasunabletotellnightfromday.

Mr.Armstrongreportsthatbythefifty-sixthdayofthefastthecataractshadceasedtoexistandthepatientwasabletoseealittle.Thereafter,sightimprovedgraduallyuntilvisionagainbecamenormal.Hissenseofsmellreturned,heartimprovedandarteriesbecamebetter.

Tonewspaperreporters,whointerviewedthepatientonthelastdayofthefast,thepatientstated,“Iwasonmylastlegs.NothingdidmeanygoodandItriedfastingasalastresort.”“Iwouldhavetriedanythinginthehopeofgettingbetteragain.Istartedthefastasanexperimentfor10days,then,asIseemedalittlebetter,Iwentonfromdaytoday.

“Istoppedat101days.ButIcouldhavegoneonforanother10daysorsoeasilyifIhadwished.”

Hesaid,“Itiseasytofastafterthefirstfortnight,”butduringthefirstfortnighthewasforcedtousegreatwillpowertoresistfood.

InalettertomedatedApril12,1933,Armstronginformsmethathispatientwasabletowalkaboutdailyduringthewholeofthefastandtalkedrapidlytoreportersfortwohoursonthe101stday.Thepatientwasinfirstclassconditionatthetimeofwritingtheaforementionedletter.Healsoreportsthatuptothefiftiethdayofthefasttherewere“novisiblefavourableresultsexceptthathisskinwasmorenaturalinappearanceandhisarteriesweresofter.”

These cases should convince any fair-minded and intelligent person that there is no immediatedangerofstarvationwhenapatientisplaceduponafast.Ifthepathologicalconditionisremediable,thebodywillremedyitbeforeanydangerofstarvationthreatens.

A.J.Carlson,Prof,ofPhysiology,UniversityofChicago,holdsthatahealthy,well-nourishedmancan live from fifty to seventy-five dayswithout food, provided he is not exposed to severe cold,avoidsphysicalwork andmaintains emotional calm.Hismaximumperiodof seventyfivedayshasbeensurpassedseveraltimes.

LucianifoundthatSuccilost19percentinweightduringhisthirtydays’fastandwasotherwiseingoodhealth.Withthegraduallyloweringrateofdailylossofweightasthefastprogresses,itwouldprobablyhaverequiredanotherfiftydaysforSuccitohavelostthefortypercentofhisweightthatsomephysiologistsnowconsiderthelimitofsafety.

TerenceMcSwiney died after seventy-eight days of fasting. On Sept. 14, 1929, Jatindranath Das,arrestedalongwithfifteenothersintheLahoreConspiracy,diedaftersixty-onedayswithoutfood—ahungerstrike.Assumingthattheconditionssurroundingthetwoprisonersweresimilar,andthattheemotionalstruggleineachofthesemenwasnotgreatlydifferent,thedifferenceintimerequiredforthesetwomentoreachtheendwasduetothedifferencesintheamountsofstoredfoodreserveseachcarried.

Pashutinrecordsthecaseofacriminalwhodiedonthesixty-fourthdayofahungerstrikeandsaysof the case: “It indicates that in aman there are no less reserves than in animals.” The amount ofreserves carried by man varies in individual cases and this is the biggest determining factor indecidinghowlongonemaysafelygowithoutfood.

In nearly thirty-five thousand fasts that I have conducted, ranging in duration from three days tothreemonths, therehavebeenaboutsix fasts thathavegonesixtyormoredays,oneofsixty-eightdaysandoneofninetydays.Ihavehadliterallyhundredsoffaststhathavelastedfromfortytofiftyandmoredays,andoneofseventy-twodays.

Thestatementhasbeenmadebycertainreligiousauthorities,indiscussionsofreligiousfasts,thatthe ancients couldwithstand fasting better thanman of today. Such statements have been based onignorance. There is no reason why the American of today cannot fast as long and with as muchbenefitascouldtheancientRoman,GreekorHebrew.Thereisnophysiological,biologicalorotherevidence that nature favored those ancient peoples more than she has us. They were not betterconstructedthanarewe.

Afewyearsagoamountainerpreacher,JacksonWhitlow,ofStoopingOak,Tenn.wentuponafast,whichhesaidhadbeenorderedbyJehovah,whotoldhimtoeatnothinguntilfurtherorders.Hewentforfifty-onedayswithoutfoodandthen,havingreceivedinstructionsfromonhightoterminatethefast, broke it. Shortly before this time a report came from India of a fast, also undertaken fromreligiousmotivesof132days,which,sothenewsaccountssaid,wasapparentlyhonestlyundergone.A Russian medical volunteer is reported to have fasted sixty days to provide the profession withusefulbiologicalinformation.

Although there is little skepticism of the reality of that 132 days fast undergone by Muni ShriMisrilalji,amemberoftheJainreligioussect,thereisnoundeniableproofthatheactuallyfastedthislong.Numerousfastsofvariabledurationsareonrecordinwhichthefastersdied,mostof theminmedicalhands.Noneofthemhavebeenfastsofexceptionallengthanditisprobablethatiftheyhadbeencorrectlyhandled,fewifanyofthesefasterswouldhavedied.

It is generally assumed by popular or newspaper writers on fasting that, if a fast has not beenobserved by a medical man, its duration is not “scientifically” established. I have, for example,conducted fasts for over forty years and I have had most of my fasting patients under my directsupervisionininstitutionalcare.WhenIstatethatacertainmanfastedforfortyorfiftydays,Iknowthathereceivednofoodduringthisperiod.Butmyfasts,notbeingsupervisedbyamedicalman,arenot“scientifically”established.Actually, this isofnoconsequence.Afastof fortydays isa fastoffortydayswhethertheso-called“scientific”worldacceptsitornot.“Science”ispedantic,arrogant,esotericandofteninsane.

I have hadmany people tellme that the forty days’ fast of Jesuswas amiracle. It has also beenassertedthatthelongfastsofMosesandElijahweremiracles.*Tanner ’stwofasts,oneoffortydaysand theotherof forty-twodays,are frequently referred toas“unusual.”Such fasts, ofwhich therehavebeenmany, are often set downas historical oddities or eccentricities.They are thought of asisolatedandextra-ordinaryfactsthathaveoccurredfromtimetotime,butasbeingwithoutthelimitsofpossibility for theaveragemanorwoman. JesusorTannermayhave fasted for fortydays andlived,andTannermayhavesecureddistinctbenefitsfromhisfast,butIcouldnotgowithoutfoodforeven a day, is the statement ofmanywhen the fast is under discussion.AsDr. Page puts it in TheNaturalCure,“Itiscommonlysupposedthattheseareuncommonmen;theyareuncommononlyinpossessingaknowledgeas to thepowerof the livingorganismtowithstandabstinencefromfood,andinhavingthecourageoftheiropinions.”

*SeeBeall(1974).

Thefactspresentedinthischapterproveconclusivelythatnaturehasnofearofafast,evenalongfast,andthatthedangerofstarvationisveryremote.Wemayenteruponaprolongedfast, inmostinstances,withperfectconfidencethatwearenotgoingtoperishofstarvationinafewdays,oreveninafewweeks.This,ofcourse,isnotsufficientreasonforustofast.Iffastingisnotproductiveofpositivebenefit,themerefactthatitisnotessentiallydangerousisnotenoughtocauseustoabstainfrom food. It shallbe thepurposeof the succeedingpagesof thisbook,not alone topointout themany and varied benefits that may be derived from judicious fasting, but how to fast to securemaximumbenefits.

FastingAbilityAndSurvivalFromtheforegoingpartsofthischapteritwillbeseenthatfastinginmanispracticedunderabout

aswideavarietyofcircumstancesasamongthelowerordersoflifeandforaboutasmanypurposesofadjustmentandsurvival.Fastingisavitallyimportantpartofman’slifeand,untilmoderntimes,whenwehavemadeafetishofeatingandhavedevelopedaridiculousfearofgoingwithoutfood,evenforaday,hasplayedamajorroleinmanyofhisactivities.

Itisveryobviousthattheabilitytogoforprolongedperiodswithoutfoodisasimportantameansofsurvivalundermanyconditionsinthelifeofmanasitisintheloweranimals.Itisquiteprobablethatprimitivemanwasforcedevenmoreoftenthanmodernmantorelyuponthisabilityinordertosurvive periods of food scarcity. In acute disease, in particular, the ability to go for prolongedperiodswithouteatingisveryimportantinman,forthereasonthatheseemstosufferfarmorewithdisease than do the lower animals. In this condition, inwhich, as will be shown later, there is nopowertodigestandassimilatefood,heisforcedtorelyuponhisinternalstores.

Ifmancan fast, this isbecausehe, like the lower formsof life, carrieswithin himself a store ofreservefoodthatmaybeutilizedincasesofemergencyorwhenrawmaterialsarenotavailable.

IV.ABill-of-FareForTheSickOrganismscapitalizetheresultsofthejointworkoftheirseveralorgansandphysiologicalsystemsintheformofcapacitiesandvaluablestoredsubstances.Theymaylearntousethisstoredcapital,thisbiologicalrawmaterialwhichtheyhavewovenintotheirfabricandbuiltintotheirfleshandblood,in the interestof thewholeorganismor indoingusefulwork;or theymayconsume it inwastefulexpendituresofonekindor another, or theymayuse it under circumstances, such as “disease” orfamine,whenfoodcannotbedigestedorisnottobehad.

Whenwegowithout food,nomatterwhat thereason,norhowlong theperiodofabstinence, thefunctioning tissues must live upon something. Berg (1923) says that when the food supply iscompletelycutoff,thefunctionsofcirculation,respiration,etc.,“canstillbecarriedout,sothatintheorgansofmostvitalnecessitytheprocessesofassimilationcontinueeventhoughtheorganismasawhole is foredoomed to death from a lack of the intake of energy” (p. 166). Surpluses of storedmaterials (stored for just such emergencies) are called upon to supply nutriment for thesefunctioning, therefore hungry tissues. Some of these are oxidized to provide heat. This not onlyprovides nutriment for functioning tissue, but it results in a removal of surpluses that may beclutteringuptheavenuesoflife.

Itishighlyimportantthatthebodyshallhavesomereservesuppliesatalltimestobedrawnuponincase of need, for the ability to go for prolonged periodswithout eating is an important factor insurvival and ismade use of under awide variety of circumstances and conditions inwild nature.Henceitisthatwefindthatthebody’seconomicaltendencycausesittoaccumulatereservestores,sothatunderstressandstrainandinperiodsofscarcity,itwillbeabletogoformoreorlessextendedperiodsoftimewithouttheordinaryandregularfoodsupplies.Wenotethatthefemalecat,nursingseveral kittens, although eating regularly, loses much weight during her period of nursing. Herreservestoresaredrawnuponalmostasmuchasifshewerefasting.Thesearereplenishedafterthenursing period is over. There are many other circumstances in life in which these reserves arerequisitionedforsupplies.

Nutrition does not cease during a fast, for “nutrition is life.” The purpose of the fast is not tosuspendmetabolism,buttofreeit.Workingtissuesmusteatandas,whennofoodiseaten,theonlysources of nutriment for these tissues is the internal stores of the organism, these are necessarilydrawnuponforsupplies.Jenningscorrectlyexplainedthesupportofthevitaltissuesduringthefastata timewhenbut littleornoscientific investigationsof thematterhadbeenmade.Wellor sick, thefunctioningtissuesoftheanimalthatisnoteating,drawsuponitsreserves.

Whileallanimalslayupreservesoffoodforemergenciesandthesearecommonlymoreor lessgenerallystoredintheorganism,therearesomeanimalsthatpossessspecializedstoresinadditiontothegeneralstores.Thesespecializedreserveshavebeenappropriatelycalled“built-inpantries.”Anexcellent example of such “built-in pantries” is the big tail of the Gila Monster, a lizard of oursouthwesterndesertandofMexico.Thispoisonousreptileisabletoliveforseveralmonthswithoutanyfoodexceptwhatitdrawsfromitsheavytail.

Thewell-fedGilaMonsterpossessesathick,heavytail.InbarrenyearstheMonstermaybefoundwithitstailthinneddownalmosttothespine,ithavingdrawnuponthisstoreofnutritivematerialforsustenance. It storesup food in the tailwhen food isplentifulandsubsistson the tailwhen food is

scarce.TheMonsteriscapableofgoingforlongperiodswithoutfood,specimenshavingbeenkeptincageswithoutfoodforupwardsofsixweeks.

Anunusualtypeof“built-inpantry”isseenintheyoungoftheAmazoniantreefrogor,rather,itstadpoles.Theypossessanextraheavytailand,insteadoffeedinguponalgae(vegetables)asdoothertadpoles, they gradually absorb the tail and utilize this as food as they undergo the changes anddevelopments that constitute metamorphosis. No other food is required for their growing anddevelopingbodiesuntiltheyaresufficientlymaturedtohopaboutandsearchforfood.Theordinarytadpole also absorbs its tail during the periodwhen its legs are developing, at which time it alsoabstainsfromeating.

The hump or humps on the back of camels constitute stored food made up of fat. The size,plumpnessanderectnessofthehumpareindicationsofthecamel’sabilitytogowithoutfood.Whenhis foodsupply runs low,ashe trudges through thedesert,hedrawsuponhishumporhumps forfood.(AsimilarhumpoffatthatrepresentsstoredfoodisseenintheBrahmacattle,ofwhichwehavea large supply here in the southwest). If the camel is forced to draw heavily upon his hump, itbecomes empty and falls over on the side of his spinal columnandhangs like an empty bag untilreplenished.

Thepenguin,whichhasalongwinterfast,storesupfoodforleantimes.Tosustainhimduringhisseasonalfast,theemperorpenguinstoresuptwelveormorepoundsoffat,chieflyaboutthestomachregion. The huge buttocks ofHottentotwomen have been listed as “built-in pantries,” but to classsteatopygyasa“portablepantry”is,perhaps,towronglydesignatethisdeformity,althoughcertainlythefatmaybedrawnupon incaseofneed.Thereseems tome,however, tobenomore reason tothinkofthehugebuttocksoftheHottentotasaspecializedreservethanthereistothinkoftheequallyhugeabdomensofmanyEuropeanandAmericanmenandwomenassuch.

Thefactisthatallfatrepresentsstoredfoodsupplies,but,exceptincasesofreallyhealthyanimalsthathavebeenfeedingonadequatefoodsupplies, thereis littlereasontothinkthat it isadequatetomeetallofthenutritiveneedsofthefastinganimalformorethanabriefperiod.Itismorethanlikelythatinalloftheseanimals,therearestoresofsugar,minerals,vitamins,etc., intheliver,andotherglandsandinthemuscles.Thereare,ofcourse,theusualreservesintheblood,bones,bonemarrowandinothertissues.Fat,aloneisnotadequatefoodforafastinganimal.

InPersia,thereexistsavarietyofsheepcalledfat-tailedsheep,thathasanenormoustailmadeupoffatandotherstoredfoodelements.Duringseasonsofplenty thesheepstoresuplargequantitiesoffood in its tail—prize specimensoftendeveloping suchheavy tails that their owners provide themwithsmallcartswhichareplacedunderthetailsandfastenedtopreventthetailsfromdraggingtheground.Whenpasturagebecomesscarcethesheepdrawuponthefoodreservesstoredin their tailsfornutriment.Thisisaliteralexampleof“cuttingoffthetailofahungrydogandfeedingittohim.”

Thesespecializedprovisionsforstoringfoodreservesareanalogoustotheprovisionpossessedbythecamelforstoringwater.Thereareotheranimalswhichhaveotherspecializedstoragesforfoodreservesuponwhich theymaydrawin timesof foodscarcity.Althoughsuchspecializedstructuresare not universal in the animal kingdom, nature provides in all animals for the storing of foodreserves,eventhoughthereisnospecializedstructureprovidedforthispurpose;forfoodisaslikelyto be scarce for one animal as for another.All hibernating animals are equippedwith specializedapparatus for storing up food reserves. It has been urged against fasting by man that he is not a

hibernating animal. It is quite true that man possesses no specialized food reserves, as does theRussianbear,forexample;buthedoespossessgeneralizedfoodreserves,likeallanimals.Thedog,cat,cow,horse,elephant,etc.,arenothibernatinganimals,yetallof these instinctivelyrefusefoodwhenillorwounded.Hibernatinganimalsareinactiveandhavestoredfoodreserveswhichhavebeenputawayforjustthisperiod;butthereareotheranimalswhichgoforlongperiodsoftimewithoutfoodandwhicharevigorouslyactiveatthesametime.TheAlaskanfur-sealbullandthesalmonareremarkable examples of this. The fact is that, all animals, man included, are provided with foodreserveswhichareheldinstoreagainstaperiodofforcedornecessaryabstinencefromfood.

Asinallanimalsthatperiodicallyfast,fatisstoredinlargequantitiesduring theperiodsbetweenfastsandisusedduringthefastwithwhichtosupplythenutritiveneedsoftheworkingtissues,boththe fear of acidosis from the rapid breaking down of fat, and the supposed demand for largerquantities of protein seem tome to be greatly exaggerated. It is, of course, true, that all of theseanimalspossesssugar,mineral,proteinandvitaminstores,butfatseemstobethepreferredstoragematerial.Inthefatarealsomineralsandvitamins.

Thosemarinemonsterstowhichthenamewhalehasbeengivenareveritablegluttons.WearetoldthatintheSouthAtlanticthehumpbacks,bluewhalesandthefinwhalelivealmostexclusivelyupontheplanktonshrimpwhichtheyeatin“astronomicalquantities.”Thesewhalesfattenontheenormoussholesofshrimpthatexistnearthesurfaceduringthesummer.Inwinterthesewhaleseatlittlesothattheir blubber is greatly reduced in quantity. I have never seen it stated that whales ever fast forextendedperiods;onlythattheyeatlittle.Duringtheseperiodsofrestrictedeating,theirstoreoffatservesthemasfoodwithwhichtosupplytheirfunctioningtissues.

Thereissomethingwrongwiththereasoningofamanwhourgestheeatingofliver,heart,spleen,intestines,andotherinternalorgans,thetakingofcod-liveroil,etc.,assourcesofvitamins,andthendeclaresinthenextbreaththatthebodydoesnotstoreupvitamins.Hemaydeclarethatfastingshouldnot be undergone because there is not sufficient vitamins in the body to sustain the nutritionalprocessesthroughafastofmorethanafewdaysandhewillassertthetruthofthispropositionintheface of the examples of thousands ofmen andwomenwho have undergone long fasts with greatbenefit.

Bees not only store up honey for winter use, but they also carry food reserves stored withinthemselves.Thesamethingmaybesaidforsquirrelswhichstorenutsforwinteruse.Theseandmanyotheranimalshavetwosourcesofsupplyincaseofneed.Ofaslightlydifferentcharacteristhewayinwhichfastingfemalebirdsandfishwillabsorbtheeggsstoredintheirbodiesandutilizetheseasfood.Morgulis, experimentingwith thenewt,Duemyctium, found that the “ripe” femalewithstandsabstinence best, because she actually absorbs and utilizes the large reserve of stored food in themature eggs and thereby saves her other organs and tissues from wasting. Heidkamp found, inexperimentswithTritoncristattus,afreshwatersalmon,thatwhenthefemaleisdeniedfood,thefullydevelopedeggsinherbodyarethefirsttobeabsorbed.

Prof.Morgulisfurthersays:“Activegrowthandregenerationarenot incompatiblewith inanition,andthewearandtear,atleastinsomeorgans,issocompletelyrepairedastoevadeforalongtimetheeffectofanutritionalstringency.Inanitiondoesnotprecludetheabilityforextremeandsustainedexertion.”

Under ordinary circumstances, the generalized food reserves ofman and animal are capable of

sustaining functional and structural integrity for a considerable time without more food beingconsumed.Underthemostfavorablecircumstancesofquiet,restandmentalpoise,thesereservesarecapable of holding outmuch longer. There is a sense inwhich the utilization of these reserves isanalogoustocuttingoffthetailofahungrydogandfeedingittohim,buttheanalogywillnotgoonallfours.Thesereservesarestoredupforjustsuchusesandtherearetimesandconditionswhentheymustbeused.Indeedthereareconditionsof“disease”inwhichitisimpossibletomakeuseoffoodfromanyothersource—conditions inwhichthebodyisunable to take therawmaterialsandmakeuseofthem.

Not only are these food reserves capable of nourishing the vital tissues of the body for longperiods,butthebodydoesnotpermitanyofitsvitaltissuestobedamagedorconsumedsolongasthesestoresholdout.Itisonlyafterthesereserveshavebeenexhaustedthatnaturewillpermitanyofthevitalorfunctioningtissuesofthebodytobedamaged.Thereisnodangerofdamagetothevitalorgans from a prolonged fast. Fear of fasting is unfounded and based on ignorance ormisinformation.

Abstainingfromallfoodexceptwateruntilthesefoodreservesareconsumed,isfasting.Abstainingfromfoodafterthesefoodreserveshavebeenconsumed,isstarving.

DiscussingthedeathofpresidentGarfield,wholivedeightydaysafterhewasshot,andwhowasteduntil“allthatseemedtobeleftofthegreatpresidentwhenhedrewhislastbreathonthenightofthe80th day at Elbersonwas a thin skin covering a skeleton,”Dr.Dewey asks: “What became of thetissuesinthiscase?Didtheyevaporate?”

Whenfoodiswithdrawnfrommanoranimal,thedemandforsubstancewithwhichtomaintainthestructuresandfunctionsofthevitaltissuesisthrownuponthereservesofthefastingorganism.Thefastingorganismmakes themost of thematerial at hand—it spins out the inevitable loss as far aspossible,indeed,thosesubstanceswhichareabsolutelyessentialforthepreservationofthevitalsparkor for the continuance of the motion of such necessary organs as the heart and central nervoussystem,areonlyusedupwhenthesupplyfromotherorganshasalmostentirelyfailed.Fatsandanystoreofglycogenarefirstusedup,alongwithpartof theproteins,until,whenfromaquarter toahalfofthetotalbodyweighthasbeenlost,themachinestopsforwantofmotivepower.

If the fasting continues, readjustments are made to secure minimum demands upon the nutritivestores; as the fast progresses, the body tends to conserve its supplies by lessening activity bothphysicalandphysiological,sothattherateoflossgraduallydiminishes.

Incold-bloodedanimals,inwhichfastingisaregularphysiologicaloccurrenceinthelife-cycle,thereservesareusuallyplentifulandthedemandmadeuponthemissmall,sothattheymayfastforlongintervalswithoutbeing forced to renew their stores. Inwarm-bloodedanimals,whose reserves arefrequently lower and whose greater activities make greater demands upon these, the reserves aremorerapidlydepleted.However, it isonlyafter all these reservesareexhausted that the organizedtissuesarerequisitionedasnutritivesubstances.

Thereserveslastmuchlongerifthefasterrests,thanifheisactiveduringthefast.Betterresultsareachieved in thefast if rest is.observed.Work, longwalks, strenuousexercise,etc.,waste thebody’sreserveswithoutproducinganycompensatingbenefits.

Physicaleffort,externalcold,worryandstrongemotions increase the ratewithwhich thebody’sreservesareutilized.Fever,perhapsdoesthesame,atleastinmostifnotallacutediseases.

Nelson’sEncyclopediasays:“TheobservationsmadeduringthefastofSucciandothersshowthatthebodywasteslessrapidlywhenthepatientiskeptwarmandatrest.Thefattytissuesarethefirsttobeusedup, and later theproteidsof the skeletal and intestinalmuscles.Theheartmuscle doesnotdiminish appreciably andprobably it derives its substance from the less essentialmuscles. In longcontinued fasts the tissues waste more rapidly during the first few days. Later the body uses itsreservesofnourishmentmoreeconomically.”

Previousfastingseemstotrainthebodytoamoreeconomicaluseof its reserves.Theenormouseconomy of an educated disposal of the body’s forces is thus seen.A second or third fast is alsoalmostalwaysmorecomfortablethanthefirstfast,althoughinmanyfirstfaststhereisnodiscomfortatall.

“Human flesh,” says Dr. Page, “by absorption, constitutes a most appropriate diet in certainconditionsofdisease.Theabsorptionandexcretionofdiseasedtissueis,undersomecircumstances,the only work that nature can with safety undertake, and in these cases, no building up can beaccomplisheduntilasolidfoundationisreachedandthedebrisremoved;andnotthen,unlesswhilethis good work is going on, the nutritive organs are given an opportunity to virtually renewthemselves”(1883b,p.73).

Humanflesh,byabsorption,becomesthebill-of-fareofthesickandinallseriousacuteillnesstheonlypossiblebill-of-fare.Dr.DeweywasActingAssistantSurgeon,U.S.A.,inchargeofawardintheChattanoogaFieldHospitalin1864,where,hesays,“postmortemsweretherule”andthattheywerenumerous. In discussing these post-mortems he says, “there was one fact revealed in every post-mortemof tremendous significance, that failed tomake any impressiononmymind other than torememberit.Thefactthatnomatterhowemaciatedthebody,eveniftheskeletonconditionhadbeenreached,thebrain,theheart,thelungs,exceptthemselvesdiseased,neverreceivedanyloss.”

Thesesoldiersaccordingtothetheoriesofthetime,werefed“plentyofgoodnourishingfood,”to“keepuptheirstrength.”They“wasted”asdoallsuchpatients,becausethevitaltissuesoftheirbodieswerefeedingoffthelessvitalornon-vitaltissues.Thevitaltissuessofedthemselvesbecause therewasnootherpossiblewayforthemtofeed.

These studies reveal to us that there are alimentary reserve stores in the body gathered to guardagainsttimesofneed.Thesenutritivereservesarereadyforuseatshortnoticeandwithlittleenergyexpenditurebythebody.Theyarecapableofsupplyingallessentialneedsforthetimebeing,andcanbereplenishedatleisure,aftertheworkofreconstructionhasbeencompleted.

Iftheadiposetissueandotherreservesareabundantlypresent,onemayfastthirtytoninetyormoredayswithoutconsumingonecelloftheessentialtissuesofthebody.

“Withnodigestivedrudgeryonhand,”saysOswald,“Natureemploysthelong-desiredleisureforgeneral house-cleaning purposes. The accumulations of superfluous tissues are overhauled andanalyzed;theavailablecomponentpartsareturnedovertothedepartmentofnutrition,therefusetobethoroughlyandpermanentlyremoved.”

Organisms capitalize the results of the joint work of their several organs both in the form ofincreasedcapacitiesandvaluablestoredsubstancesandareabletousetheirstoredcapitalasthoughto some extent independent of immediate external supply. This stored capital, or biological rawmaterial,iswovenintotheinnerfabricoforganismsbythereciprocallaborsoftheirvariouspartsandisreadyforinstantutilizationwhenneedarises.

Theaggregatetissuesoftheorganismmayberegardedasareservoirofnutrimentcapableofbeingcalledinanydirectionortoanypoint,asneeded.Theabilityofthebodytonourishitsvitaltissuesoffitsfoodreservesanditslessvitaltissues,isofextremeimportancetothesickmanwhoisunabletodigestandabsorbfood.Exceptforthisability,theacutelyillwouldperishofstarvation.

Pashutinrecordsthecaseofagirl19yearsoldwhostarvedtodeathafterruiningherdigestivetractbydrinkingsomesulphuricacid.Hesays“herdeadbodywaslikeaskeleton,butmammaryglandsremainedunaffected.”Healsorecordsthatincasesofhibernatinganimals,thegrowthofgranulationtissueinwoundscontinuesduringthedeepestslumber,evenwheneveryotherfunctionseemsalmostto have ceased. The heart may beat as slow as one beat in five to eight minutes, and the bloodcirculationbesoslowthatcutsmadeinthefleshbleedveryslightly,yetthecutsheal.

Contrarytopopular(andevenprofessional)opinion,thevitaltissuesofthefastingorganismdonotbegin to break down from starvation immediately upon thewithdrawal of food. The fasting bodydoes loseweight, but “liveweight” losses are not reliable indications of tissue changeswithin theorganism.Thelargestdraftuponthebodystoresduringafastismadeuponthefatandinbothmanandanimalstherapidlossofweightduringthefirstonetofourdaysofafast,particularlynoticeableinthefatperson,isduetothetendencyoffattofalloffrapidly.

Thus, it is seen that thevital tissues are nourished first off the food reserves andwhen these areexhausted,offthelessvitaltissues.Nodamagewillorcanoccurinanyofthevitaltissuesofthebodysolongasitsreservesareadequatetomeetthenutritiveneedsofthesetissues.Thisvariesfromafewdays in very emaciated people to a fewmonths in very fat individuals. There need be no fear offasting, even the most prolonged fasting, under experienced and intelligent guidance. The humanbodymayhavestoredwithinitsuchenormousresourcesofenergythatitwillbeabletofastmanydays.

Because theyare ignorantof thereservesof theanimalbody,whichare available for sustenance,when, for any reason it is denied food, physicians, nurses, patients, their relatives and friends, areafraidoffastingandinsistthatthesickmusteatto“keepuptheirstrength.”Neverwasthereagreaterfallacyentertained.

One important feature about fasting has been entirely overlooked by all the so-called scientificinvestigatorsoffasting.I refer to themanner inwhichitcauses thebreakingdown,absorptionandelimination or use of abnormal growths, effusions, exudates, deposits, etc. The scientists haveconducted all their experiments on healthy animals or healthymen and are, for this reason, in nopositiontoknowitseffectsinthesickbody.

Theylearnedthatuselessfatandthelessessentialtissuesareconsumedfirst,andthemostessentialtissuesof thebodyarehardly touched, evenwheredeath fromstarvation results.Butneverhavingwatched the process they cannot know anything of the rapidity with which dropsical fluid, forexample,isabsorbedfromthecavitiesortissuesandutilizedasfood.Theycannotknowhowtumor-

likegrowthsareoftenrapidlyabsorbedandhow,evenlargetumorsarereducedinsize.Resolutioninpneumoniaishastened,theprocesstakingplacesorapidly,oftenthatitwouldbedifficulttobelieveunlessone should see it. “Diseased” tissues are broken down, exudates, effusions and deposits areabsorbedandeitherusedoreliminated.Thebodyutilizeseverythingitcandispensewithduringafastinorder topreserve the integrity of the essential tissues.The useless and least essential things aresacrificedfirst.

Thefatman,fasting,iseatingallthroughhisfast;heiseatingalotofsurplustissuethathehasbeencarryingaroundasdeadweight.Butwedonothavetobefattobeabletofast.Eventheunderweightpersoncarriesastoreoffoodreserve.Ihaveoftenbeenamazedattheabilityofskinnypatientstofastand to maintain their strength while doing so. I have seen them go without food for as much astwenty-twodayswhen Ihad judgedby their appearance that three to fourdayswouldbe their safelimit.Wegowithout food,andwhilewedo this,weeatwhat surplus tissue (fat, etc.) thatwehave.Afterourreservesareexhaustedornearlyso,wemustresumeeating,elsewebegintobreakdownandconsumeouressentialtissuesandthismeansthatwebegintodie.Weshouldneverbereducedtothenecessityof“eating”ourselves—ourreservesshouldconstituteourbill-of-farewhileweabstainfromfood.

Thereisaneconomicaltendencyoftheorganismtoaccumulatereservestoresinthebodysothatunder stress or strain or deprivation andwant, it shall be able to go on for sometimewithout theordinarysuppliesoffood.Manoranimalincaseoffamine,shipwreck,orunderothercircumstancesinwhichfoodcannotbesecured,wouldperishforthwith,exceptforthesegeneralizedfoodreservesstoredinthebody.

We saw in a previous chapter that each cell and each organ has its own private food reserve. Inadditiontothisthereisaconsiderablequantityofglycogenstoredintheliver,muchsurplusproteinandotherfoodsubstancescarriedinthebloodandlymph,severalpoundsoffatinthebody(eventhinpeoplehaveconsiderablefat)andmuchfoodreserveinthemarrowofthebones.Intheglandsthereis stored a considerable supply of vitamins. It is possible that the body can retain and re-use itsvitamins as it can its iron and certain other minerals. Collectively, the above stores constitute areserve food store that is capable of sustaining the vital organs and their functions through anemergencyofconsiderable length.Theensembleof thebody’sfoodreserves iswellbalancedwithrespecttothevariousnutritiveelements,salts,vitamins,etc.Theyarecapableofmeetingthenutritiveneedsofthevitaltissuesforlongperiods.

Thereisstillanothersourceoffoods,which,insomeanimalsmayamounttoseveraldays’supply.In ruminants the food residues (undigested food) in the intestinal tract are usually very large (solarge, indeed, that the variability in “fill” contained in the digestive canal disguises the true bodyweightandhasbeenaconstantcauseofuncertaintyindeterminingchangesinthebodytissues,andamountingofteninthecaseofthesteertoone-fifthoftheentirebodyweight)andserveasasourceoffoodforaconsiderableperiodafterfoodhasbeenwithdrawn,sothattheimmediatedemandsuponthebody’sactualreservesarenotgreat.

Thealimentaryreservesofomnivorousanimals,althoughusuallyplentiful,arequicklyexhaustedwhenfoodisdenied.Indogsandmanthealvinecanal isalmost immediatelyexhaustedof its foodsupply, so that the true fasting period is more quickly reached. The whole expense of fasting isthrownuponthefoodreservesintheirbodiesalmostfromtheoutset.

Hibernationdiffersfromordinaryfastinginthatthehibernatinganimalpossessesspecialstoresfortheperiod,andin that themetabolicrate isdecreasedmuchmore inhibernation, thus lesseningtheneedforfood.

Thefastingorganismsubsistsonmaterialspreviouslystoredinitstissues.Itwouldbeerroneoustosupposethatduringafast,underwhatevercondition,theprocessesofnutritionaresuspended.Onlythoseconcernedwiththedigestionandabsorptionofrawmaterialsareinterrupted.

Thefastingorganismisnourishedastrulyoffitsaccumulatedreservesasifitdailyconsumedanabundancefromthefatoftheland.Prof.Morgulissays,indeed,that“inanitionmustberegardedasaspecial—perhaps,thesimplest—formofnutrition.”Headdsthatmaterialsforgrowthandrepairoftissue,energyformaintenanceandenergyforwork,aresupplied“undertheconditionsofinanition”from the “rich deposit of nutritive substances”which “every organism contains in its tissues” and“whichconstitutethecommonfoodswhentheyservetonourishanotherorganism.”

V.AutolysisAutolysisInPlantsAutolysisInAnimalsAutolysisDuringPupalSleepDistributionOfMaterialsAutolysisIsControlledTheAutolyticDisintegrationOfTumorsLimitationsObjection

Inorderthatwemaycomprehendmuchthattakesplacewithinthefastingorganism,itisnecessarythatwehaveanunderstandingoftheprocessofautolysis,which,althoughverycommoninnature,hasbeenallbutoverlookedbyphysiologistsgenerally.Wehavepreviouslymentioned thefact thatthevitalorfunctioningtissuesofthefastingorganismarenourishedoffthefoodreservesstoredinthe body. These reserves are stored as rather complex substances, such as sugar (glycogen), fat,protein,etc.,andarenomorefittedforentranceintothebloodstreamandusebythecellsthanarethefats,proteinsandcarbohydratesofanotheranimaloranotherfood.Beforetheycanbetakenupbythecirculationandassimilatedbythecells,theymustfirstbedigested.

Letusbeginwithafamiliarexampleofthedigestionandabsorptionofapartofalivingorganismbytheorganismitself.Intheprocessofbecomingafrogthetadpolegrowsfourlegs.Afterthesearefullyformed,itnolongerhasuseforthetailthatservedsowellinthetadpolestage,soitproceedstogetridofit,notbysheddingitasispopularlysupposed,butbyabsorbingit.Thetailismadeupofmuscle,fat,nerves,skin,etc.Toabsorbthesestructures,theyaredigestedinthesamewaythatfatandmusclearedigestedinthedigestivetract.Bytheactionoftheappropriateenzymestheproteinsandfatsarebrokendownintotheirconstituentaminoandfattyacids.Onlythusaretheyfittore-enterthecirculation. Only as fatty acids and amino acids can they be re-used with which to nourish otherstructuresofthebodyofthefrog.

During theperiodwhen the tailof theex-tadpole isbeingabsorbed, theyoung frogdoesnoteat.Indeed,itceasestoeatwhentheforelegscomeintoview.Fastingmaybeessentialtotheabsorptionofthetail,atleastithastenstheprocess,foritcompelstheutilizationofthetailasfoodwithwhichtonourishthevitaltissuesofthefastingfrog.

Wemay liken this process to that of the eating of its skin by the toad. Toadsmolt several timesyearly.Theyswallowtheirmoltedskinaftertheyemergefromit.Tomakeuseofthemoltedskin,thetoadmustfirstdigestit.Itsproteinsandfatsmustbereducedtosimpleacceptablecompounds,suchasaminoacidsandfattyacids.Thisisdoneinthisinstanceinthestomachandintestineofthetoad.Butinthecaseofthefastingfrogdigestingitstail,theworkisdonewithinthetailitself.

Thethymusgland,whichcontrolsthegrowthoftheyoung,isabsorbedafteritsworkiscompleted.Notingthemannerinwhichthebodyridsitselfofnon-functioningorno-longer-neededstructures,asinthecaseofthisgland,itwouldbeextraordinarywereittoreallyturnoutthattherearestructuresinthebodythataretrulyfunctionlessandhavebeensoforages.Atthispoint,however,ourinterestinthisglandanditsabsorptionisforadifferentlesson.Itisreferredtoheretopointoutthatitisbrokendownandabsorbedbytheprocessofautolysis.Therecanbenodoubtthatthematerialsofwhichitis

composedarere-usedbytheorganism.

Theword autolysis (a-tol-i-sis) is derived from theGreek andmeans, literally, self-loosing. It isused in physiology to designate the process of digestion or disintegration of tissue by ferments(enzymes)generatedinthecellsthemselves.Itisaprocessofself-digestion—intracellulardigestion.

Anumberof autolytic (a-to-lit-ik) enzymes are knownand are includedunder thegeneral terms,oxidases and peroxidases. Physiologists know that proteolytic (protein digesting) enzymes areformedwithinmany, if not in all living tissues.Apparently every tissue turns out its own enzyme,which,probably,under all ordinarycircumstancesof life, is employed in the regularprocessesofmetabolism.Under other conditions the enzymesmay be employed to digest the substances of thecells themselves.ZoethoutandTuttle (1946)mention thatundercertainexperimental conditions theunrestrained activities of the enzymes normally present in the liver (proteases, lipases,carbohydrases)digesttheproteins,carbohydrates,andfatsoftheliver.Innormallifethisdigestionofthe liver does not occur. These various intra-cellular enzymes play a conspicuous part in themetabolismoffoodsubstances;thatis,inthenormalorregularfunctionofnutritionormetabolism.

Afewfamiliarexamplesofautolysiswillpreparethereadertounderstanditsusein“disease.”Thephenomena of fasting supply many examples of the control the body exercises over its autolyticprocesses. For example, tissues are lost in the inverse order of their usefulnessfat and morbidgrowths first, and then the other tissues. These tissues (fatty tissue, bone marrow, etc.) and foodsubstances (glycogen)arenot fit toenter thebloodstreambefore theyareacteduponbyenzymes.Indeed, human fat, or humanmuscle, is nomore fitted to enter the circulationwithout first beingdigested,thanisfatormusclefromthecoworsheep.Glycogen(animalstarch),storedintheliver,must be converted into a simple sugar before it can be released into the blood stream. Thisconversionisaccomplishedbyenzymicaction.

Themannerinwhichanabscess“points”onthesurfaceofthebodyanddrainsitssepticcontentsonthe outside is well known to every one of my readers.What is not generally known, is that this“pointing”on the surface is possibleonlybecause the fleshbetween the abscess and the surface isdigestedbyenzymes;thatis,itisautolyzedandremoved.

Theabsorptionofthebone-ringsupportestablishedabouttheendsofafractureismadepossiblebytheautolyticdisintegrationof thebone-ring.The re-arrangementofmaterials inpiecesofplanariaandthedissolutionofthepharynxinthepiececontainingthis,toformanewonetofitthenewsize,asdescribedelsewhere,ismadepossiblebyautolysis.

SylvesterGraham had some conception of the process of autolysis and of its use in disease.Hethought that it is a general law of organic life that, when, by any means or from any cause, thecatabolic processes exceed those of anabolism, the body always lays hold of and removes thosesubstances which are of least use to the organism. For this reason, he said, all the morbidaccumulations,suchaswens(cysts),tumors,abscesses,etc.,arerapidlydiminishedandoftenwhollyremovedundersevereandprotractedabstinenceandfasting.

TheviewofmanyphysiologistsofGraham’serawasthatthelymphaticsthroughoutthebody,likethe lacteals in the intestines,possess, to ahighdegree, thepower to takeup from the tissues, foodsubstances, which they convert into a chyle-like substance, but of a more refined and sublimatedquality,andthatthispredigestedmaterialisreturnedtothegeneralcirculationtobeusedinallparts

ofthebodyasnutriment.AlthoughGrahamthoughtthatthe“assimilatingpower”of the lymphatics(or,astheyoftencalledthem,theabsorbents)wasreal,hewasoftheopinionthat thephysiologistshad magnified it. Nonetheless, he said that “when supplies of food in the alimentary canal areexceedinglysmallorentirelycutoffforaconsiderabletime,thelymphaticsunquestionablybecomemuchmoreactivethanusual,andpreyupontheadiposeandothersubstancesofthebody,formingalymphwhichhasmanyofthecharacteristicsofchyleandblood,andwhichmay,tosomeextent, insuchanemergency,servethepurposeofnutrition.”Hesaidthatthisdoesnotoccurintheordinaryandundisturbedoperationsoftheorganismwhenthedigestivetractsuppliesadequatefoodmaterials.He,alongwithmanyotherphysiologistsoftheperiod,thoughtoflymph,underthesecircumstances,asbeing“mainlyifnotentirelyanexcrementitioussubstance.”

Hedidnot think that therewereanyfacts to justify theassumption that thefat thusconverted intolymph is used as nutriment during a fast. He regarded fat as beingmore or less in the nature ofuneliminatedsurpluses(largelyofanundesirablecharacter)thatthebodywasforcedtostorebecauseitwasunabletoexcrete.Forthisreason,itisunfitforfood.Hisviewwasthatinaperfectlyhealthystateofthebody,aperfectequilibriumbetweentheprocessesofassimilationanddisassimilation ismaintainedsothatnofataccumulates.

AutolysisInPlantsTheplantkingdomteemswithexamplesofautolysis,butafewfamiliarexampleswillsufficefor

our present purpose. All bulbs, of which the onion will serve as an example, maintain withinthemselvesanewplantsurroundedbysufficientfoodtotideitoverduringaperiodof rest,duringwhichperioditdoesnottakeupfoodfromthesoilandair.Indeed,itmaybetakenoutofthegroundandstoredforlongperiods.Theonionmaybegintogrowinthebinorbaginwhichit isstored.Itsendsupstemsandsoonalmostthewholeofthebulboftheonionistransformedintogreenblades.Thebulbgraduallybecomessoft,andfinally,thereisleftamereshell,asthegrowingplantdigestsandutilizes thesubstanceof theonion.Beets, turnipsandmanyother tuberswillgrow in thesamemanner.By autolytic digestion of the substances in the tuber,material is provided for growth andevenwhileoutoftheground,theseplantswillputforthstemsandleavesandgrow.

Whohasnotseenthehousewifeputasweetpotatoinajarofwaterandhangitupandwatchitgrow.Itsendsoutstemswhichgrowtogreat lengthsandputsoutmanygreenleaves.Suchapotatoplantwillcontinuetogrowsolongasthereremainsanyofthefoodthatwasstoredassweetpotato.Theso-called Irish potatowill also put forth stems and leaves and these will grow, drawing upon thesubstancesstoredinthepotatoastheirsolesourceoffood.Ifthereislight,theleavesandstemsofthepotatowillbegreen;iftheyarekeptinthedark,thestemsandleaveswillbewhite.Ifthereisacrackseveral feet away throughwhich a little light enters, these stemswill grow in the direction of thesourceof lightandwillgrowseveralfeet long, if thelight is thatfaraway.Byautolysis thestoredfoodsubstancesinthetubersarebrokenupandmadeusablebytheyoungplant.

Theearlygrowthofailplantsfromseedinvolvesdigestionoffoodstoredintheseed.Seed,liketheeggs of animals, are chiefly storehouses of food. The actual living part of the seed is almostmicroscopicinsize.

A rosecuttingor a figcuttingplaced in the soil andwatered,willput forth roots and leaves andgrow.Boththeleavesandtherootsaregrownfrommaterialswithinthecutting.Cutabegonialeafinto small pieces and properly tend these and each piecewill grow into a newbegonia plant. Thesubstancesofthefragmentoftheleafareusedoutofwhichtobuildanewplant.Theseareinstances

oftheautolysis,redistributionandreorganizationofmaterialscontainedwithinthepart.

AutolysisInAnimalsAttheverycommencementoflifeautolysisisanessentialprocess.Theembryonicdevelopmentof

animals in eggs involves digestion of the food stored in the eggs. Eggs, however large or small,contain a living germ that is microscopic in size which is the only living part of the egg. Theremainderoftheeggconsistsofstoredfoodmaterialoutofwhichtheevolvinganimalconstructsitsorgansandparts.Thisfoodsubstanceisnomoresuitedtotheuseoftheevolvingembryothanitissuitedtotheuseoftheadultanimal.Beforeitcanbeusedinmakingtissue,itmustbedigested.Thisdigestionisachievedbyenzymesproducedbytheembryo.

Thefastingsalamander,thetailofwhichhasbeencutoff,growsanewtail.Itdrawsuponitsgeneralfoodstoresformaterialsoutofwhichtoconstructthenewtail.Thesematerialsmustfirstbebrokendown(digested)bytheprocessofautolysisandthentransferredtothegrowingtail.Herewewatchaprocessthatissomewhatthereverseofthatseeninthefrogthatisabsorbingitstail.Herematerialsaretakenfromthebodyandusedinproducingatail;therematerialsaretakenfromthetailandusedwithwhichtonourishthebody.

Theenormousgrowthof thegonadsof fastingsalmon isaccomplishedby transferringmaterialsfromthebodyofthesalmontothetesticles.Autolysisisnecessarilythefirststepinthistransferofmaterials.Thebodyisnotonlyabletobuildtissue, itcanalsodestroytissue.Itcannotonlydigestandutilizethetissuesofotherorganisms,itcandigestanduseitsowntissue.

AutolysisDuringPupalSleepTheperiodof pupal sleep in the life of insects is a period of great and complex organizational

changes, resulting in anewand radicallydifferent insect.The larvaeof insects devote theirwholeattentiontogrowingandmoulting.Theyeatenormousquantitiesoffoodandgrowlargeandfat.Thesilkworm,forexample,duringitsthirty-dayperiodofgrowth,increasesitsweightfifteenthousandtimes.Attheendofitslarvalstagethesilkwormspinsforitselfacocoonbywhichitprotectsitselfinthe pupa stage. There emerges from the cocoon, not a worm but a silkfly. The caterpillar of thebutterfly changes to a chrysalis. The outer covering of the chrysalis is a hardened shell, usuallybrownincolor.Thereemergesfromthis,notaworm,butabutterfly.Whereas,theworm-likelarvaentersthecocoonorchrysalis,itemergesanadultbutterflyormoth,totallychanged,bothininternalandexternalstructures,withdifferentfunctionstoperformandadifferentlifetolead.

Itisduringthestageofpupalsleepthattheentireorganismoftheinsectundergoesacompleteandradical metamorphosis, there is a tearing down of old structures, a re-shuffling of materials, thecreationandre-aggregationofparts,sothatwhatemergesfromthepupa,whenthetransformationiscomplete, isanorganismsounlikeeitherthepupaor thelarvathat itmayeasilybemistakenforatotallynewanddistinctspecies.

Itisinterestingtonotethatduringthepupalstageofinsectlifenofoodistaken.Duringthisperiodofoutwardquiescence,allofthematerialstoredupbythegluttonouslarvaisusedoutofwhichtoconstruct a totally new and different organism. By autolysis old structures are torn down, storedmaterials are digested and prepared for new use, the materials are shifted from one part of theorganismtoanother.Allofthismarvelousprocessofmetamorphosistakesplacewhiletheanimalisfasting.Here is a strikingexampleof theconstructivework that theorganismmaycarryonwhileabstainingfromfood.Butitshouldbeunderstoodthatmaterialscouldnotbeshiftedfromonepartof

the body to another and no-longer-needed structures could not be torn down and thematerials ofwhichtheyarecomposedcouldnotbeusedoutofwhichtoconstructnewstructures,exceptthattheyarefirstdigested.Autolysisisasessentialatthisstageoftheinsect’slifeastheabilitytoconstructnewparts.

Metamorphosis ininsectssuppliesuswithoneof themostremarkableexamplesofbothautolysisandthedistributionandreorganizationofmaterialsthatgooninlivingorganismsasregularpartsoftheprocessofliving.Themaggotofthecommonhouseflydissolvesintoacreamyliquidseeminglyasstructurelessastheyolkofanegg.Theoriginalorgansaredestroyedandnewonesarefashioned.Nonewmaterials,except,perhaps,airandmoisture,areemployedinthiscreationofthenewform.Duringfifteendaysoffasting,thepupaofthehoneybeemetamorphosesintoafullgrownbee, thechanges undergone amounting to a transformation of one form of life into another form, withdifferentorgans,differentfunctionsandaradicallydifferentwayoflife.

Theoverfedcaterpillarwrapsitselfinahermeticallysealedcocoonandgoestosleepand,duringits sleep, it transforms itself intoagorgeousbutterflywithbrightwings that flash in the sun.As itundergoes metamorphosis, its muscles and its organs undergo dissolution into a substance thatresembles a sortofpus.Allof its internal structures are torndownbyautolyticprocesses andaredistributed to different parts to be completely reorganized. The metamorphosis of chrysalis intobutterfly is as though some fairy with a magic wand stood by and directed operations. Here weobserve nomere chemical process; here is organization and prevision; here is controlled tearingdownand rebuilding; here is nomere turningout of compounds, but the construction of complexorgansthataretofunctioninthefuture.

Thecocoontakesnofoodduringthisperiodofmetamorphosis;thewholereorganizationprocessisdonewhilefastingandthematerialsthatarestoredinthebodyofthecaterpillar,whileitiseatingits way through the world, are used for the transformation of the “worm” into a butterfly. Asremarkable as is theprocessofmetamorphosis itself, is the fact that practically nomaterial is leftover.Thematerialinonecaterpillarisjustsufficienttomakeonebutterfly.

DistributionOfMaterialsTheseverelywoundedanimalrefusestoeat,yetitswoundheals.Greatquantitiesofbloodaresent

tothesiteofthewound.Thisrepresentsagreatquantityoffoodtakento thepart.Thebloodis thedistributing agent in all higher forms of life. The fasting animal draws upon its reserves of foodmaterials out ofwhich to repair its torn, cut or broken tissues. These are first autolyzed and thencarriedtothepartof thebodywheretheyareneeded.Thebodycannotonlydistributeitsnutritivesupplies; it can also re-distribute them. It possesses the ability to shift its chemicals and fastingsuppliesmanyexamplesofthis.Autolysismakesre-distributionpossible.

Theabilitytore-distributesubstancesandsuppliesiscommontoallformsoflife.Thisabilityisanever-present protection against injury, except under themost prolongeddeprivation.The digestionandreorganizationofpartsseeninwormsandotheranimals,whendeprivedoffood,thedigestionandre-distributionofreserves,surplusesandnon-vitaltissues,asseeninallanimals,whenforcedtogowithout food, constitute, for the writer, some of the most marvelous phenomena in the wholerealmofbiology.

AutolysisIsControlledAutolysisisarigidlycontrolledprocess;itisnoblind,undirectedbull-in-a-china-shopaffair.Not

only throughout the fasting period, but also throughout the starvation process, as well, the bodyexercisescontroloverautolysis.Themostrigideconomyisexercisedthroughoutbothperiodsinthedigestion and utilization, not only of the vital and most vital tissues, but of the dispensable andexpendabletissues.Inalaterchapterweshallstudythecontroloftheautolyticprocessduringfasting.HereIwishtocallattentiontothefactthatinstarvationthereisnoindiscriminatewastingofthebody,butratherthesamesafeguardingofthemorevitaltissuesandaslowsacrificeofthelessvitaltissuesthatisseeninthefastingperiod.

Whenthefrogfastsduringthetimeitisconsumingitstail,onlythetaildisappears.Neverdoesoneofthelegsofthefrogundergoautolyticdisintegration.Noneededstructureisdigestedandabsorbed.Ifplanariaorflatworms,arecutinsmallpiecesandplacedwheretheycanabsorbnourishment,eachpiecewill grow into a smallworm. If they cannot get nourishment, they cannot grow.Each piece,therefore, completely re-arranges itsmaterials andbecomes a perfect, but veryminuteworm.Thepiece that contains the pharynx, finding this too large for its diminished size,will dissolve it andmakeanewonethatfitsitsnewsize.Wehavehereaprocesssimilartothemetamorphosisofinsectsthatgoesoninthepupalstage.Hereismanifesttheabilitytoteardownapartandshiftitsconstituentmaterials.Thesamethingisseeninthesofteningandabsorptionofthebone-ringsupportaroundapointof fracture.Onlypartof thebone-ring isdigested, the remainder is retained to reinforce theweakenedstructure.

ZocthoutandTuttle(1940)pointoutthatautolysisisacontrolledprocessandmentionthefollowingexamplesofcarefullycontrolledautolysisthatnormallyoccuratcertainperiodsoflife:“atrophyofthemammaryglandsatthecloseoflactationandoftheuterusafterparturition,thegeneralatrophyofold age, and the resolution (dissolving)of the exudate formed in the lungs during pneumonia” (p.422).Theatrophyofthethymusglandatpubertyshouldalsobeincludedinthislist.

Theseauthorsofferotherexamplesofcontrolledautolysis,saying:“Duringstarvationsomeorgans(heartandbrain)areabsolutelynecessaryandtheiractivitycannotbedispensedwith;hencetheymustbe supplied with proteins. These proteins are obtained from the skeletal muscles, which must belookeduponnotonlyasorgansofcontractionbutalsoasstorehousesforproteins.TheproteinsofthemusclesandtissuesIenzymes|intosolubleproducts,aminoacids,whicharethencarriedbytheblood stream to the vital organs.Another striking illustration of the transfer of protein from oneorgantoanotherisseeninthetremendousdevelopment,inthespawningandfastingsalmon,oftheovariesattheexpenseofthemuscles,whichloseasmuchas30percentoftheirweight”(p.422).

Neithertheovaries,northeheart,northebraincanlive,growandfunctiononadietofaminoacids.They need minerals, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins. Fasting salmon lose more than weight ofmuscle;theyalsolosefatandglycogen.Thereisgreataccumulationofphosphorusinthegonadsoffastingsalmon.

It is interesting to note that this control of autolysis extends also to pathological tissues, such astumors,deposits,effusions,etc.,andisnotconfinedtothenormal tissuesof thebody.Examplesofthiswillbegivenlater.

Thefactthatautolysisisarigidlycontrolledandnotahaphazardprocess,isourguaranteethatthevital tissues of the body will not be sacrificed during even prolonged abstinence from food. Itguaranteesusthatonlythenon-vitaltissueswillbedigestedandtheirconstituentscarriedthroughoutthebodytonourishthevitaltissues.

Threeimportantfactsstandoutclearlyinwhathasgonebefore:

1. By reason of its possession of intracellular enzymes the body is capable of digesting its ownproteins,fatsandcarbohydrates.

2.Itisfullycapableofcontrollingtheself-digestingprocessandrigidlylimitsittothenon-essentialandlessessentialtissues.Eveninstarvation,whenvitaltissuesaredestroyed,thereisrigidcontroloftheprocessandthetissuescontinuetobedrawnuponaccordingtotheirrelativeimportance.

3.Thebodyiscapableofutilizingtheend-productsofautolyticdisintegrationofitsowntissuestonourishitsmostvitalandmostessentialparts.

TheAutolyticDisintegrationOfTumorsTrall asserted that all abnormal growths possess a lower grade of vitality than normal growths,

henceareeasiertodestroy.Ithinkitmaybeequallytruethattheydonotcommandthesupportoftheorganismasdonormalgrowths,astheyaredeficientinnerveandbloodsupply.Thislackofsupportmakesthemthereadyvictimsoftheautolyticprocessesofthebody.Itisgenerallyheldbymenwithwideexperiencewiththefastthatabnormaltissuesarebrokendownandeliminatedmorerapidlythannormal tissue during periods of abstinence. Physiologists have studied the process of autolysis,although they have suggested no practical use thatmay bemade of it save that of employing it toreduceweight.Itnowremainsforphysiologiststolearnthatbymeansofrigidlycontrolledautolysis,thebodyisabletodigesttumorsandutilizetheproteinsandotherfoodelementscontainedinthemtonourishitsvitaltissues.Whyhavetheynotinvestgatedthisvitallyimportantsubject?Thefactshavebeenbeforetheworldformorethanahundredyears.

Aslongagoasthe1830’sSylvesterGrahamwassaying:“Itisagenerallawofthevitaleconomy,that when by any means the general function of decomposition exceeds that of composition ornutrition,thedecomposingabsorbentsalwaysfirstlayholdofandremovethosesubstanceswhichareofleastusetotheeconomy;andhence,allmorbidaccumulations,suchaswens,tumors,abscesses,etc., are rapidly diminished and oftenwholy removed under severe and protracted abstinence andfasting”(1883,pp.194-195).

Theprocessofautolysismaybeputtogreatpracticaluseandmaybemadetoserveingettingridoftumorsandothergrowths.Tofullyunderstandthis,itisnecessaryforthereadertoknowthattumorsaremadeupoffleshandbloodandbone.Therearemanynamesforthedifferentkindsoftumors,butthenamesallindicatethekindoftissueofwhichthetumoriscomposed.Forexample,anosteomaismadeupofbonetissue;amyomaiscomposedofmusculartissue;aneuromaisconstitutedofnervetissue;a lipomaconsistsof fatty tissue;a fibroma iscomposedof fibrous tissues;anepithelioma iscomposedofepithelialtissue,etc.Growthsofthisnatureareknown,technically,asneoplasms (newgrowth)todistinguishthemfrommereswellingsorenlargements.Alargelumpinthebreastmaybenothingmore thananenlarged lymphaticglandor anenlargedmammarygland.Suchanenlargedglandmaybeverypainful,butitisnoneoplasm.

Tumorsbeingcomposedoftissues,thesamekindoftissuesastheotherstructuresofthebody,aresusceptibleofautolyticdisintegration,thesameasnormaltissue,anddo,asamatterofexperience,undergodissolutionandabsorptionunderavarietyofcircumstances,butespeciallyduringafast.Thereaderwhocanunderstandhowfastingreducestheamountoffatinthebodyandhowitreducesthesizeofthemuscles,canalsounderstandhowitwillreducethesizeofatumor,orcauseittodisappear

altogether.Heneeds, then, only to realize that the process of disintegrating (autolyzing) the tumortakesplacemuchmorerapidlythanitdoesinthenormaltissues.

InhisNotesOnTumors, awork for students of pathology,FrancisCarterWood says: “In a verysmall proportion of human malignant tumors spontaneous disappearance for longer or shorterperiodshasbeennoted.Thegreaternumberofsuchdisappearanceshasfollowedincompletesurgicalremoval of the tumor; they have occurred next in order of frequency during some acute febrileprocess,andlessfrequentlyinconnectionwithsomeprofoundalterationofthemetabolicprocessesoftheorganism,suchasextremecachexia,artificialmenopause,orthepuerperium.”

Nomoreprofoundchangeinmetabolismispossiblethanthatproducedbyfastingandthechangeisofacharacterbestsuitedtobringabouttheautolysisofatumor,malignantorotherwise.

TheconditionsWoodmentionsascausingspontaneousdisappearanceof tumorsare,for themostpart,“accidents”andarenotwithintherangeofvoluntarycontrol.Fasting,ontheotherhand,maybeinstituted and carried out under control and at any time desired. It is the rule that operations arefollowed by increased growth in the tumor. Spontaneous disappearance following incompleteremovalisrare.Thesamemaybesaidforextremecachexiaandartificialmenopause.Infeverswehaverapidautolysisinmanytissuesofthebodyandmuchreparativeworkgoingon,butwecannotdevelopafeveratwill.Pregnancyandchildbirthoccasionmanyprofoundchangesinthebody,buttheyarecertainlynottoberecommendedtosickwomenascuresfortheirtumors.Evenifthisweredesirable,itwouldbeahit-or-missprocess.Theeffectsoffastingarecertain.Thereisnothinghit-or-missabouttheprocess.Itworksalwaysinthesamegeneraldirection.

Feverisaremedialprocessanddoeshelptoremovethecauseofthetumor.NoneofWood’sothercauses of spontaneous disappearance assist in removing the cause of tumors. Fasting does assistgreatlyintheremovalofsuchcause.

Duringa fast theaccumulationsof superfluous tissuesareoverhauledandanalyzed; theavailablecomponent parts are turned over to the department of nutrition to be utilized in nourishing theessentialtissues;therefuseisthoroughlyandpermanentlyremoved.

Duetoavarietyofcircumstances,someknown,othersunknown,therateofabsorptionoftumorsinfastingindividualsvaries.Thegeneralconditionofthepatient,theamountofsurpluscontainedinhisbody,thekindoftumor,thehardnessorsoftnessofthetumor,thelocationofthetumorandtheageofthepatientareallknowntoinfluencetherateoftumorabsorption.Letmecitetwoextremecasestoshowthewiderangeofvariationinthisrespect.

A woman, under forty, had a uterine fibroid about the size of an average grapefruit. It wascompletely absorbed in twenty-eight days of total abstinence from all food butwater.Thiswas anunusuallyrapidrateofabsorption.Anothercaseisthatofasimilartumorinawomanofabout thesame age. In this case the growthwas about the size of a goose egg.One fast of twenty-one daysreducedthetumortothesizeofanEnglishwalnut.Thefastwasbrokenduetothereturnofhunger.Anotherfastafewweekssubsequent,ofseventeendays,wasrequiredtocompletetheabsorptionofthetumor.Thiswasanunusuallyslowrateoftumor-absorption.

Tumor-like lumps in female breasts ranging from the size of a pea to that of a goose eggwilldisappearinfromthreedaystoasmanyweeks.Hereisaremarkablecaseofthiskindthatwillprove

bothinterestingandinstructivetothereader.Ayounglady,age21,hadalarge,hard lump—alittlesmallerthanabilliardball—inherrightbreast.Forfourmonthsithadcausedherconsiderablepain.Finallysheconsultedaphysicianwhodiagnosedthecondition,cancer,andurgedimmediateremoval.Shewenttoanother,andanotherandstillanotherphysician,andeachmadethesamediagnosisandeachurgedimmediateremoval.Insteadofresortingtosurgerytheyoungladyresortedtofastingandinexactlythreedayswithoutfood,the“cancer”andallitsattendantpainweregone.Therehadbeenno recurrence after thirteen years and I think that we are justified in considering the conditionremedied.

Hundredsofsuchoccurrencesunderfastinghaveconvincedmethatmany“tumors”and“cancers”areremovedbysurgeonsthatarenottumorsorcancers.Theycausemetobeveryskepticalofthestatisticsissuedtoshowthatearlyoperationpreventsorcurescancer.

Letmeciteacomparativelyrecentinstancefrommyownpractice.Amanufacturerbroughthiswifetome from LosAngeles. A growth in one of her breasts had caused her to consult two or threephysiciansinthatcity.Eachofthemhadinsistedupontheimmediateremovalofherbreast.Iplacedheruponafastwhichwascontinuedforthirtydays.Attheendofthefast,thetumor,whichwasaboutthesizeofanEnglishwalnut at itsbeginning,hadbeen reduced to the sizeof apea. In less thanamonthonavegetableandfruitdietthissmallremainderdisappeared.

Subsequentlythewomangavebirthtofivechildrenatabouttwoyearintervals.Shenursedeachofthefirst threechildrenfor twoyearsand the last twoforeighteenmonthseachandduringeachofthese nursing periods the formerly tumorous breast functioned well. The health and vigor of thechildrenpresentedunequivocalevidenceofthequalityofthemother ’smilk.Wasthisnotbetterthanremovalofthebreast?Wasthisanexceptionalcase?Bynomeans.Iseethemregularly.Suchcasesareseendailyininstitutionsinvariouspartsoftheworldwherefastingisemployed.

Theremovaloftumorsbyautolysishasseveraladvantagesovertheirsurgicalremoval.Surgeryisalwaysdangerous;autolysisisaphysiologicalprocessandcarriesnodanger.Surgeryalwayslowersvitalityandthusaddstothemetabolicperversionthatisbackofthetumor.Fasting,bywhichautolysisoftumorsisaccelerated,normalizesnutritionandpermitstheeliminationofaccumulatedtoxins,thushelping to remove thecauseof the tumor.After surgical removal tumors tend to recur.After theirautolyticremoval,thereislittletendencytorecurrence.Tumorsoftenrecurinmalignantformaftertheiroperativeremoval.Thetendencytomalignancyisremovedbyfasting.

JohnW.Armstrong (England) says:“Ihaveseen lumps in femalebreasts treated to fast, someofthem after diagnosis by ‘experts,’ the bulk after self-diagnosis and to disappear, onwater only, infromfourtotwentydays.”

BernarrMacfaddensays:“Myexperienceoffastinghasshownmebeyondallpossibledoubtthataforeigngrowthofanykindcanbeabsorbedintothecirculationbysimplycompellingthebodytouseevery unnecessary element contained within it for food. When a foreign growth has becomehardened,sometimesonelongfastwillnotaccomplishtheresult,butwheretheyaresoft,thefastwillusuallycausethemtobeabsorbed.”

Asmall tumorousgrowthwhichhadexistedformorethantwentyyearswasabsorbedduringMr.Pearson’slongestfastanddidnotreturnthereafter.Dr.Hazzardrecordstherecovery,duringafifty-fiveday’sfast,ofacasediagnosedbyphysiciansascancerofthestomach.Tilden,Weger,Rabagliati

andmanyothersrecordmanysuchcases.

Ihaveseenrepeatedinstancesoftheabsorptionoftumorsinmyownpatients.Ihadonecompleterecovery in the case of a uterine “cancer” during a thirty day’s fast. I have seen numerous smalltumorscompletelyabsorbedandlargeonesgreatlyreducedinsize.

In Europe and America, literally thousands of tumors have been autolyzed during the past fiftyyears,andtheeffectivenessofthemethodisbeyonddoubt.Icangivenodefiniteinformationaboutbonetumorsandnervetumors;but,sincethesearesubjecttothesamelawsofnutritionasallothertumors,Iamdisposedtothinkthattheymaybeautolyzedaseffectivelyasothertumors.

Inmy own experience I have seen numerous fibroid tumors of the uterus and breast, lipomas invariouspartsofthebody,afewepitheliomas,awholegroupofmyomasandanumberoftumorsthatwereapparentlyearlycancerautolyzedandabsorbedwhilethepatientfasted.IhaveseenmanywartsdisappearduringfastingandIhaveseenmanywartsonwhichthefastingprocessseemedtohavenoeffect. I have never seen a mole affected by the fasting process. I have seen a number of cystscompletelydestroyedbyfastingandothersthatweremerelyreducedinsize.ItwillberecalledthatGrahammentionshavingseencysts(wens)absorbedduringfasting.

LimitationsIt is certain that the autolyzing process has its limitations, for example, a tumor that has been

permitted togrow tosuchenormoussize that several long fastsduring thecourseof twoyearsormore,witharigidfeedingschedulebetweenfasts,wouldberequiredtobreakitdownandabsorbit,if, indeed, it could be done. There was a school in Chicago some years ago that taught that “thenormaltissuemaybeconsumedbeforethemorbidtissuesareusedup,”infasting.Whilethisschooldidnotconfinethisstatementtotumors,thereareafewconditionsinwhichthiscanbeafact,andinlarge tumors it may be so. Aside from large tumors, it is hardly probable that this is so in anyrecoverablecases.Onlyinrareinstances,wheretheamountofmorbidtissueisverygreat,andtheseareprobablyallirremediable,canthisoccur.

Ingeneral,good tissue isnotusedupas fast asbadand the tumorwill “starve”before thebody.Exceptwhereitisverylarge,wemaybesurethatinallcases,hungerwillreturnbeforeanydamageisdonetothevitaltissues.Inmorethanonecaseofcancer,whereopiateshadbeenused to relievepain,Ihaveseenthreeorfourdays’fastingbringrelief.

Oneotherlimitationmustbenoted;namely,tumorsthataresosituatedthattheydam-upthelymphstreamwillcontinuetogrow(feedingupontheexcessoflymphbehindthem)despitefasting.Incaseswherecompleteabsorptionisnotobtained,thetumorissufficientlyreducedinsizenottoconstituteamenace.Thereafterproperlivingwillpreventaddedgrowth.Indeed,wehaveseenanumberofcaseswhereafurtherdecreaseinsizefollowedrightlivingsubsequenttofasting.

ObjectionDr. James C. Thomson, a prominent Natural Therapist, of Edinburgh, Scotland, has offered an

objection to the use of the fast to cause the autolytic disintegration of tumors.He says that “if theautolysis isbeingcarried forward in a satisfactorymanner, i.e.,withvigorandcompleteness, thenduringthefastingperiodthepatientwillbelivingonbadmeat, thatis,onhisownlong-establishedtumorwhichismadeupofunwholesomematerials,otherwisetheywouldnothavebeenbuiltintoatumor.Accordingly the better thework that is being done during a fast themore certain it is that

duringthatphasethepersonwillbeirritable,restlessandattimesdepressed.”

WhileIdoubtthatthefleshthatmakesupmosthumantumorsisasbadasmuchofthefleshfoodsthatareregularlytakenbyflesh-eaters,thereisasmallmodicumoftruthinwhatDr.Thomsonsays.Itshould be pointed out, however, that most tumors are small and that days and weeks are ofteninvolved in their absorption, so that theamountofmaterial they supply for any singleday isverysmall. A few grams a daywould be all that they would yield. The bad portions of this would beexcreted.Thefooduponwhichthevitaltissuesarenourishedduringthisperiodisderivedfromthestoredfoodreservesandnotfromthetissuesofthetumor—theamountthetumorsupplyingbeingsosmallastobenegligible.

I doubt that the irritableness, restlessness and depression that only occasionally accompany theprocessofautolyticdisintegrationofatumor,areduetotheexceedinglysmallamountofunsuitablefoodmaterialderivedfromthetumor.Thesestatesaremostlikelytobeduetothetoxinstheautolyticprocessreleasesfromthetumorousandothertissues,for,notonlyisthetumorunsuitableforfood,butmuchof theother tissuesof thebodyhavebeen requisitionedas storageplaces for unexcretedwasteanddrugs.Oneofthemostimportantprocessesthatthebodycarriesoutduringafastisthatofclearingoutallthisgeneralunsuitability.Thetumoroustissueisnottheonlytissuethatisautolyzedand disposed of. If the process results in some discomfort, even actual pain, it is certainly worthgoingthroughforthebenefitsthataccrue.

VI.FastingisNotStarvingThewordstarvationisderivedfromtheOldEnglishsteorfan,meaningtodie.Todayitisusedalmostwholly to designate death from lackof food.Whenwemention fasting to the average person andeventheaveragephysician,heimmediatelypicturestohimself,thedireconsequencesthathethinksmustinevitablyresultfromgoingforevenafewdayswithoutfood.Tohimtofastistostarve—thatis, die. Physiologists, physicians, biologists arid other professionals,who should know better andwhoshouldbemorepreciseintheiruseofterms,arealsoguiltyofconfusingthetermsfastingandstarvation.Members of the “learned professions” habitually employ the two terms synonymously,thushelpingtoperpetuatethedelusion.Thisisnotonlytrue,butIhavefound,indiscussingthematterwithphysiologistsandothers,thattheyareshort-sightedlyincapableofmakingadistinctionbetweenthetwoprocesses.

Thefearof fasting iskeptaliveby thepress,which,eversooftencarries the storyof somebodydyingwhile fasting, and invariably death is attributed to starvation. These deaths are presented as“horribleexamples”ofthe“evilsoffasting.”Howrarearethesedeaths!Butitwouldbeenlighteningifwecouldhaveallthedetailsofeachofthesedeaths.Nodoubt,wewouldfindthatmostofthemarenotduetoabstinencefromfoodatall.Mostofthesedeathshavebeenduetoirreparabledamagetosomevitalorgan(organicdisease),anoccasionalonemayhavebeendue topushing theperiodofabstinencebeyondthefastingperiod,afewhavebeenduetoinjudiciousbreakingofthefast,someofthem have been due to drugs. But every day people die from unnecessary and “unsuccessful”operations and the press keeps quiet. Every day people die from drugging and the editors andnewsmenignoresuchdeaths.Fastingistheirtarget.

Theuninformedphysicianimaginesthatthebloodandthevitalorfunctioningtissuesofthebodybegintobreakdownthemomentfoodiswithdrawn;thatorganicdestructionsetsinimmediatelyandthateverydaythefastisprolongedmeansagreaterdestructionofthevitaltissues.Thatthisideaisfalsewillbecomeapparentpresently.

Inpreviouschaptersitwasshownthatthebody,atalltimes,hasstoredwithinitselfreservesoffoodsufficient to last for considerable time in the event of scarcity of food or of sickness,when foodcannotbedigested.Wesawhowthebodyfeedsuponthisfoodreserveandhowthevitaltissuesofthebodyfeedupontheleastessential,sothatevenifactualstarvationoccurs,thereisalmostnodamagetothevitalorgans.

Solongasthebody’sfoodreserveslast,theindividualabstainingfromfoodisfasting.Whenthisreserve has been consumed to the pointwhere it is no longer able to sustain the functions of life,furtherabstinencebecomesdangerous,starvationbegins.Itisonlyafterthispointisreachedthatanyreal damage is sustained by the vital organs and their functions. As a general rule, under properconditionsofenvironment,onemayfastforweeks,andevenmonths,beforethestarvationpoint isreached.“Itisperfectlytrue,”saysSinclair,“thatmenhavediedofstarvationinthreeorfourdays;butthestarvationexistedintheirminds—itwasfrightthatkilledthem”(191la,p.333).

Laboratory workers describe destructive changes in the pancreas, supra-renal glands and otherorgansandglandsofthebody,asaresultofstarvation.Butthesechangesoccuraftertheperiodoffasting proper has been passed. The vital cells of the organs and glands—those doing the actualphysical and chemical work of these organs—do not begin to break down until actual starvation

begins.

Morgulis says: “Apart from the purely pathological phenomena occurring in the terminal stages(thestarvationperiod)offasting,itshouldbementionedthatthehistologicalpeculiaritiesappearingin the very beginning of inanition are associated with changes in the colloidal condition of theprotoplasmandarenotatalldegenerativeinkind.Theprogressiveatrophicchangescoincidentwithinanition are simply due to the gradualwithdrawal ofmetaplasmic inclusionswhich represent thenutritivereservesof thecells.Theatrophicdiminutionofbothcellsandnucleidoesnot, therefore,presentapathologicalphenomenoneither.Moreover, themorphologicalprocesses in inanitionarenotinvariablydestructive,cellproliferationgoingonevenwhentheorganismhasbeendeprivedofnourishmentforalongtime.”

Thismeansthat,exceptduringtheactualstarvationperiod,thewastingofpartsduringafastistheresultoftheusingupofthoseportionsoftheprotoplasmofthecellscontainingtheproductsoftheirsecretionsandnotofanactualdestructionofthecellproper.Themetaplasmisslowlyusedasthefastprogresses,sothatthesizeofthecellsand,consequently,oftheorganisgraduallyreduced,butthereisnoactualdeteriorationinstructureofthecells,tissuesandorgans.

Dr.Morgulismakesthecautious,perhapsover-cautious,estimatethatafastwhichinvolvesabodylossoftentofifteenpercentisharmlessandusuallybeneficial;andthatthedangerpointinfastingbeginswhen from twenty-five to thirtyper centhasbeen lost.Hehashad animals recover normalhealthafteraweightlossofsixtypercent.Wehaveseenthesamethinginmorethanonemanandwoman.

Anumberofpeoplehavediedofseriousorganic“disease”whilefasting,andautopsieshavebeenperformedinmanyofthese.Ineverycasetherewasstillconsiderablesubcutaneousfat,whereas,thisisalwaysentirelyabsentwheredeathhasbeencausedbystarvation.Exceptinacaseortwowheretheheart had never sufficiently developed orwhere therewas previous heart “disease,” the heartwasfoundtobenormalinallcases;whileinactualstarvation,theheartisalwayscontractedormarkedlyatrophied. The pancreas is little, if at all affected, in death during the fast, whereas in death fromstarvation,thisglandisalmostentirelyabsent.Inthesecasesthebloodwasnormalinamountwithnoanemiapresent;whileinstarvation,therelativebloodvolumeisreducedandthereisusuallymarkedanemia.

Infastingthetongueremainscoated,thebreathoffensive,thepulseandtemperaturesub-normalandhungermaydisappearfordaysatatime.

Deathmayresultatanytime,feedingorfasting,duetothefailureofsomeparticularvitalorgan,which is so far destroyed that a fatal ending cannot be prevented by any means, but death fromabstinence from food cannot occur until all possible nutritive material has been exhausted. “Truestarvation begins,” says Sinclair, “only when the body has been reduced to the skeleton and theviscera.”

Fortunately we are not left unprotected and unwarned in this matter. Before the danger point isreachedanimperiousdemandforfoodwillbemade.Wesay,then,thatsolongashungerislacking,thepatient is fasting;but afterhunger returns, ifhe continues to abstain from food, he is starving.Besidesthereturnofhunger,thereareotherindicationsthatthebodyisreadytotakefood,asstatedelsewhere.

Carringtonhaswellsummedupthematterinthesewords:“Fastingisascientificmethodofriddingthesystemofdiseasedtissue,andmorbidmatter,andisinvariablyaccompaniedbybeneficialresults.Starving is the deprivation of the tissues from nutriment which they require, and is invariablyaccompanied by disastrous consequences. The whole secret is this: fasting commences with theomissionof thefirstmealandendswith the returnofnaturalhunger,while starvationonly beginswith the return of natural hunger and terminates in death. Where the one ends the other begins.Whereasthelatterprocesswastesthehealthytissues,emaciatesthebody,anddepletesthevitality;theformerprocessmerelyexpels corruptmatter anduseless fatty tissue, thereby elevating the energy,andeventuallyrestoringtheorganismthatjustbalancewetermhealth.”

Prof. Morgulis divides what he calls starvation, or inanition, into four periods—“each periodcomprisingapproximatelyone-fourthofthetotallossinweightsustainedatthetimeofdeath”(1923,p.132).

The first of these periods “in every complete inanition,” (by “complete inanition” is meantabstinencefromallfooduntildeathoccurs)isa“transitionfromtheconditionofadequatefeedingtothebasalmetabolismoffasting”—“theorganismisreadjusting itself fromtheprefastingmetabolicleveltothelevelofthetruephysiologicalminimumcharacteristicfortheparticularindividual.”

Thedivisionbetweenthenexttwoperiodsisnotwellmarkedordefined.Theyconstituteoneperioddividedinto“earlyandlatephases”and“arenotverydistinctbutmergegraduallyoneintotheother.”Duringthese“twoperiods,”physiologicalactivitiesareataminimumpeculiartothisindividual.Thelengthofthesetwoperiodswillbedeterminedbythesizeoftheanimalormanorthesurplusfoodreservesonhand.

The final or fourth stage of inanition “is characterized by the predominance of pathologicalphenomenacausedbytheprolongedstringencyofnourishmentandexhaustionofthetissue”(p.133).Thisisthetruestarvationperiodandsetsinwhenthebody’snutritivestoresarepracticallyexhausted.

Prof.Morgulis refers to thewholeperiod, from theomissionof the firstmealuntildeath finallyends the scene, as starvation and as fasting. He uses the two words synonymously and does notdistinguishbetweenfastingandstarvationaswedo.Itwillbenotedthatallpathologicalphenomena,ofwhichweare so frequentlywarned,belong to the fourth stageof inanition;or, to theperiodofstarvationproper,asdistinctfromfasting,asweemploytheseterms.

Morgulis points out that “the morphological changes observable in advanced starvation arepracticallyidenticalwiththosegenerallyfoundineverypathologicalconditionandpresentnothingpeculiar” and suggests that perhaps all “pathological changes of tissues are primarily inanitioneffects.”

Further applying his division of “starvation” into four periods, Prof. Morgulis says: “Allscientifically studied fasts ofmenhavebeenof relatively short duration. In the longest fast of thiskindlasting40daysSuccilostonly25percentofhisoriginalweight.Judgingbythelossofweight,therefore,theexperimentsoninanitionwithhumansubjectshavenotextendedfarbeyondwhatmayberegardedasthesecondstageofinanitionand,regardlessofthelengthoftimeoftheabstinence,hadnodeleteriouseffectwhateverupon thesubjectsbecause the fastswere invariablydiscontinuedlongbeforetheexhaustionstagehadbeenreached.”

Takingup thestudyofLevanzin’s fastof31days,undergoneatCarnegie Institute,Morgulissaysthat this fastextendedover thefirst two inanitionperiods.Thefirstof theseperiods, lastingfifteendays saw a loss of ten percent of Levanzin’s weight and represents “the transition from themetabolismofthewellnourishedconditiontothatofthefastingcondition.”

By the end of his 31 days’ fast, Levanzin lost about 20 per cent of his weight. “Assuming themaximumlosshecouldpossiblyhavesurvived40percent,”saysMorgulis,“itisclearthatthefastcouldhaveextendedanothermonthbeforeafataltermination.Inotherwords,thefastwasbrokenatarelativelyearlystage.”Ifwetakeintoconsiderationthefactthatthesecond20percentofLevanzin’sweightwouldnothavebeen lostnearlyso rapidlyas the first20percent, it isverycertain that hecouldhavefastedmuchmorethananothermonthbeforeafataltermination.

Therulethatmanoranimalcansustainalossof40percentofhisoritsbodyweightbeforedeathresultsmustnotbetakentooseriouslyinpractice.Obviouslyanemaciatedmanorwomanweighingonly90or100poundscannotaffordtolose40percentofhisorherweight.Ontheotherhandamanwhooughttoweighabout150pounds,butwhoactuallyweighs350pounds,canaffordtolosemuchover50percentofhisweight.Exhibitionfastershavesurvivedareductionofbodyweightofthirtypercentwithoutanythinglikeatotalcollapseofvitalvigor.

Withinrecentyearsphysiologistshave tried todeterminehowlongmancan livewithout foodbyfiguringonabasisof theperiodof time required for animals, particularlymammals, to starve todeath. Their experiments indicate that the period in which death from starvation ensues isproportionatetothecuberootofthebodyweight.

A mouse weighing 18.0 grams dies after five or six days without food. The corresponding“starvationperiod”inmanwouldbe15.6timesaslongor96.5to109days.Adogweighingtwentykilogramsdiesinsixtydays;thecorrespondingperiodformaniseighty-ninedays.Acatweighingtwenty-onekilogramscanliveeighteendayswithoutfood;thecorrespondingperiodformanwouldbefifty-fivedays.Arabbitweighing24.22kilogramsdiesafter twenty-sixdays; thecorrespondingperiodinmanwouldbeseventy-ninedays.

Fromthesefigures,A.Putter,M.D.,aGermanphysician,whohasmadeastudyoffasting,concludesthatthereisnothingincomparativephysiologytoshowthatmancannotlivefromninetytoahundreddays without food, if he were kept under proper conditions of warmth, rest, fresh air, water andemotionalpoise.

SylvesterGrahamdeniedthatthefatmanliveslongerinprolongedabstinencefromfoodthandoesathinone.Hesays,“If thefatbedesignedfor thenourishmentof thebodyduringprotractedfasts,etc.,thenifaveryfatman,intheenjoymentofwhatisordinarilyconsideredgoodhealth,andaleanman ingoodhealth,be shutup together, andcondemned todieof starvation, the fatmanought todiminishinweightmuchmoreslowy,andtoliveconsiderablylongerthantheleanman;butdirectlythecontrarytothisistrue.Theleanmanwillloseinweightmuchmoreslowly,andliveseveraldayslongerthanthefatman,inspiteofallthenourishmentwhichthelattermayderivefromhisadiposedeposits”(1883,pp.193-194).

Tralltookasimilarview,asdoesCarrington,whosaysofGraham’sstatement:“Imaysaythatthishasbeenmyownexperience,precisely.”Theexplanationoffered is that,while thefatpersonhasalargestoreoffatonhisframe,heisdeficientinotherfoodrequisites.Fattytissue,thesemanthink,is

invariably diseased and deficient tissue. Trall (1856) said, “Feed a dog on butter, starch, or sugaralone,andyouwillsaveinhimtheconsumptionoffat,butthedogwilldieofstarvation.Hewillbeplump,round,embonpoint,andyetdieofinanition”(pp.148-149).Thisseemstobewhattheythoughtwilltakeplaceinthefastingfatman.

Thisisanaprioriconclusion,sincetheexperimenthasneverbeenmade,anditisnotborneoutbyanimalexperimentation.There is, as Ihaveemphasizedelsewhere, avastdifferencebetweena fastandaverydeficientdiet,suchasthedietsdescribedbyTrall.Theultimateresultsofthetwotypesofnutritionareverydifferent.Nevertheless, theremaybecasesof fat individualswhowouldactuallystarve todeathbeforea thinnerpersondoes so, for the reason that thenutritive reserves in the fatpersonmaybesounbalancedthathecannotgolongwithoutfood.Ihave,myself,caredforfatmenandwomenwhodidnotfastwellandwhodidnotholdupunderfastingaswellasdomanywhoareactually skinny.But I haveneverbeen sure that in thesepatients, the troublewasnot largely if notwhollymental.Inviewofthefatperson’sloveoffoodandhisworryingandfrettingwhendeprivedofit,hemayactuallykillhimselfwhilethethinmanisstillphilosophizingaboutlifeanddeath.

If therecanbesucha thingasunbalancedreserves,andIpresumethatsuchmayexist, there isasmuchreasonwhythethinman,eatingthesametypeofdietasthateatenbythefatman,mayhaveanunbalancedreserveasthereisthatthefatmanmayhavethis.Thegreatestlossesinthefast,however,areinthoseverynutritivefactorsthataremostabundant inthedietofmostpeople,while thebodyclingstothefactorsthatarecommonlylacking.Thetendencyisfornutritivebalancetoberestored.Thefactthatthefatmanwhodoesnotfastwell,losesallofthedifficultiesthatappeartohavecomefrom fasting, as soon as he gets his first half-a-glass of fruit juice, indicates that his troubles aremental.

Graham’sstatementthatthefatmanwillloseweightmuchfasterthanthethinoneisliterallytrue,butwhat he overlooked is that this rapid loss ofweight is not continued. Indeed,we often see fatwomenwhoundertakeafasttoreduce,losetwentytotwenty-fivepoundsthefirsttwoweeks,butsixpounds the thirdweekand twopounds thefourthweek.The rapid rateof lossdoesnotcontinue. Itshouldbeobservedat thispoint,also, thatsome thinpeople loserapidly thefirst fewdaysof theirfast.

Afastofahundreddaysormorecanbesurvivedevenunderthemostfavorableconditions,onlybythe individualwhopossessessufficient food reserves to sustainhisvitalorgansandvital functionsforthisperiodoftime.Thesmallertheamountoffoodstoresonehasinreserve,allthingselsebeingequal,theearlieristhestarvationperiodreached.

WhatMorgulisclassesasthefirstthreestagesofstarvation,weclassastheperiodoffasting;whilehis fourth period of starvation is classed by us as the starvation period. Fasting begins with theomissionofthefirstmealandendswiththereturnofnaturalhunger.Starvationbeginswiththereturnofhungerandterminatesindeath.Fastingisdistinctlybeneficial;starvationisdistinctlyharmful.Itispreciselybecausetheaveragemedicalmandoesnotdistinguishbetweenthesetwomajorphasesofabstinence from food, andbecausehe imagines that thepathology developed during the starvationperiodbelongs,also,tothefastingperiod,thatheoffershisfalseobjectionstofasting.

It was conclusively demonstrated in the laboratory, by Lasarev, that the changes in the variousorgansofthebodyaredefinitelyrelatedtoparticularstagesoffastingandstarvation.Vitalorgansdonotbegin tobreakdownassoonas thefirstmeal isomitted.Fastingbelongs to thatperiodduring

which there are ample food reserves to maintain vital integrity. The fasting period is, therefore,determinedbytheamountofreservesthebodyhasonhand.Starvationsetsinafterthereservestoreshavebeensufficientlyexhaustedthattheyarenolongeradequatetomaintainfunctionalandstructuralintegrity.

Thousandsoffasts,rangingfromafewdaystothreemonthsinduration,inmen,oldandyoungandboth sexes, in all conditionsof life, havedemonstratednot only thatman cango for longperiodswithoutfoodandnotbeharmedthereby,butalso,thathewillreceivegreatbenefitfromarationallyconductedfast.Tostarveistodie;tofastistolive.

There isnosense in thepanicky fearofmissinga fewmeals that is soprevalent inboth lay andprofessionalcirclestoday.Thefearofstarvationexpressedoneveryhandisafoolishfear.“Iamnotgoingtostarve,”saysalong-sufferinginvaliduponbeingadvisedtofast.“Iamnotgoingtostarvetodeath,”saysMr.AverageMan,whenadvisedtofast.Theywarnothers,whoarefasting,thattheywillstarvetodeath.Physiciansconjureintobeing(intheirimaginations)thedireconsequencesofgoingwithout food fora fewdaysora fewweeks.They refer tomenwhoemploy fastingas“starve-to-deathdoctors.”Althoughweopposelettingpeople“starvetodeath,”wetakenodecidedstandagainstthemstuffingthemselvestodeath:instead,weratherencourageit.

SeveralyearsagoanumberofEnglishsoldiersdiedatAldershotaftereighthoursofmaneuversinanEnglishsummer,andafterbeingdeprivedoffoodforeighthours,anditwasactuallyassertedthattheydiedofstarvation.ABritishphysician,A.Rabagliati,M.A.,M.D.,F.R.C.S.,assertedthat“theydidnotandcouldnothavediedofstarvation,”andcontrastedthesesoldierswithpatientsofhiswhohadfastedandwhosefasts“have lastednot forhoursordays,but forweeks;afterwhich, innumerouscasespatientshaverecoveredfromsevereand long-continued illnesses.” It ismore than likely thatthesesoldierswerekilledbythefatigueandheatbecausetheyhadpreviouslybeenheavyeatersandheavydrinkers,hence,werewithoutstaminaandresistance.

Myopinion,basedonmorethanfortyyearsofexperienceinconductingmanythousandsoffasts,inallagesandconditions,manyofthemverylongfasts, is thatfastingisnever thecauseofdeath.Inevaluating this opinion the reader is asked to keep in mind the definition of fasting given in aprecedingchapterandthedistinctiontheremadebetweenfastingandstarving.Heshouldalsobearinmindthatdeathmayoccurduringafastfromcausesotherthanlackoffood,asitmayoccurwhenthepatientisbeingfedregularly.

Amanmayfastinthelaststagesofcanceranddieofcancerwithoutreferencetothefast.Hewillalsodie,and inmost instances justasquicklyormoreso, ifeating.Tosay that thefeedingcancerpatientdiesofcancerandthefastingcancerpatientdiesofstarvationistostretchpopularprejudicetothebreakingpoint.

The frequencywithwhich“suddendeath” fromheartdisease followsanunusuallyheavymeal inmenandwomenwhohavebeeneatingregularlyandhavenotfastedasingleday,shouldbesufficienttocausethethinkingmanorwomantopausebeforeattributingdeathofthefastingheartpatienttothefast. Idonot recalleverseeingaheartpatientdiewhile fasting, although Ihave seenanumberofthemdiewhile eating. I have seen themundergo long fasts to recoveryand Ihave seen others dieshortlyafterbreakingashortfast.Thefactiscommonknowledgethatthemanwithaseriousheartdiseaseislikelytodieapparentlysuddenly,eventhoughheiseatingregularly;suchamanmayalsodiewhile fasting. Itwould be inaccurate to say that themanwho diedwhile fastingwas killed by

fastingwhilethemanwhodieswhileeating,diesofheartdisease.

Iwas called to see one case inwhich theman, in the last stages of pulmonary tuberculosis, hadundertakenafastonhisownresponsibility. Igave itasmyopinion thathehadalreadyCarried theabstinencetoofar.Idoubtedthathecouldmakeacome-back.Hediedtwodayslater.Didhedieoftuberculosisorofstarvation?Ithinkthathediedofboth.Hisstatementtomewasthathehadsufferedsomuchandsolongthathehadundertakenthefastwiththedeterminationtoeithergetwellortodieintheprocessandthatitwasamatterofindifferencetohimwhetherhelivedordied.

I am convinced, from a few experiences I have had, that fasting hastens the fatal termination incancer of the liver and cancer of the pancreas. Certainly there are conditions in which fasting orextendedfastingareinadvisable.Thefastshouldnotbemisused,buttheresultsofitsmisuseshouldnotbeusedtocondemnthewholeprocess.

In1906C.P.Newcom,ayouthfuloctogenarianvegetarianofEngland,whodedicatedthelastyearsofhislifetothesearchforacureforcancerandwhoclaimedtohavesucceededincuringonecaseofcancer by fasting, stated that starvation is the correct word when applied to cancer: “The patientfasted,butthecancerperishedforwantofnutriment.”

The opinion has been expressed that “natural death” should be assisted by total abstinence fromsolidfood,foritisacruelpracticetostuffthedying.Thestuffingprogramincreasesandproducesagonies,hastensdeathand“makesimmediateburialanecessity.”Itistruethatthedyingpatientwhoisnotfedismorecomfortableandismorelikelytohaveaclearheaduptotheend.Itisnotlikelythat,infatalcases,abstinencewillendlifesooner.Indeed,withfewexceptions,itwouldbemorelikelytoprolonglife.

VII.ChemicalAndOrganicChangesDuringFastingBloodChangesTheSkinTheBonesTheTeethTheBrain,CordAndNervesTheKidneysTheLiverTheLungsTheMusclesTheHeartThePancreasTheSpleenTheStomachChemistryChanges

Abstinencefromfoodmaymeanmissingonemealoritmaymeangoingwithoutfooduntildeathresultsfromstarvation.Missingonemealproducesnoorganicorchemicalchangesinthebody;instarvation,manychangesoccur.Itisnecessarytoknowthatdifferentchangesoccuratdifferentstagesof the period of abstinence and that the changes at different stages are of different, even oppositecharacter.For example, inwomen and female animals, atrophy of themammary glands is seen instarvation,butinfasting,thereisonlyalossoffat.Intheearlystagesofabstinenceinyoungguineapigs, the pancreas, like the other internal organs, is in general more resistant to loss of weight.Pancreaticlossesintheearlystagesofabstinencearerelativelyslight,whileinadvancedstages,thatis,instarvation,pancreaticloss(atrophy)isextreme,being,asarule,relativelygreaterthanthatofthe entire body.Many examples of similar differences will be given throughout the pages of thisbook.

Thereisnaturallyandnecessarilyalossofweightwhenmanoranimalceasestoeatandiffoodisabstainedfromlongenough,deathresultsfromtoogreatloss.Indiscussingthedifferencesbetweenfasting and starving we made use of Morgulis’ four stages of the inanition period—from theomissionofthefirstmealuntilitsendingindeath.Ingeneral,inbothbirdsandmammals,thelossofweight is greatest during the first fourth of the inanition period, least in the second and third, andintermediateinthefourth,althoughthisfinalaccelerationoflossisvariableorevenabsent.

Inallanimals,fromwormstoman,thevariousorgansandtissuesofthebodydifferverygreatlyintheirratesoflosswhilefastingandstarving.Ingeneral,itmaybesaidthatmostofthesofttissuesofthebodyloseweightduringafast,buttheyloseatvaryingrates.Insteadofauniformwastingofthebody’sresources,biologicallyimportantorgansaresustainedattheexpenseoflessimportantones.

Structuralchangesduring fastingare largely those that result from lossofweight.Atdeath fromstarvationtheamountofweightlostmaybefiftytosixtypercent.Nosuchlossesareregisteredinafast.Succi lost25percentofhisweight in fortydaysof fasting.Asbeforepointedout, individualorgansor tissues, showaveryunequalemaciation, some livingat theexpenseofothers. Itwillbeinterestingtonotesomeofthelossesandchangeswhichoccurafterdeathbystarvation.(SeeTableI.)

Table1Percentagelossofweightofdifferentorgansandtissuesafterdeathbystarvation

Chossat(Carpenter,1855)*

Voit(Howell,1940)**

Fat 93.3 97Blood 75.0 27.0Spleen 71.4 66.7Pancreas 64.1 17.0Liver 52.0 53.0Heart 44.8 2.6Intestines 42.4 18.0Muscles 42.3a 30.5Testes — 40.0Muscularcoatofstomach 39.7 —

Pharynx,Oesophagus 34.2 —

Skin 33.3 20.6b

Kidneys 31.9 25.9Respiratoryapparatus 22.2 17.7c

Osseuoussystem 16.7 13.9d

Eyes 10.0 —Nervoussystem 1.9 3.2e

Remainer — 36.8

aMusclesoflocomotionbSkinandhaircLungsdBoneeBrainandcord

*Carpenter (1855) implies thatChossat derived these figures byaveraging theresultsofvariouswarm-bloodedanimalsstarved todeath.

**According to Howell (1940) “Voit took two cats of nearlyequalweight,fedthemequallyfortendays,andthenkilledonetoserve as a standard for comparison and starved the other forthirteen days” (p.984). While some accounts o this experimentallowtheinterpretationthatthesecondanimalwasfastedandthenkilled rather than starved to death (e.g., Schafer, 1898; andNewStandard Encyclopedia, 1937), others state explicitly that thelattermethodwas employed (e.g.,Waller, 1896; andWithington,1903). Withington (1903) points out that Voit’s cat was “ratherlean”attheoutset—afactwhichhelpsexplainwhytheanimaldiedconsiderablyshortoftheaveragestarvation-survivaltimegivenforcats (American Peoples Encyclopedia, 1956) and why Voit’sfiguresaregenerallylowerthanChossat’s.

Unfortunately Carpenter (1855) does not report exactly which warmblooded animal(s) Chossatstudied.Carpenterdoes say that thevariation among different animals of the loss ofweight in theentireorganismwas“considerable.”This“seemedtodependchieflyontheamountoffatpreviouslyaccumulatedinthebody”(p.83).Thereisalsovariationamongspeciesoftheweightlossindifferentorgans.Forexample,hadthetestesofthesalmonbeenobserved,agreatgainratherthanalosswouldhave been observed—at least during fasting. It should be noted thatmost ofChossat’s losses tookplace after the end of fasting, i.e., in the starvation period aswe have defined it. Best and Taylor(1961)saythatthecentralnervoussystemloses,in“prolongedstarvation,”fivepercent,asestimatedfrom“normalstandards,”andthat,contrarytogeneralbelief,thelosstotheheartisbutlittlelessthanthat sustained by the skeletal muscles. They neither define “prolonged starvation,” nor “normalstandards,”nordo they tellhowtheyarrivedat their figures.Thesephysiologistspointout that thedifferent tissues are lost in fasting at different rates and that, despite great losses of weight,considerableactivitymaystillbeengagedin.Forexample,“adoghasbeenstarvedfor117days.Bythe end of this time it had lost 63 per cent of itsweight, butwas fairly active” (p. 862). This is agreaterlossofweightthaniscommonlyconsideredsafe,yetwcoftensecmenandwomenwhoareeatingregularlyandwhoarcsothinthattheyarcunderhalfwhatshouldbetheirnormalweightbyanyreasonablestandard.

Itwillbeobservedthatduringthefastthetissuesdonotallwasteatanequalrate;thosethatarenotessentialareutilizedmostrapidly,thoseleastessentiallessrapidlyandthosemostessentialnotatallatfirstandonlyslowlyatthelast.Naturealwaysfavorsthemostvitalorgans.Thefatdisappearsfirst,and then theother tissues in the inverseorderof theirusefulness.Theessential tissuesobtain theirnourishmentfromthelessessential,byenzymicaction,aprocesswhichwestudiedunderautolysis.

From these tables it will be seen that the brain and nervous system continue intact (retain theirstructural and functional integrity) until the last and retain the inherent power to maintain theirnutritionunimpaired,althougheveryothertissuehaswastedbeyondrepair;andthattheblood,evenin themost extreme cases, docs not show extraordinary depletion. Such physiological factswouldseemtoarguethatnerveandbloodsupplythroughoutthebodyarevirtuallynormalduringafast;andthatthehumanbodyis,inreality,averitableorganizationofassimilablefoodelementsdominatedbya self-maintaining intelligence which is capable of preserving relative structural integrity andphysiologicfunctionalbalanceevenwhenallfoodiswithheldforconsiderableintervals.

Only in a very special sense does the body “start eating itself’when one begins to fast. It neverconsumesitstissuesindiscriminately,but,truetoitsruleofalwaysfavoringitsmostvitalorgans,itusesup the least useful tissues first.Selective action is exercised from thebeginning and themostrigid economy is exercised in appropriating its food reserves in sustaining theheart, lungs, brain,nervesandothervitalorgans.Eventherespiratorymusclesaremorecarefullyguardedthantheothermusclesoftheskeleton.

Figures 1 and 2 are based on the same study by Voit mentioned above. Figure 1 shows “thepercentages of the total loss of body-weight borne by the various organs and tissues” duringinanition, while Figure 2 shows “the percentage loss of weight of each organ calculated on itsoriginal weight as indicated by comparison with the organs of a similar animal killed in goodcondition”(Stewart,1914,p.592).

Figure1.Percentageoftotallossofthebodybornebyeachorgan.

While Figure 1 shows that themusculature of the body supplies the greatest loss of weight, theactual loss to the muscles only reaches 21 percent of the total muscular substance (chiefly thesuperficialmuscles),while,thoughtheactualproportionofweightlostisless,97percentofthefatpresentisusedup.Theotherorganswhichlosemuchoftheirweightarethespleenwith67percent;the liverwith 54 per cent, and the testeswith 40 percent. The central nervous tissue and the heartsupplyonly0.1percentofthetotalloss,and3percentoftheiractualsubstance.Acloserandmoredetailedviewofthelossesofthemoreimportantorgansandtissueswillhelpustobetterunderstandthesubjectsweareheredealingwith.

Figure2.Percentageoftheamountoriginallypresent.

BloodChangesTheblooddiminishes involume inproportion to thedecrease in the size of thebody so that the

relativeblood-volumeremainspracticallyunchangedduringa fast.Thequalityof theblood isnotimpaired;indeed,anactualrejuvenationofthebloodmayoccur.

Dr. Rabagliati pointed out that the first effect of the fast is to increase the number of red bloodcorpuscles,butifpersistedinsufficientlylongdecreasesthem.Theincreaseoferethrocytes,duringthe early part of the fast, he regarded as due to improved nutrition resulting from a cessation ofovereating.Thisincreaseinredbloodcellshasbeenrepeatedlynotedinanemia.Thedecreaseisseenonlyafterthestarvationperiodisreached.

Prof.Benedictsays:“SenatorandMueller,inreportingtheresultsoftheirexaminationsofthebloodofCettiandBreithaupt,noteanincreaseintheredbloodcorpuscleswithbothsubjects....InalaterexaminationofSucci’sblood,byTauszktheconclusionsreachedwere:(1)thatafterashortperiodofdiminutioninthenumberofredbloodcorpusclesthereisaslightincrease;(2)thenumberofwhiteblood corpuscles decreases as the fast progresses; (3) the number of themononuclear corpusclesdecreases; (4) the number of the eosinophiles and polynuclear cells increases and finally that thealkalescenceoftheblooddiminishes”(1907,pp.322-323).

Laterexperimentsagreealmostentirelywiththeseresults.Benedict(1915)says:“Theresultsofthe.

. . studies are conspicuous rather from the absence than the presence of striking alterations in thebloodpicture,” and concludes from the results of examinations on Levanzin that “in an otherwisenormalindividual,whosementalandphysicalactivitiesarerestricted,thebloodasawholeisabletowithstandtheeffectsofcompleteabstinencefromfoodforaperiodofatleast31days[thelengthofLevanzin’sfast],withoutdisplayinganyessentiallypathologicalchange”(pp.156-157).Structuralandmorphologicalchangesdonotoccurinnormalbloodcellsduringafast.

Pashutinrecordsthecaseofamanwhodiedafterfourmonthsandtwelvedays(132days)withoutfood and says that two days before death the blood contained 4,849,400 red and 7,852 whitecorpuscles in one cu. mm. Stengel and Fox (1927) say: “The blood in starvation preserves itscorpuscularrichnesssurprisingly,evenafterprolongedabstinence.”

Fastingforonlyoneweekwillincreasethenumberofredcellsinananemicperson.Medicalandlaboratory experimenters have conducted all their experiments on healthymen and animals, hencethey have not been permitted to observe the regenerating effects of fasting upon the blood. Theirstatementthat“humanbloodisrelativelyresistantduringfasting”istrue,butitdoesnottellthewholetruth.Theirstatementthat“thereisatendencytoincreaseintheredcellcount”isalsotrue,buteventhisdoesnottellthewholetruth.

Jackson (1925) says: “During human inanition, the erythrocyte [red cell] count is often withinnormallimits,butsometimesincreased(especiallyintotalinanitionandearlierstages),ordecreased(especially in chronic and late stages). In animals, the red cell count appears more frequentlyincreasedintheearlierstagesoftotalinanition,oftendecreasinglater.Inhibernation,theerythrocytecountisvariable”(p.239).

Normalbloodcontainsfrom4,500,000to5,000,000andashighas6,000,000inhealthyyoungmen,redcellspercu.mm.and3,000to10,500,withaprobableaverageof5,000to7,000whitecellspercu.mm.Dr.Eales’bloodwasexaminedJune20,1907,thefirstdayofhisfast,byDr.P.G.Hurford,HousePhysiciantoWashingtonUniversityHospital,St.Louis.Itshowedthefollowing:Leucocytes5,300percubicmillimeter.Erethrocytes4,900,000percubicmillimeter.Hemoglobin90%.

AbloodtestwasagainmadeonJuly3,the14thdayofhisfast,byDr.S.B.Strong,HousePhysician,CookCountyHospital,whichshowed:Leucocytes7,000percu.mm.Erethrocytes5,528,000percu.mm.Hemoglobin90%.Itwillbenotedthatthebloodhasmateriallyimprovedonthefast.

A thirdexaminationofDr.Eales’bloodmadebyDr.R.A. Jettis,ofCentralia,111.,onAugust2,showed:Leucocytes7,328percu.mm.Erethrocytes5,870,000percu.mm.Hemoglobin90%.Afurtherimprovementintheconditionofhisbloodishereseen.

Laboratoryinvestigatorshavereportedanincreaseintheredcellsofhealthyfasterswithadecrease

inwhitecells.Inanemia,fastingoftenresultsinanincreaseinthenumberofredbloodcorpusclestomorethantwicetheirformernumber,withaconcomitantdecreaseinthenumberofwhitebloodcells.InatalkinChicagoafewyearsago,Dr.Tildensaid:“Casesofperniciousanemiatakenofftheirfoodwilldoubletheirbloodcountinoneweek.”Dr.Wegerreportsacaseofanemiainwhicha12days’fast resulted in an increase of the number of red cells from 1,500,000, to 3,000,000; hemoglobinincreasedfiftyPercent,andwhitecellswerereducedfrom37,000to14,000.

Wm.H.Hay,M.D.,inhisHealthViaFood,tellsofcaringfor102casesofprogressiveperniciousanemia,duringtwenty-oneyearsbyfasting,correctdietandcolonicirrigation.Ofthese102caseshesays that 8 failed of initial recovery. Part of the recoveriesweremade permanent by right living.Someofthosewhorelapsedresortedoncemoretothefastandagainrecovered.Thefirst13casesofprogressivepernicious anemiawhichDr.Hay placed upon a fast recovered in from twoweeks tolonger.Thefourteenthcase,beinginadyingconditionwhenshearrived,didnotrecover.

Dr. Hay says: “The blood during a fast undergoes no visible changes as to cell count unlessmarkedlyabnormalwhenthefastisbeguninwhichcasethereisareturntonormal”(p.240).“Formostoftwoweeks(inprogressiveperniciousanemia)thered,orerethrocyte,countcontinuestofallbefore there is regeneration in the blood-making organs; then gradually the microscopic picturebeginstoshownewrounderethrocyteswithregularedges,nocrenationsorirregularities,andsoonthere isnoticeable increase innumberof thesewithgradualdisappearanceof theadventitiouscellspresentinthebeginning.

“Not unusually there is a gain during the succeeding twoweeks that brings the total back to thenormalfivemillionerethrocytecount,eventhoughthismayhavebeenatorbelowonemillioninthebeginning”(p.241).

CitingVonNoorden,Kellogg(1923)claimsthat“thebloodatrophies”(p.637).*Thisistrueofthestarvation period, not of fasting proper.Much confusion will be avoided if the student will keepclearly in mind the fact that destructive changes occur only after the exhaustion of the body’sreserves.Kelloggandothersnever tiredofdetailing thedestructivechanges thatoccur in thebodyduring “starvation.” Indeed, they were right in their details if they had used the term starvationproperly.Buttheybelievedthatthechangesseeninstarvationbelong,also,tothefastingperiod.Theymadenodistinctionbetweenthetwoprocesses.Later, investigatorshavecorrectedthisoldmistake,althoughfewwritersonthesubjectinourencyclopediasandstandardworksseemtohaveheardofthisfact.

The decreased blood alkalinity due to prolonged fasting is often urged against the fast. It iscontended that fasting produces acidosis. Fasting does not produce acidosis and the decreasedalkalinity is never great enough, even in the most protracted fasts, to result in any deficiency“disease,”unlessthefrequentcasesofimpotencyaretoberegardedasduetoalossofvitaminsormineralsalts.Thebloodrapidlyregainsitsnormalalkalinityafterfeedingisresumedandnodamageisdone.

Mr. Macfadden said: “It has been said that an acid condition of the blood, fluids and tissues(acidosis) issometimesbroughtaboutbyfasting.Icannotconcedethat this isever thecase, in truefasting.Asamatteroffact,alltheevidenceseemstoprovethatasDr.Haigexpressedit,‘fastingactslikeadoseofalkali.’Ifthereisacidityinthesystem,fastingwillremoveitandrestorethechemicalbalance of the system. Therapeutic fasting never created acidity, but on the contrary, removes that

statewhenexisting.Ofcourseprotractedstarvationmaydoso,butthen,whoeveradvisedstarvation.

“The medical as well as the general idea is that starvation begins practically immediately whenmeals are discontinued. The impression is that at once the blood and solid structures of the bodybegin tobreakdown, thatorganicdestructionhasbegun.Such is far fromthecase,as results haveproved in scores (thousands) of cases. The vital cells of the organs and glands—those doing theactivephysicalandchemicalworkoftheseparts—donotbegintodisintegrateuntilactualstarvationbegins.”

Duringafastthebodylivesonitsreserves.Whatismore,thesereservescontainsufficientalkalinereserves to prevent the development of so-called acidosis. Dr. Weger says: “Varying degrees ofacidosiswereofteninevidenceduringfasting.Theseweconsiderphysiological.Exceptinveryrareinstances,theactivesymptomsareofshortdurationandeasilyovercomewithoutinterferingwithorcurtailingthefast.”Hedescribesthe“symptomsofacidosisduringafast”as“lassitude,headache,legandbackache,irritability,restlessness,rednessofthebuccal(mouth)mucousmembraneandtongue,sometimesdrowsiness,andalsoafruityodortothebreath.”

Thesesymptomsdevelopat thebeginningof thefastandgrowlessand lessas thefastcontinues,until they cease altogether. If fasting produces acidosis the evidence should increase as the fastprogresses. I believe that all of these symptoms may be explained without regarding them asevidencesof acidosis.They result, I believe, from thewithdrawalof the accustomed stimulation—coffee,tea,cholocate,cocoa,alcohol,tobacco,meat,pepper,spices,salt,etc.,etc.—andareidenticalwiththesesamesymptomswhentheydeveiopinthemanorwomanwhogivesupcoffeeortobacco,butwhodoesnotceasetoeat.Idonotthinkthe“fruityodor”ofthebreathcanbeexplainedinthismanner.However,inthousandsoffastsIhaveconducted,Ihavenevermetwithsuchaphenomenon—thebreathinallcasesbeingveryfoulandmuchlike thatof thefeverpatientor like thebadbreathmostpeoplehave,onlymuchintensified.

Dr.Weger, himself, says: “Fasting is not and cannot be the cause of acidosis, for the symptom-complex of acidosis is quite common in full-fed plethoric individuals, in whom the makings ofacidosisexistasaresultofanover-crowdednutrition.Itistruethatsymptomsofacidosisfrequentlyoccurandmakepatientsdecidedlyuncomfortableduringtheearlystagesofthefast.However,thesesymptoms are due to excessively rapid consumption of the body fat—a catalytic action—and thechecking of elimination because of sulfoxidation. In less than ten per cent of such cases do thesediscomforts lastmore than threeor fourdays.This indicates tous that theacidosis,assuch,wasalatent condition that would be excited into activity by any other equally potent provocative. Thisconditionisanalogoustoacrisiswhichmightoccurintheformofanacutedisease.Thesickeroneismadebyafast,thegreatertheneedforit”(1931,p.408).

In general I agreewith thesewords ofDr.Weger, but I have noted these supposed symptoms ofacidosisincaseswheretherewasnorapidbreakingdownof tissue,andincases inwhichphysicalactivitywassufficient tokeepupnormaloxidationand inwhicheliminationwasnormal or super-normal. I do regard these symptoms as beingpart of a crisis and as beneficial in outcome. I havenotedrepeatedlythatthemoreseverearethesesymptoms,themorebenefitthepatientreceivesfromthefastandthesoonerdothesebenefitsmanifest.

TheSkinThe exquisite texture and delicate pink color of the skin that develop while fasting attests the

rejuvenation the skin undergoes. The clearing up of blotches and blemishes with, even thedisappearanceoffinerlinesin theskin,areparticularlysignificantasshowingthebenefits theskinderivesfromaperiodofphysiologicalrest.

Thatthecirculationtotheskinismuchimprovedbyaperiodofphysiologicalrestisdemonstratedbythewaythat thebloodthoroughlyand instantaneouslyresponds toapinchof theskin.This true“pink of condition” is invariably observed toward the end of the fast and indicates the greatlyimprovedconditionofthebody.Thisistosay,theimprovementintheskinmirrorstheimprovementthathastakenplacewithin.

TheBonesThere is no evidence of any loss to the bones during a fast. Indeed, aswill be shown in another

chapter, theymayevencontinuetogrowwhilefasting.Whenweobserve themarrowof thebones,however,wenoticea remarkablechange.Marrowisstoredupfoodand is readilydrawnupon fornourishmentwhennofoodiseaten.Instarvedcalves,forexample,themarrowisreducedtoawaterymass.Thisamountofchangedoesnotoccurduringanordinaryfast.

TheTeethTeetharespecializedbonesandaresubjecttothesamelawsofnutritionasotherbonesofthebody.

Incertainquarters it isclaimed that fastingruins the teeth.Theclaimisnot trueandnoonewithaknowledgeoffastingmakesit.Noevidenceexiststhatthereisanylosstothebonesorteethduringafast.Thereisanapparentdecreaseintheamountoforganicmatterintheteethofstarvedrabbits,butthe teethof theseanimalsgrowcontinuously throughout life, andProf.Morgulis suggests that thisdecreasemaybeduesimplytoadeficiencyofbuildingmaterial.

Jackson (1925) says: “Like the skeleton, the teeth appear very resistant to inanition. . . . In totalinanition,oronwateralone,theteethinadultsshownoappreciablechangeinweightorstructure”(p.156).

There issimplyno truth in thenotion that fasting injures the teeth.On thecontrary, repeated testsandexperiments in the laboratoryhave shown that thebonesand teeth areuninjuredbyprolongedfasting. I have conducted thousands of fasts and I have never seen any injury accrue to the teeththerefrom.Noonemakesatriptothedentistafterafastwhowouldnothavegonetherehadthefastnotbeentaken.Mr.Pearsonrecordsthatattheendofhisfast,“teethwithblackcavitiesbecamewhiteandclear,alldecayseemedtobearrestedbythefast,andtherewasnomoretooth-ache.”

Theonlyeffectsupon the teethwhichIhaveobserved tooccurduringa fastare improvements. Ihave seen teeth that were loose in their sockets become firmly fixed while fasting. I have seendiseasedgumsheal upwhile fasting.But I have never, at any time, observed any injurious effectsupontheteethduringorafterafast,regardlessoftheageof thefasterandthedurationof thefast.Thisappliesonlytogoodteeth.Fastingdoessometimescausefillingstobecomeloose.AlthoughIhavealwaysregardedthelooseningoffillingsinteethasduetotheextractionofthesaltsofthebadteeth,someofmystudentshavebroughtupthequestion:IsthelossofthefillingduetoaneffortofNaturetodislodgeaforeignbodypreparatorytohealingthetooth?Thisquestionisworthyofstudy.

TheBrain,CordAndNervesThebrainandnervoussystemaresupportedandloselittleornoweightduringafast,whiletheless

important tissues are sacrificed to feed them.Theymaintain their power and ability to control the

functions of the body, as well (and even better) during the most prolonged fast, as when fed theaccustomed amounts of “good nourishing food.” Relative to the rest of the body, the brain andnervoussystemincreaseasthefastcontinues,duetothefactthatlittleornoneoftheirsubstancesarelost.Thespinalcordloseslessthan10percentindeathbystarvation—thebrainnothing.Therearealmostnostructuralchangesinthebrainandcordeveninstarvation.

“Ingeneral,”saysJackson(1925),“thebrainappearsrelativelyresistanttotheeffectsofbothtotalandpartialinanition.Usuallylittleornolossinweightorchangesingrossormicroscopicstructureareapparent. Inadvanced stagesof starvation,however, andespecially in typesofpartial inanition(beriberi, pellagra) involving neural or psychic disturbances, there are well-marked degenerativechangesinthenervecells”(p.173).

Here,again,wenoteaconfusingoftheeffectsofactualstarvationwiththoseofinadequatedietsothatthestatementisabitmisleading.Wemustalsoemphasizeagainthatlossesseeninstarvationarenotseeninfasting.Itiswellalwaystokeepthedistinctionbetweenfastingandstarvinginmind.

TheKidneysThe losses to the kidneys are insignificant and are usuallymuch less than that of the body as a

whole.Intheyoungthekidneysareevenmoreresistanttolossofweight.

TheLiverThelossestotheliverduringafastarelargelywaterandglycogen.Usuallytheliverlosesmorein

weightrelativetotherestofthebodythantheotherorgans,especiallyintheearlierstages,duetothelossofglycogenandfat.

TheLungsJackson says: “In uncomplicated cases of total inanition, or onwater only, the lungs are usually

normalinappearance.Thelossinweightofthelungsinsuchcasesisusuallyrelativelylessthanthatinthebodyasawhole,thoughsometimesequalto,orevenrelativelygreaterthan,thatoftheentirebody.Intheyoung,thelungsusuallyappearmoreresistanttolossinweight”(p.361).Thatthelungsaregreatlybenefittedbyfastingisshownbytheirrecoveryfrom“disease,”eventuberculosis,duringaperiodofabstinence.Shorterfastsareusuallyrequiredinlung“diseases,”thanin“disease”ofotherorgansandCarringtonthinksthisisduetothefactthatlungtissue“possessestheinherentpowerofhealing itself in a far shorter time, and more effectually, than any other organ which may bediseased.”

TheMusclesIthasbeenshownbyinvestigatorsthattheskeletalmusclesmaylose40%oftheirweight,whereas,

theheartmusclelosesonly3%bythetimedeathfromstarvationisreached.Thedecreaseinthesizeofthemusclesextendsalsototheircells,whichsimilarlydecreaseinsize.Probablythere isnotanactuallesseningofthenumberofmusclecellsinafastofordinaryduration,butonlyaconsumptionoffat,glycogen,andlastlysomeofthemuscleproteinandalesseningofthesizeofthecells.Thislossoffatandmusclemightoccuratanytimewithoutdamagetohealth.

In general the skeletalmuscles are affected earlier andmore intensely than the smoothmuscles.Thereseemstobenoactualdecreaseinthenumberofmusclefibers,butonlyadiminutioninthesizeoftheircells.Thecellsaremerelyreducedinsizebutremainperfectlysound.Infrogsandsalmon,fatisstoredinthemusclesduringtheeatingperiod,andconsumedduringthefastingandhibernating

period.Thedecreaseinsizeisduetoalossoffat,notofmuscle.Muchthesamephenomenaareoftenobservedinfastingpatients.

TheHeartThe heart muscle does not diminish appreciably, deriving its sustenance from the less essential

tissues. Its rate of pulsion varies greatly, rising and falling as the needs of the system demand.Studying the respiration rate, Benedict (1907) noted variousminor fluctuations and arrived at theconclusion that “at least during the first 2 days of fast the pulse rate is much more liable tofluctuations than the respiration rate” (p. 322). That fasting benefits the heart is certain from theresultsobtainedinfunctionalandeveninorganicheart“disease”duringafast.Thisarisesfromthreechiefcauses—namely,(1)itremovestheconstantstimulationoftheheart;(2)ittakesaheavyloadofftheheartandpermitsittorest;(3)itpurifiesthebloodthusnourishingtheheartwithbetterfood.

A heart pulsating at the rate of 80 times a minute pulsates 115,200 times in twenty-four hours.Shortly after the fast is instituted, the heart rate decreases and,while itmay temporarily gomuchbelow 60 pulsations a minute, it ultimately settles at 60 beats a minute and remains there for thedurationofthefast.Thisis86,400pulsationsintwentyfourhours,or28,800fewerpulsations,eachdaythanitwasdoingbeforethefast.Thisrepresentsadecreaseoftwenty-fivepercentoftheworkoftheheart.Thesavinginworkisseennotmerelyinthereductionofthenumberofpulsations,butalsointhevigororforceofthepulsations.Itallsumsuptoarealvacation—arest—fortheheart.Duringthisresttheheartrepairsitsdamagedstructuresandreplenishesitstissues.

As shown elsewhere, the heart muscle loses only three per cent by the time death occurs fromstarvation.Asinotheressentialtissuesthelossofthissmallpercentoccursaftertheexhaustionofthebody’snutritivereserves—thatis,duringthestarvationperiod.Thisabilityofthebodytonourishtheheartduringaprolongedfastisasureguaranteeagainstdamagetotheheartresultingfromthefast.

Reviewingthechiefhistoricalcasesoffastingwithreferencetothepulsebeat,Benedictshowsthatinsomecasesthepulseremained“normal,”andinothersitroseorfell.Asaresultofhisreviewofthesecasesandofhisownseriesofshortexperimental fasts,hearrivedatnodefiniteconclusions.Carringtonsays:“Thattheheartisinvariablystrengthenedandinvigoratedbyfastingistruebeyondadoubt.***Itakethestandthatfastingisthegreatestofallstrengthenersofweakhearts—being, infact, its only rational, physiological cure.”He attributes the benefits that accrue to the heartwhilefastingtoincreasedrest,apurerbloodstreamandabsenceofstimulation.

The recovery of the heart from serious impairment during a fast (I have had complete andpermanentrecoveriesinwhatwerethoughttobeincurableorganicheartaffections),provesthattheaddedrestthefastaffordstheheartandthegeneralrenovationofthebody,enableittorepairitself.Dr.Ealessays:“Insteadoftheheartgrowingweakduringafastitgrowsstrongereveryhourastheloadithasbeencarryingislessened.”Highbloodpressureisinvariablyloweredandthisremovesaheavyloadfromtheheart.

Onthe15thdayofhisfast,friendsofDr.EalesbroughthimthenewsaccountofthesuddendeathofamaninWashington,D.C.,whileonafast.Thepapersattributedthedeathtothefast,andfriendsofDr.Ealeswarnedhimofheartfailure.Dr.Ealesrepliedtotheirwarnings:“Thisman’sdeathwasnotcaused by the fast, in fact the fast lengthened his life, for if he had not been fasting he wouldundoubtedlyhavediedaweekormoreearlier.Heprobablyresortedtothefasttosavehislife,butitwas too late; his lightwas toonearlyburnedoutwhenhe started.Howmany timesdowehear of

dyingaftera fullmeal,whenmakinganafter-dinnerspeechorsitting in theirchairsandexpiring!That,ofcourse,isregular,buttodiewhentheheartisrestinganddoinglessworkthanwhenoneiseating,whenitissimplywornoutandrundownfromoverwork,isalwaysattributedtofasting,ifthepersonisfastingatthetimeofdeath.”

Ofthemanythousandswhodieyearlyofheart trouble,probablynotmore than threeor fourarefastingatthetimeofdeath.Inmyownpracticeonedeathfrom“heartfailure”hasoccurredduringafast.Thepatienthadbeengreatlyoverweightforyears,withhighbloodpressure,nervous troubles,glaucoma,andgaveahistoryofdiabetes.Quitenaturallythefailureofherheartwasattributedtothefastand thefact thatpeople inherconditiondieeverydayfrom“heart failure”whohavenotbeenfasting,butfeeding,escapesnotice.Wm.J.Bryan,whoneverfasted,ateaheartymeal,wenttobedforanafternoonnapandneverwokeup.Thesethingsoccurdaily.

Thewomanwasmanypoundsoverweightatdeathandtherecouldbenosuggestionofstarvationinthiscase.Therewereamplefoodreservesleftinherbodyforanotherfortytofiftydaysoffasting.Iattributed thecollapseof theheart in thiscase to fear.That fearwaspresentwasmanifest.That thewomanhadthesuggestionofstarvationanddeathdinnedintoherearseverydayofherfastandhadthesuggestionintensifiedaftertheheartbecameaffectediscertain.Suddendeathsfromfear,shock,etc.,arenotunknownnorevenuncommon.

“Howmanytimes,”asksDr.Eales,indiscussingtheeffectsoffearinthefast,“haveweheardofsadnewsproducing prostration or a fit of sickness; amother ’smilk becoming poison during a fit ofangercausingsicknesstohernursingbabe,andinsomeinstancesevendeath?”Againhesays:“Ifindthatsolongasthemindisfreefromworryandfearthereisnotaparticleofdanger.Itisonlywhenthe subconscious mind has suggestions of weakness and fear that the body or any of its organsBecomeweak.”

ThePancreasJacksonsays“thatintheearlystagesofinanition”inyoungguineapigs“thepancreas(liketheother

viscera) appears in generalmore resistant to loss inweight” and that “the pancreatic losses in theearly stages of inanition” are “relatively slight,” while in “advanced stages” of inanition the“pancreaticatrophyisextreme,beingasarulerelativelygreaterthanthatoftheentirebody”(p.345).Healsosays:“Uponrefeedingafterinanition,thepancreasrecuperatesrapidlyandissoonrestoredto normal size and structure” (p. 346). In humans the pancreas becomes small and firm duringinanition.Casesarereportedinwhichthepancreasappearednormalafterdeathbystarvation.Othercases are reportedwith considerable pancreatic destruction. Probably therewere other causes thanstarvationatworkintheselattercases.

TheSpleenThelossestothespleenduringafastarechieflywater.Instarvationresulting indeath, thespleen

maylose67percentofitstotalweight.

TheStomachAclassicalexampleofthewayinwhichfastingpermitsthestomachtorejuvenateitselfisthatofDr.

Tanner.He suffered foryearswithdyspepsia before his first fast. Indeed, itwas this suffering thatfollowed every meal that caused him to refrain from eating in order to miss the distress. Soremarkablydidhisstomachrepairitselfduringitsperiodofrestthathewasable,veryfoolishly,ofcourse, to eat “sufficient food in the first twenty four hours after breaking the fast to gain nine

pounds,andthirty-sixpoundsineightdays,allthat[he]hadlost.”Althoughthiswasarashprocedure,thedoctorsufferednoapparentillconsequencesfromit.Wecannotapproveofsucheatingfollowingafast,butcitehisexampletoshowwhataformerlyweakenedanddyspepticstomachcandoafteraperiodoffasting.

A stomach rejuvenated through rest returns spontaneously to the normal performance of itsfunction.Aweakanddyspepticstomachresumesnormalfunctionafterafast.Thisaloneissufficientto prove the strengthening results of a rest for the stomach. Both its muscles and its glands arerejuvenatedbyaperiodofrest.

It isoftenobjectedthatfastingpermitsthestomachtocollapseandthat it soweakens thestomachthat itwillno longerbeable todigest food.Most stomachsare soweakenedby theoverwork thatresults from our national habit of over-eating that the rest that fasting affords is just what moststomachsneedmost.Fastingprovidesarestforthestomach,thusgivingitanopportunitytorepairitself.Morbidsensibilitiesareovercome,digestionisimproved,adistendedandprolapsed-stomachshrinks and tends to resume its normal size, ulcers heal, inflammation subsides, gastric catarrh iseliminatedandtheappetitetendstobecomenormal.

ChemistryChangesThechemicalchangeswhichoccurinthefastingbodyareasremarkableasanythingthatwehave

describedpreviously.Itisquitenaturalthatthefastingbodylosessomeofitssubstances,butitdoesnotloseallofitselementsatthesamerateand,whatismostremarkable,thereoccursaredistributionofsomeofthese,duetotheurgentneedforpreservingtheintegrityofthevitalorgans.Thefastingbody does not lose its inorganic constituents—minerals—as rapidly as it loses the organicconstituents—fats,carbohydratesandproteins.Ithangsontothesepreciousmineralswhilethrowingawayitsexcessofacid-formingelements.Themorevaluablethematerialthelessofitislost.

The muscles and blood lose relatively much of their mineral constituents, especially is there adecreaseinthepercentageofsodium,whileconsiderablemineralsubstancesaccumulateinthebrain,spleenand liver.There is, thenamereshiftingofmineralsubstancesfromonepartof thebody toanother.While sulphur and phosphorus diminish in the fastingmuscles about as rapidly as do theproteins,thereisanincreaseintheamountofcalciumintheseorgans.Thereoccursanincrease inthepercentageofpotassiuminthesoftpartsofthebodytakenasawhole,duringthefast.Thesefactsshowthatpotassiumsaltsandcalciumsaltsarenotlostasrapidlyassomeoftheotherofthebody’selements.Theexcessof iron thatmaybecontained in thediet is taken to thecellsof the liverandstoredbythese.Itisprobablethattheironsetfreebythebreakingdownoftheredcellsisalsostoredintheliverandspleen,atleastitisnotexcretedinanygreatamount.Thebody’sironreserve,intheformofhematogen,isrelativelylarge.

Thatthebodypossessesconsiderableironreserve,eveninperniciousanemia,isshownbythegreatandrapidbloodregenerationandgreat increase inhemoglobinandredcellsduringa fast in thesecases.Duringthefast,theironliberatedbythebreakingdownoftissueisretainedinthebodyandisnot thrown away. Considerable iron and proportionately other necessary elements are consumedduringthefast,althoughthebodystoresmuchofitsironinthespleen,liver,marrowcellsandintheincreasednumberofredbloodcells.Thereshufflingofprotoplasmicsubstancesthatoccursduringthefasthelpsiorestorenormalbodychemistry.Thebodydoesnotmerelyuseupandcastoffcertainnutrients during the fast; it redistributes certain of its nutrients and attempts to re-establish anequilibriumofitsconstituents.

VIII.RepairofOrgansAndTissuesDuringFastingFromwhathasgonebeforeaboutthebody’sreserves,itsabilitytoautolyzethesereservesanditslessimportanttissues,itsabilitytoshiftitsmaterialsfromonepartofthebodytoanother,itshouldnotsurprise the intelligent reader to learn that tissuesandorgansare repairedduringa fast; even, thattheyareoftenrepairedmorerapidlythanwhileeatingtheaccustomedamountsof“goodnourishingfood.”

Thebodyhasavaststoreofreservefoodswhicharedesignedforuse inemergenciesandwhichmaybeutilizedunder suchconditionswithgreater easeandwith less taxupon thebody than foodsecuredthroughthelaboriousprocessofdigestion,for,itislessexpensivetotheorganismtosupplytherequisitesustenancefromitsnutritivereservesthantodoitbythedigestivemachineryfromrawmaterial.Thesereservesareavailableforuseinrepairingtissue.Repairnotonlytakesplaceduringafastbutitoftenoccursmorerapidlyduringafastthanwhenoneiseating.Indeed,Ihaveseenwoundsandoldsoresthathadlongrefusedtoheal,completelyandrapidlyhealduringafast.Iwitnessedanoperationonachildthathadbeenfasting.Thesurgeonthatperformedtheoperationwaspuzzledbytheunusualrapiditywithwhichthewoundhealedandremarkedtomethathecouldnotexplainit.Itwas no newphenomenon tome and I think that the explanation is very simple. I am sure that theblood-cleansing and tissue rejuvenating work of the fast improves the qualities of the blood andtissues.

Casesofrepairofwounds,brokenbonesandhealingofopensoresduringafastaretoonumerousforustodoubtforoneinstantthatevenduringafastthereisstillconstructiveworkgoingon.Aronreportsthatthebrainandthebonesactuallygrowduringafast(Child,1915).Dr.Oswaldreportedacaseofayoungdogwhichfellfromahighbarnloftontothepavementbelowandbroketwolegsandthreeribsandapparentlyinjureditslungs.Itrefusedallfoodexceptwaterfortwentydays,attheendofwhichtimeittooksomemilk.Notuntilthetwentysixthdaywouldittakeflesh.Thebonesknit,thelungshealedandthedogwasabletorunandbarkaslustilyasbefore.Casesofknittingofbones intheabsenceoffoodareverycommonintheanimalkingdomandnumerouscasesareonrecordasoccurringinman.Thisshowsunmistakablythatthebodyutilizesthelessimportanttissuestosupportthemostessentialones.“Isawinhumanbodies,”saysDr.Dewey,“avastreserveofpredigestedfood,withthebraininpossessionofpowersotoabsorbastomaintainstructuralintegrityintheabsenceoffoodorpower todigest it.Thiseliminatedthebrainentirelyasanorganthatneeds tobefedfromlightdietkitchensintimesofacutesickness.Onlyinthisself-feedingpowerofthebrainisfoundtheexplanationofitsfunctionalclearnesswherebodieshavebecomeskeletons”(1921,pp.32-33).

Myobservationsshowthat thehairgrowthisslowduringafastandthat thebeard ismuchsofterthan at other times, the body sacrificing the hair in the interest of the more important structures,althoughfastingfrequentlystopsthefalling-outofhair.Pashutinrecordsthatincasesofhibernatinganimalsthegrowthofgranulationtissueinwoundsgoesonduringthedeepestslumber,evenwhenallfunctionsseemalmosttohaveceasedandtheheartmaybeatasslowas1beatin5to8minutes,thebloodcirculationbeingsoslowthatcutsmadeinthefleshbleedveryslightly.

Fastingplanarialiveuponthemselves,growingsmallermeanwhile—thisistosay,theydrawupontheir tissues and convert these, little by little, into food tomeet their needs. The higher animals—birds,dogs,men—candothistoamorelimitedextent,callingfirst,asbeforepointedout,upontheirreservestoresoffatandglycogenandlastly,upontheactuallivingsubstanceofglandsandmuscles

andtoalesserextentuponconnectivetissue.Inthesehigherlifeformscertainpartsaresoessentialtolifethattheycannotormustnotbeliquidated.Theheartislittleaffectedeveninstarvation.Thebraincellsarenotdamaged.Thebonesarenotliquidatedorhurt.Itisonlyinthestarvationperiodthatthemuscleswasteenoughthat theyareunable tomovethepartsand theglandswasteuntil theyarenolongerabletoproducetheirsecretionsanddeathresults.

Ifasmalloblongpieceiscutfromthebodyofaplanarian,thepiecewillthrowoutanarmyofnewand active cells on both its new frontiers and these, dividing, growing and differentiating, at theexpenseoftherest,forthepiecehasnomouthandcannoteat,formthemselvesintoaheadandatailend.Atthebeginningthenewpartsaretoosmallforthebody,butaremodelingprocessgoesonbothinthenewpartsandintheoriginalfragment.Theygrow,itshrinks.Theybothaltertheirshapes,untilfinally,whatwasatfirstahelplessfragmentisawell-proportionedlittleflat-worm.Thebuildingupof new structures and redistribution of nutritive matter seen in this regeneration is common to agreaterorlesserdegreetoallformsofanimallifeduringafast.Wehave,inthecaseofthefragmentof a planarian becoming a newworm, the complete construction of a new organism out of foodstoredinthefragmentwithoutreceivingfreshsuppliesfromwithout.

Astarfishmaygrownewtubefeet,newarms,orevenanewstomach,if it loses itsoldone.Thisanimal feeds by holding open the hinged valves of a clam or oyster, everting its stomach andperforming the preliminary digestion within the shell of its victim. It sometimes has its stomachpinched off in the process and is forced to fast while growing a new one. The sea cucumberfrequentlydispenseswithitsdigestiveapparatus,bycastingitout,whenforcedtoexistinstalewater.Itfastswhilegrowinganotherdigestiveapparatus.Duringthefastingperiodthewatermayimproveand,asbiologiststellus“thetrick(ofdiscardingitsdigestivesystem)maysaveitslife.”

Theremarkablechangeswhichinsectsundergointheirmetamorphosisfromoneformintoanotherareaccomplishedwhilefasting.Insomestates,evenwherethereisnochangeofform,thesoftnessoftheir cutting organs prevents feeding. This is seen in the case of caterpillars.Where considerablechangesareevolvedtheperiodoffastingisprolonged, leadingtotheexistenceofathirdstate, thepupastage,intermediatebetweentheothertwo.Duringtheseperiodsofgreatorganizationalchanges,whenoldstructuresare torndownandnewstructuresbuiltup,so that theresultingformiswhollydifferent fromandmuchmore complex than the preceding form, no food is consumed.The foodreservesstoredinthebodyofthemetamorphosinginsectandthematerialcontainedinthediscardedstructuresareemployedasmaterialsoutofwhichtobuildthenewstructures.

Thegrowthofwholeneworgans,andnewdigestivesystems,thebuildingupofnewformsoflifein metamorphosing insects and the construction of whole new organisms from the stores in afragmentofaworm,allwhilefasting,areremarkableexamplesoftheinternalresourcesofthelivingorganism,anditspowertomeetemergenciesandtoevenusetheseforitsownbetterment.

IX.TheInfluenceofFastingonGrowthAndRegenerationInapreviouschapterIhavediscussedthechemistrychangesinthebodyduringafastandhavethereshown how the body distributes its reserves as need arises.At this point I desire to approach thissubjectfromaslightlydifferentangle.AbriefstudyofGrowthandRegenerationduringthefastwillhelpustoseetheremarkablepowerofthebodytorefineandusethematerialsithasonhandwhendeprivedoffoodfromwithout.

Growthisdeterminedbytwogroupsofcauses—namely;theinternalfactorofGrowthImpulse,andtheexternalfactorofGrowthControl.Thenatureof thegrowthforceor impulse,which is therealcauseofgrowth,iswhollyunknown.Itisdeeplyrootedintheconstitutionoftheorganismandwesayit is a predetermined, hereditary impulse to grow to a certainmaximumunder themost favorableconditions.Thisgrowthimpulseislatentinthegermplasmandmaybeconsideredidenticalwithlife.Thefactorsthatcontrolgrowthareprettywellknown.Thesearefood,water,air,warmth,sunlight,ortheabsenceofthese.Internallywefind,intheductlessglands,aremarkablechemicalmechanismforregulatinggrowth.

Asbefore stated thegrowthcapacity,whichvariesgreatlywithvarious species, is determinedbyheredity.Experiment seems to show that this impulsecannotbe increasedorcompletely repressed,althoughit issubject toconsiderablelimitation.Theinterruptionofnutritionbyfooddeficiencyorinsufficiencyorbyinanitioninterfereswithgrowth,butneitherofthesewhollysuspendsit.Judgedbythe gross weight of the body, growth may seem to be at a standstill, or even seem to be slidingbackward.But this isverydeceptive.Afastingorganismthat is losingweightand isconsuming itsreservesquiterapidly,maystillbegrowing.

Prof. Morgulis says the body “is a mosaic of interrelated parts, each, however, having its owngrowthhistory.Thegrowth curve of one portion of the organismmaybe ascendingwhile that ofanother has already reached the peak of its growth or indeed is on the downward course.Furthermore,thegrowthimpulseofonemaybegreatandthatofanotherfeeble.Attimesofplentywhenthereisenoughnutrimenttofurnishbuildingmaterialforeverypartoftheorganism,thegrossincreaseinweightisagoodmeasureoftheresultantgrowth.Butitobscurestheessentialfactofthecompositenatureof thegrowthphenomenon.Waters’experimentswithgrowingcalvesandAron’swork on dogs illustrate this idea. These investigators discovered independently of each other thatthroughchronicunder-feedingtheycouldkeeptheiranimalsataconstantbodyweightbutcouldnotbringaboutcompletestandstillofthegrowthprocess.Thepartoftheorganismwhichatthatphaseofthedevelopmentpossessesthestrongestgrowthimpulseispotenttoattracttoitselfwhateverbuildingmaterialisavailable,andthisnotsufficingwillevenencroachuponthereservesofothertissues.Wewitness,therefore,cataplasiaorreductionofcertainpartsoftheorganismalongwithaprogressivebuildingup,oreuplasia,ofothers.Suchaconditionhasalreadybeenshowntoexist in thesalmonduring the spawning season when these animals take no food sometimes for several months, andwhileallorgansandespeciallythemusclesareusedupinfurnishingenergytothestarvingsalmon,theirgonadsgrowanddevelopluxuriantly.Theyoungcalvesanddogs,whosedietwasthoroughlyadequateinqualitybutnotenoughinamount,continuedtogrowthoughretainingaconstantweight,butthegrowthwaslimitedonlytotheskeleton.Thisincreasedbothinsizeandmass,andasaresulttheanimalactuallygrewinstature.Eventhemusclesweredepletedoftheirstoredmaterialtosatisfythegrowthimpulseoftheskeleton”(1923,pp.299-300).

Theprocessof“robbingPetertopayPaul”seeninthesephenomenashowstoaremarkableextentthepowerpossessedby thebody todistribute its suppliesaccording toneed, and thuspreserve theintegrityofthewhole.IftherobbingofPeterisnotcarriedtoofar,noharmcomesfromit,fortheconsumedstoresarereadilyandquicklyreplenishedassoonasfoodisadded.Growthseemstobeindependent of food in the sense that food is not the cause but only the material of growth. Dr.Morgulis finds in the phenomenon of regeneration amost remarkable exemplification of the fact“thatthegrowthimpulseofaparticularpartoftheorganismmaybesufficientlypuissanttodrawtoitselfnutrimentandtoinfringeuponthereservesofthelessactivetissuesandcausethemtoundergocataplasia”(1923,p.300).

Properlyconducted,fastingactuallypromotesgrowth.ThompsonandMendelfoundthataperiodofsuppressedgrowth,duetounderfeedingisfollowedbyincreasedgrowthwhenbetterfoodisgiven,and that the acceleration of growth following this suppression, is ordinarily accomplished on lessfoodthanisconsumedduringaperiodofequalgrowthatnormalratefromthesameinitialweight(Morgulis,1923).

Morgulis (1923) says: “It has been repeatedly emphasized that just as soon as an animal, whichthroughacuteoranyotherformofinanitionlostweight,isgivenpropernourishmentitcommencesto grow at a spectacular rate and in a comparatively brief period regains all it had lost or evenincreasesbeyondtheoriginallevel.Therapidgaininweightisamanifestationofavigorousprocessofgrowth.Thereisnotmerelyanaccumulationofreservesubstance,butatruegrowthinthesensedefined previously. There is prolific cell multiplication, great expansion of the cells and areaccumulationofreservesintheformofintracellularandintercellulardepositsofproductsoftheirmetabolism. Nitrogen is retained with an avidity characteristic of the young growing organism.Frequently, in a short span of time an increase of the bodymass is accomplished,which requiredyearsofnormalgrowthtobringabout.Theinanitionhasproducedarejuvenationoftheorganism.Inthestudyofhistologicalphenomenaaccompanyinginanitionithasalreadybeenlearnedthatexceptintheadvancedstages [in thestarvationperiod] there is scarcelyanyevidenceof tissuedegeneration.Onthecontrary,thecellsremainintactthoughtheylosealargeportionoftheirsubstance.Inthekeencompetitionwhichreignsintheorganismsubjectedtoinanitiontheweakerandlessessentialpartsofthecellularorganismaresacrificedfirst,justaswehaveseenthistohappentothelessessentialpartsof the entire organism.Themore vital parts remain and the vitality of the cells and their vigor isthereby improved. This seems to be the rationale of the invigorating and rejuvenating effects ofinanition.Biologicallyspeaking,thoughtheorganismacquiresnonewassetsitbecomesstrongerbyridding itself of liabilities. In the foregoing it has been pointed out that the cell-nucleus ratio ininanitionchangesinsuchamannerastoincreasethepreponderanceofthenucleus.Morphologically,therefore, thecellscomposing theorganismassumeayouthfulcondition.They resemblemore theembryonic cell in this respect, and thismay account for the expansive growthwhich they displayunderthepropernutritiveregime”(pp.301-302).

Again,hesays:“Furtherexperimentsperformedwiththesalamanderdemonstratedthatthegrowthimpulse and not the quantity of food consumed plays the leading role. These experimentssubstantiatedtheideathatgrowthwhichensuesafterapreliminaryinanitionisnotunlikeembryonicgrowthinitsintensity.Itiswelltobearinmindthatthereducedsizeofthecell,orratherthealteredcell-nuclearratioisprobablyinsomewayresponsibleforthevigorousgrowthprocessandthat therejuvenescenceof theorganism isdependentupon thiscondition.ManyyearsagoKaganobservedthat following 17 days of complete inanition rabbits gained 56 per cent inweight on a dietwhich

couldjustbarelymaintainastateofequilibriuminthenormalcondition”(pp.303-304).

Regeneration is common to a greater or lesser degree to all plants and animals. If man loses afingernail,hequicklygrowsanother,butevenmoreremarkableexamplesofregenerationareseeninmanyanimals,someofthembeingabletogrowanewhead,acompletenewlimboraneye.Insomewormsamerefragmentofthebodyiscapableofbecomingacompletenewworm.Prof.Morgulissays: “It isa remarkable fact that the starving organismdoes not lose its regenerativepower. Anorganismalreadymuchemaciatedthroughprolongedinanitionwilldrawuponitsscantyreservesintheeffort to renewa severedpart of its body.The little flatworms,planaria, commonly found instagnant waters, possess an extraordinary regenerative capacity. Morgan has shown that even inadvancedstagesofinanition,whenthePlanarianhasbeenreducedtoasmallfractionofitsoriginalsize, the regenerative impulse is still sufficiently strong to reduce still further the much depletedtissues in rebuilding parts of the body which have been cut off. Of course, during inanition themissingorgandoesnotregenerateasrapidlyorasfullyasinawell-fedanimal.Theimportantthing,however, is that inanition does not deprive the organism of its inherent regenerative impulse” (p.301).

Dr.HaroldW.ParkeroftheNaturalHistoryMuseumofLondonandDr.MarkBoesemanofLeiden,theNetherlands, studying the hugeEuropean shark, theBasking shark, discovered that it sheds itsteeth inwinter and fasts through the winter months. This shark (Cetorhinusmaximus) feeds uponmarineanimalsandseemstobethesecondlargest“fish”intheworld,achievingalengthofnearlythirtyfeet.Inwintertheyvanishandithadlongbeenthoughtthattheymigratesouthward.But thesebiologistsreportedfindingandcatchingspecimensrestingonthebottomofthesea,devoidoftheirgillrakersorteeth.TheyconcludedthattheylosetheirrakersinOctoberandNovemberinnorthwestEuropeanwatersand“undergoaresting,non-feedingdemersal(submerged)stage”untiltheygrowanewsetofteethandwarmweatherreturns.Thattheyfastforthewholeofthedurationofthewinterisnotfullyproved,butiftheydo,itmeansthattheygrowanewsetofteethorgillrakerswhilefasting.Itislogicallyassumedthattheydonoteatintheabsenceoftheirgill-rakersanditisalsonotedthatthere is a great scarcity of their food supplies during thewintermonths. Itmay also logically beinferred that if theycontinuedtoeatduringthisperiod, theywouldbeseencruisingon thesurfacewiththemouthwideopeninordertocatchtheirfoodsupply.

Discussingthefactthatfastingdoesnotinterferewiththeregenerationandgrowthofanewtailinthe salamander,whose tail has been cut off,Morgulis tells us that, although the tail grows slowerwhile the animal is fasting than the tails of animals not fasting, “when, after several weeks ofstarvation [fasting], the salamanders having in themeantime lost one-fourth their originalweight,theywerefedoncemore, theregenerationof the tailswas immediately improvedand incourseoftimeattainedorevenexceededinlengththetailswhichwerecutoff’(p.301).

TheRhinesalmontakenofoodfromthetimetheyenterthefreshwateruntiltheirspawningseasonis over; a period varying fromeight to fifteenmonths.TheKingSalmonof thePacific coast, thelargest and finest of the salmons, present an evenmore remarkable case of growthwhile fasting.Theymake a long and extremely exhausting journey upstreamwithout food. There is evidence toshowthattheyceasetofeedbeforetheybegintheirmigrationupstream.

Salmonwastequiterapidlyduringtheirmigrations,duenotonlytotheirvigorousactivities,buttotherapidgrowthoftheirgonads.IthasbeenestimatedbyPatonthat5percentofthefatand14per

cent of the proteins of thewastingmuscles ofmale salmon go to build up their rapidly growingtesticles;while12percentofthefatand23percentoftheproteinofthemusclesofthefemalegotobuilduptherapidlygrowingovaries.Therestofthefatandproteinthatdisappearfromthemusclesare used up in maintenance and work. Despite the rapid wasting of musclcs in fasting salmon,Mieschermaintainsthatnotafiberundergoesactualdisintegration(Morgulis,1923).

Our interest in thesephenomenaat thisplace, is topointout the remarkablemanner inwhich thebodyregulatesitsinternaleconomyanddistributesitsstoredsuppliestovariouspartsofthebodyasneed arises. This ability to analyze and redistribute and re-synthesize the supplies on hand, is oursupremeguaranteethatnoneofthevitaltissuesshalleverbedamagedforlackoffood,solongasthebody’s reserves hold out. The continuance of growth while fasting and the rapid acceleration ofgrowthafterthefast,indicateverystronglythatthebodyholdsontoandusestogreateradvantagesthosesubstancesorqualities in foodwhicharecalledvitaminsandwhichareclaimed toplaysuchimportantrolesingrowthandregenerationoftissue.Itmayevenbetruethatthebodydoesnotloseanyofitsstoredsupplyofvitaminsduringthemostprolongedfast.Thecompletelackofevidencetoshowthatitdoeslosevitaminsisassuggestiveasisthepositiveevidencethatfastingnotonlydoesnotstopgrowthbut,actually,acceleratesit.

X.ChangesinTheFundamentalFunctionsWhileFastingPhysiologicalRestMetabolismDuringTheFastAnabolismDuringTheFastKatabolismInTheFastMetabolismDuringHibernationFastingMetabolismInManRespirationEliminationOrganicHouseCleaningActionsInRelationToPoisons

ProfessorMorgulissays:“Laboratoryaswellasclinicalexperiencecorroboratestherejuvenatingeffects of inanition. If it is not too prolonged it is distinctly beneficent and may be used inovercoming somnolence and lassitude as well as in improving the fundamental organic functions(circulation, respiration),muscular strength, or the acuity of the senses.” These improvements aretypicalof the improvementswhichoccur,both in structureand function throughout thebodywhenonefasts.

Themedical profession and the public have been slow in recognizing the benefits to be derivedfrom judicious fasting. Even today there are few doctors of any and all of the rival schools of“healing” who understand fasting and who are qualified to properly conduct a fast. Few “naturaltherapists”andalmostnomedicalmenaresufficientlyacquaintedwithfastingtoproperlycarryonethrough it. Practically all of them insist on supplementing the fast and “aiding nature” with theirvariousstimulatingandsuppressivemeasures.Manyoftheevilsattributedtofastingareduetothesemeasuresandarecommon inpatients treatedby suchmethods,butwhohavenot fasted.Theother“evilsoffasting”areimaginaryevils.

PhysiologicalRestAnimportantobjectsecuredbythefastistherestoftheorgansofthebody.Theoverworkingofthe

physiologicalfunctions,whichresultsfromover-eating,weakensandimpairsthem.Fastingreversesthisandpermitsthemtorecuperate.Duringtherestthusafforded,theseorgansareenabledtorepairtheir damaged structures and restore their fagging energies, thus they are prepared for renewedfunctionandaregivenanewleaseonlife.Afastistotheorgansofthebodywhatanightofrestfulreposeistothetiredlaborer.

Digestionandassimilationoffoodareataxonthevitalpowersof theorganismand increase thework of the stomach, liver, intestines, heart, lungs, kidneys, glands, etc. Themore food eaten themorework these already overworked organs are called upon to perform.How can increasing theworkoftheorganshelpthesick?Iffeedingdoesnotpreventsicknesshowmayoverfeedingrestorehealth?

ThatfastingisaperiodofphysiologicalrestwasemphasizedbyalltheearlyHygienists—Jennings,Graham, Trall, etc.Nichols (1881) says: “In fevers and all inflammatory diseases fasting . . . is amatterofthefirstimportance.Asarule,natureherselfpointsoutthisremedy.Whenanimalshaveanymalady,theystopeating.Lossofappetiteisasymptomofdisease,anditpointsalsotothemodeof

cure.... Not onlymust the stomach have rest, but all the organs of nutrition, and the nerveswhichproducetheiraction.Whenwestopfoodinfeversandinflammations,wediminishthevolumeofthebloodandrelieve theactionof theheart;andbyrelieving thesystemof the laborofdigestionandassimilation,weallowthenervousforcetoexpenditselfinrecuperativeaction...acoldisasortoffeverandthereisnobetterremedyforacoldthanabstinencefromfood.”Afterpointingoutthattheloss of appetite, seen in all acute diseases and common in chronic disease, is “the voice of natureforbidding us to eat,” and lamenting the fact that physicians and nurses disregard this “voice ofnature”andforcefooddownthethroatsof“disgustedpatients,”Nicholssays,“restforthestomach,theliver,alltheorgansofthenutritivesystem,maybetheonethingneedful.Itistheonlyrestwewillnotpermit...Incertainstatesofdisease,wheretheorgansofdigestionareweakenedanddisordered,thebestbeginningofacuremaybetotalabstinencefromallkindsoffood.Thereisnocurelikeit.Ifthestomachcannotdigest,thebestwayistogiveitarest.Itistheonethingwhichitneeds.”

Dewey referred to fasting as the “rest cure,” and said that rest “is not to do any of the curing(healing) any more than it heals the broken bone or the wound; it is only going to furnish theconditionforcure.”Herehewasspeakingofphysiologicalrestorfasting.Mr.Carringtonalsoinsistsupon thenecessityofphysiological rest indisease,buthestressesparticularly restof thedigestivesystem,evenprescribingforcingmeasuresthatpreventrestofothersystemsofthebody.BothTildenandWegeremphasizedthefactthatfastingisaperiodofphysiologicalrest.PerhapsWalterstressedthisfactmorethananyoneelse.

Ithinkitnecessarytoemphasizetherestthatfastingaffordstotheotherorgansofthebodyandnotoverstresstherestthedigestivesystemreceives.Letustaketheheart:itisnouncommonthingtohavepatients come to us whose hearts are pulsating eighty or more times a minute against increasedresistance.Thisistosay,theheart israpidandthebloodpressure is increased.Theheart isslowlywearingitselfoutbythiswork.

I have seen many diseased hearts that were supposed to be “incurable” fully recover during anextended fast. A few years ago a business executive came to me for care. Repeatedly during thepreceding twoyearshehadbeen refused life insurancebecausehisheartwasdiseased.Onemonthafterafortydays’fastheboughttenthousanddollarsworthoflifeinsurance.

Theductlessglands, therespiratorysystem, thenervoussystem, in fact, thewholeorganismrestsduringafast.Theexceptionistheexcretorysystem.Thissystemdoesmorework,atleastthroughalarge part of the fast, in freeing the body of its accumulated toxins. This inner is meant byphysiologicalrest.

Rest!Whereistherearestlikefasting?Peoplegoawayforarest.Theygetachangeofscenery,achangeoffood,achangeofactivity,buttheyfailtosecuretheresttheyneed.Iftheywouldbutfastafewdaystheywouldreturntotheirolddutieswithrenewedzestandincreasedenergy.Nothingcangiverenewedpowerofdigestiontoaworn-outdigestivesystem,nothingaffordssuchresttoover-wrought nerves, to fatigued bowels, or to an over-worked heart and glandular system as a fast—physiologicalrest.

Mostvacationistsgoawayandincreasetheirphysicalexerciseandeatmorebecauseof increasedappetiteandcomebackworse thanbefore.Physiological rest,decreasedphysical activityand longhoursof recuperatingsleep,willdomore for thesepeople ina fewdays, thanmonths spent in theconventionalmanner.

MetabolismDuringTheFastNodefinitionofmetabolismthatIhaveeverseenisentirelysatisfactory.Norhasiteverseemedto

me that the measurements of the metabolic rate do more than inaccurately measure the katabolicphaseofmetabolism.Metabolism is the termapplied to the changes that foodstuffs undergo in thebody in the process of becoming part of the body and being used and discarded after use. Thetendencytodayistodefinemetabolisminchemicaltermsandthisenablesthepharmacologiststotalkof the metabolism of drugs. Drugs do undergo chemical changes in the body, but there is nometabolism of drugs.Metabolism is a physiolgical or a biological process and is confined in itsactivitiestothosesubstancesthataresusceptibleofbeingusedbythelivingorganism.

Metabolism logically falls into two separate sets of activities; the first, a building up process—anabolism;thesecond,atearingdownprocess—katabolism.Perhapswemaysaythatanabolismisthatphaseofmetabolism inwhich the foods taken inareassimilatedandmade intocell substance;katabolism is that phase of metabolism during which the assimilated foodstuffs are used anddisassimilated.

Metabolism ismeasuredbymeasuringandanalyzing theexcretions—thebreath, urine, heat, etc.Specialemphasisisplacedonheatproduction.Thesemeasurementsdonotmeasureanabolism.Thereis nothing in them that differentiates between a normal and an abnormal metabolism. The heatproducedbyalargetumororacancerousgrowthismeasuredalongwiththeheatproducedbythenormalactivitiesoflife.Thefactisthatmeasurementsofdevelopmentareneverincludedinstudiesofmetabolism.

Ifweacceptthedefinitionthat“katabolismistheprocessbywhichbodymaterialisbrokendownasaresultofoxidationandcleavage,”andmeasuretheresultingcarbon-dioxideandheat,wecertainlyhave not provided any index to the rate at which the “transformation of food material into bodymaterial” is taking place.What does themeasure of the amount of heat produced and the carbon-dioxidegivenofftellusoftherateofboneformationorofbraingrowth?Whenitisassumedthat“anabolismfollowstheingestionoffood,”andistakenforgrantedthatit isatastandstillwhennofoodistaken,agreatmistakeismade.Thestatementismadethatwhennofoodistaken,the“anabolicactivitiesmay be depressed to such an extent as tomake the study (of themetabolism of the fast)essentiallyoneofkatabolism.”Iregardsuchanassumptionashighlyincorrectandthinkthatitmustbebasedonignoranceofthephenomenaoffasting.

Indeed, it seems to me that katabolism may be reduced more than anabolism during a fast ofconsiderable length.Here, I haveno reference to the formation of fat and sugar fromprotein thatseems certain to occur during the fast, but to positive constructive activities, bywhich tissues arerepaired, new tissues built, wounds healed, broken bones reunited, and actual growth of structuretakesplace.Thereisthesameneedfortissuerepairinfastingasinperiodsofeating,andifthisdoesnottakeplaceatanunslackenedrate,theconsequencesmaybedisastrous.

AnabolismDuringTheFastDuringfifteendaysoffastingthepupaofthehoneybeemetamorphosesintoafull-grownbee,the

change undergone amounting to a transformation of one form of life into another and entirelydifferentone,withdifferentorgans,differentfunctionsandaradicallydifferentwayoflife.Hereisanabolismofaveryintensekindandmanyexamplesofthiskindcouldbecited.Theprocessislessdramaticinthelargeranimals,butnonethelessreal.

Ithaspreviouslybeenpointedoutthatthefunctioningtissuesofthebodymustbenourishedduringthefastandthattheyarenourishedoffthefoodstoresthatabound.Asthefastingbodyfeelsamongitssupplies for proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins and redistributes, utilizes andconserves these, it exercises an ingenuity that seems almost super-human. By thus analyzing(autolyzing)itsfoodreservesandredistributingthemaccordingtoneed,thefunctioningtissuesaresupported and this means that an intense anabolism is in process. How else could the heart, forinstance,goonpulsatingsixtyormoretimesaminute,dayandnight,throughoutalongfast,withoutwearingitselfout,wereitnotreplenishedaswheneating?Howcouldtherespiratorymuscleskeepupthe breathingprocess throughout a long fast if theywere not nourished as certainly aswhen theirowneriseating?

What, then, is the basic difference, save, perhaps, in rate, between the anabolism of the fastingperiodandthatoftheeatingperiod?Primarilyitisthis:Whileeating,thefunctioningtissuesofthebody are daily replenished from fresh supplies of nutriment that are received fromwithout;whilefasting,thesesametissuesaredailyreplenishedfromthestorednutritivereservesthatareheldwithin.

Allofthisissoevidenttotheexperiencedmanthatonenaturallymarvelsatthefoolishstatementsthat are made by physiologists in dealand Taylor ’s (1961) discussion of the metabolism of“starvation.”Whattheysayisoflittlevalue,astheylump“findings”togetherwithoutreferencetothestage or the period of inanition; without discriminating between the different results in differentanimals;andwithoutdifferentiatingstarvationandsemi-starvation,muchlessstarvationandfasting.Theysaythatthegonadslosefrom2to8percentinwhattheycallprolongedstarvation,whereas,itiswellknownthatinmanyanimalsthegonadsincreaseinsizeandfunctioningpowerduringperiodsof abstinence. In the fasting salmon, the gonads undergo luxuriant growth during the lengthy fast(accompanied with great physical activity) of their mating season, and they produce enormousnumbersofovaandspermatozoa.

It is impossible to think that themusclesof the salmon, in almost continuous and vigorous, evenviolentactivityduringtheirlongswimuptherivers,arenotreplenishedascertainlyaswhileeating,elsewouldtheywastetonothingnessbeforethelongjourneyiscompleted.Theproductionofmilkbythehibernatingbearandthefastinggrayseal,thelayingofeggsbythefastingpenguin,andahostofsimilarphenomenaofthisnatureallshowunmistakablythatanintenseanabolismis inprogressthroughoutthewholelengthof thefast.Thebearmaintainsacomparativelyhighbodytemperatureduringher longperiodof hibernation, and secretesmilk for her immatureyoung,whichweigh atbirth,nomorethanapoundeach.

Thegrowthoffastingcalves,includinggrowthofbones,theregenerationoflostpartsbyanimalsthathavelostlimbs,stomach,head,etc.,whilefasting,theradicalandrapidconstructivechangesthattakeplaceinthemetamorphosisofpupa,thechangesinthefastingtadpole,thehealingofwoundsandbroken bones in fasting animals andman—growth of hair and nails—these andmanymore suchphenomena dramatically highlight the anabolic activities that occur during periods of prolongedabstinence.

Imust return to the fasting pupa inwhichwe observe amost intense anabolism. Indeed, here isanabolismasitisobservedintheembryo.Hereisthemostactiveconstructionproceedingatarapidrate,producing,asaresult,abeingsounliketheonethatwrappeditselfinitscocoonastoleadtothethoughtthatitisadifferentbeingaltogether.Notonlyisthereautolysis,withthetransferofmaterials

fromonepart to another,but there is reorganizationof thematerialsona radicallydifferent plan.Something akin to this occurs in the case of the female bear during hibernation. From her owntissues,which are first prepared by autolysis, she supplies the requisite buildingmaterials for herunbornyoung,justas,afterthecubsareborn,shesuppliesfromthesametissues,thematerialsoutofwhichsheproducesmilk.

Aquestionobtrudesitselfatthispoint:Howarewetoregardtheautolyticdisintegrationoffat,bonemarrow,glycogenandotherstoredreserves, their transportation,by thecirculation, to functioningtissuesthebody,andtheirincorporationintothesetissues?Thisistoask:isthistotalprocessoneofanabolismoroneofkatabolism?Itismythoughtthatthewholeprocess,beginningwiththedigestionof reserves and ending with the appropriation by the vital cells of the finished product is one ofanabolism.Fatthatisoxidizedisnolongeruseful.Ithasbeenkatabolizedandisreadyforexcretion.Fatthathasbeenautolyzedisstillusefulandisreadytobeconveyedtothecellsthatareinneedofthefoodsubstancesitprovides.Itisprobablethatallfatmustfirstbeautolyzedandincorporatedintothefunctioningcellsbeforeitcanbekatabolized.

Autolysisisaprominentfeatureinallutilizationofreserves.Thefastingtadpoleautolyzesitstail,absorbsandredistributesandfinallyutilizesthesubstancesinit.Thefastingsalamander,growinganewtail,autolyzessomeofitsinternalstorestoprovidematerialsfortheproductionofthenewtail,includingbones.Thegrowingofbonesandorgansofthefastingcalfcanoccuronlyifthegrowingpartsaresuppliedwithmaterialsfromthestoredreservesandthesearemadeavailablebyautolysis.An animal sufferingwith a broken leg fastswhile the bone is healing.Materials for thiswork ofrepairaresuppliedfromthefoodreservesoftheanimalandaremadeavailablebyautolysis.

Averyremarkableexampleofregeneration,necessitating,asitdoes,activeanabolismissuppliedusby those formsof life that,underconditionsof surfeit, reproduceparthenogenetically, themaledisappearing,and,which,whilefasting,reproducethemaleandreproducesexually.Allreproductiveactivitymustbeclassedasanabolic,andwhenweobserveanimals,someofthemhighinthescaleoflife,reproducingwhilefasting,someofthemreproducingatnoothertime,wearefacedwithamostremarkableevidenceofthecontinuationofanabolismduringthefast.

If we turn our attention to the vegetable kingdom, we find other evidences of active anabolismduringperiodsofabstinence.Ifwetakeacuttingfromsuchplantsastherosebush,thefigtreeortheweepingwillow,andstickoneendofitintotheground,andwaterit,itwillputoutrootsandleavesandgrowintoafull-sizedplant.Intheabsenceofrootsthecuttingisincapableoftakingupmineralsfrom the soil; in the absence of leaves it cannot take carbon from the air and, by photosynthesis,manufacturecarbohydrates.Itisforcedtorelyuponitsowninternalresources.

Roots and leaves are put out, but the materials out of which these are made come from within.Materialsstoredinthecuttingareutilizedintheirproductionandonlyafterthesehavebeenproducedcan the cutting take food from the air and soil. These facts prove that there is circulation in thecutting,thatthereisatransferofautolyzedmaterialsfromonepartofthecuttingtoanother.

Turn inwhatever directionwemay, in bothplant and animal,we find evidence that anabolism isvery active during periods of fastingMore remarkable, however, than this, is the obvious fact, asshownbythemaintenanceoftheheart,brain,andnervoussystem,thatthereisanabolismevenduringstarvation,thisistosay,aftertheexhaustionoftheorganism’sstoredreserves.Itwouldseemthatsolong as there is any life left and so long as nutrients may be secured fromwhatever source, the

constructiveprocessesof life arenever completely suspended.Always the processes of repair andmaintenance of tissue are in operation. Activities are reduced, certain functions are temporarilysuspended, conservative measures are adopted, but life or living processes are not suspended. Iffastingresultedinasuspensionoftheanabolicprocess,therewouldbeasteadydeclineinallofthetissuesofthebodyfromtheomissionofthefirstmeal,untildeathendedthematter.Thisistheexactoppositeofwhatweregularlyobserveduringafast,evenamostprolongedfast.

KatabolismInTheFastItseems,fromwhatweobserveduringtheearlydaysofthefast,particularlyinfatindividuals,that

theremaybeaslight increase inkatabolicactivities immediatelyupon thebeginningofa fast.Therateofweight loss isoftengreat for thefirst fewdays,althoughallof this lossdoesnot representtissueloss.Afterashortperiod,however,therateoflossslackensandtendstoslackenstillmoreasthefastproceeds.Wefrequentlysee individualswholosenotmorethananounceto twoouncesofweightadayafterthirtytothirty-fivedaysofabstinence.Thattherateofmetabolismisslowedafterthe end of the first period of the fasting experience as classified by Morgulis, has already beendiscussed.Thereducedintakeofoxygenandreducedoutputofcarbondioxidearebutasmallpartoftheevidenceofthisreduction.

Thereductionofkatabolismgrowsoutofseveralprecedentandconcomitantreductions.Thereisareductionofphysicalandcommonlyofemotionalactivity,areductionofthoseactivitiesassociatedwiththedigestionoffood,areduction(aftera time)ofendocrinesecretion,areductionofoxygenintake, a reduction of heart activity, a fall in blood pressure, and a slowing up of the complexfunctional activities of the body. All of this indicates that the tearing down processes of life aregreatlyreduced.

Except for the predominant role played by autolysis, metabolism in the fasting organism is notradicallydifferentfromthatinthefeedingstate.Therateofmetabolismischanged;theemphasisisontheconservativeprocesses;wasteisreducedtoaminimum,butnonewelementsare introducedintotheprocessandnonormalelementsofmetabolismaremissing.Lifegoeson,moreorless,inthe regular pattern, even if at a slightly (in some cases) slackened tempo, so long as the storedreservesendure.Inthehibernatingandasstivatinganimalthetempooflifeisgreatlyreduced;inthefasting Alaskan fur seal bull and in the fasting salmon there is enormous activity. In the fastingpatient,puttobed,madecomfortable,keptwarmandfreedofworriesandanxieties,thetempooflifefluctuates around a standard that may be about midway between that of the tempo of life of thehibernatingbearandthatofthefastingfursealbull.

Aphenomenonthatisquiteuniforminrepeatedfastsinthesameinsecondandthirdfaststhaninthefirst.Ifthesecondfastcomesyearsafterthefirstfast,thisfactisnotsonoticeable,butifitfollowswithin a few weeks or a few months, the slower loss in the second fast is very marked. Theseobservationsof theprogressive reductionof the rateof loss, as the fastprogressesand the slowerrateoflossinsecondandthirdfasts,haveledtotheconclusionthatthebodylearnstoconserveitsresources. The experience gained in one fast is not lost when, at a later time, another fast isundertaken.

Whethertherateoflossintheearlydaysofthefastindicatesthatkatabolismisincreasedoverthepre-fastinglevelorremainsthesame,thereductionoftherateofloss,asthefastcontinues,revealsthatkatabolismismarkedlyreduced.Thusitappears,that,insteadofanabolismbeinggreatlyreducedinthefastandkatabolismbeingincreased.asmaybethought, theoppositeis thecase.Thegreatest

reductionisseeninkatabolism,notinanabolism.Itmaybetrue,that,insomeinstancesatleast,thereisaslowingdownofanabolism,butthisiscertainlyfarfromthegeneralrule.

Withthesepreliminaryremarksoutofthewayletusturntomoredetailedstudies,beginningwith:

MetabolismDuringHibernationIn hibernation respiration and circulation are frequently almost suspended; no food is taken, the

animal subsisting entirely on fat and other food reserves stored during the Summer and Fall. Theanimal enters hibernation in a state of fatness; he emerges from hibernation in the Spring in anemaciated condition, although strong and active. In cold-blooded animals in a state of hibernationmetabolism is almost at a complete standstill. Indeed, in some of them, as well as in frozencaterpillars, it must be at a complete standstill. Not so the metabolism of warm-blooded animals.Thesemustmaintainaminimumofphysiologicalactivityandkeepupacertainamountofbodyheatorfreezetodeath.Atthesametime,theymustmaintainmetabolismataslowalevelasiscompatiblewithcontinuedexistence,elsetheirfoodreservesmaybeexhaustedbeforetheendofwinter,atwhichtimetheywillalsodieoffreezing.

Animals that fast during themating season are commonly intensively active, both physically andsexually, the fur seal bull taking no sleep throughout thewhole of the period. Their great activitynecessitatestheintakeofgreatquantitiesofoxygen,thespeedingupofheartactivityandcirculation,withaconsequenthighrateofmetabolism.Duetothesefactorstheyuseuptheirreservesatamuchfaster rate than do hibernating and aestivating animals.But the aestivating and hibernating and thematinganimalsentertheirperiodsofabstinencewithlargereservesoffoodthatsustainthemthroughlongperiodsoffasting.

Hibernatingandaestivatinganimalsremainquiescentordormant.Metabolismisat thelowestebbcompatible with continued living existence. The food reserves are used extremely slowly. Heartaction is slowed down. Certain activities in these animals do, however, proceed. In the frog, forexample, preparations are made for the laying and fertilizing of eggs almost immediately afterawakeningfromthewintersleep.Thebeargivesbirthtohercubswhilestillasleepandsucklesthemduring this time.Sheproducesmilk for themafterbirth aswell asprovides food for thembeforebirth.Theyarebornnudesotheymustdependuponherforwarmthaftertheyareborn.Thiswouldindicatethat,despitetheintensecoldoutsideherhibernatingquarters,shemaintainsahighdegreeoftemperatureinside.

Although the temperature of hibernating mammals falls considerably below their normaltemperaturesintheactivestate,thereisapointbelowwhichitcannotfallwithoutprovingfataltotheanimal. A ground squirrel which hibernated in a temperature of 35.6° F., had a body temperatureexactlythesame,althoughthe“normal”temperatureisseveraldegreeshigherthanthis.

Thelowrateofmetabolisminthehibernatingbat,manifestbyslowrespiration,slowheartactionand sluggish circulation,means a very slow use of nutritive reserves. The same slow circulation,slowheartactionandlessenedrateofbreathingseeninthehibernatingbearalsomeanthesameslowconsumptionofreserves.Exhaustionofreservesbeforethereturnofwarmweatherwouldresultindeathfromstarvation.

Griffin (1946) says that“in spiteof the low level towhich themetabolicprocesseshave fallen,ahibernatingbatwillawakeninafewminutesifhandledorevendisturbedbylightsandtalking.Once

awake, the bat is as lively and active as ever. His temperature, circulation, and respiration havereturned tonormal” (p.127).Were thisactivitycontinued,exhaustionof foodstoreswould rapidlyresult.Hetellsusthat“afterflyingaroundforafewminutestheyhangupagainandrelapseinto thetorporofhibernation”(p.126).

Mr.Griffintellsusthatthemetabolicrateofananimalinhibernationdependsonthetemperatureofhis surroundings: “hewill burnmore fat at a higher temperature, just as any chemical reaction isspeededupbyariseintemperature”(p.127).ThisisnotgoodphysiologyandIdoubtthecorrectnessofhisstatement.He,himself,showsthatthehibernatingbatmaybeawakenedandbecomeactive,histemperature, circulation and respiration becoming normal in spite of the low temperature of hissurroundings.Ithinkwemustregardhibernationasafunctionoflifethatisvitallycontrolledandnotabsolutelydeterminedbythetemperatureofthesurroundingair.Thecontrolofmetabolismisfromwithinandnotfromwithout.Thereisapurposiveconservingoffoodstores,notamerepassivenon-useofthese.

Wewitness,notamereslowingdownof“chemicalreactions”byaloweringoftemperature,butareductionofphysiologicalactivitiesbyaprocesssomewhatanalogoustosleep.Byhisownshowing,these Physiological activities are not helpless in the grip of temperature. They are speeded up orsloweddownbythebat inthesametemperature.Mr.Griffinmaybeabiologist,buthe talks likeachemist.He thinksof thebat in termsof test-tubes, reagentbottles, retorts, etc., andnotasa livingorganismthattakesanactivepartinthecontrolofitsbehavior.

The bat is not a cold-blooded animal and, even in hibernation, with metabolism reduced to thelowestpoint compatiblewith continued life, is able tomaintain abody temperature slightlyhigherthanthatofitssurroundings.Itisabletoincreaseordecreaseitsmetabolisminthesametemperature.Itcanbeactiveordormantinthesametemperature.Hibernationseemstobeanadjustmenttocertainenvironmentalconditions—theabsenceoffoodsupplyseemstobemoreimportantininducingthisstate than the reduction of temperature—rather than a passive yielding to outside influences. Thereductionofmetabolismisnottheresultofcold,buttheresultoftheneedtoconservefoodreserves.Oxidation in the animalbody,while a chemical process, is a rigidly controlledprocess.Thebodydoesnotstarttoburnandjustcontinuetoburnuntilitisconsumed.Thebody’sfatstoresdonotcatchfire on hot days and go up in flames. Even in the hottest weather the fasting animal reduces itsmetabolicrateandconservesitsfoodreservesbetterinhotthanincoldweather.Thisisduetothefactthat more heat must be produced in cold weather to maintain normal body temperature. This“chemical reaction” is not speeded up by a rise in temperature; for, internally, there is no rise intemperature,thoughthesurfaceofthebodymayfeelchillyandthefastermaycomplainofbeingcoldeveninhotweather.

Itwouldbe interesting toknowwhat is the internal temperatureof thebat inhibernation. It is,nodoubt, much lower than in the active state. But the question remains to be answered: Is loweredtemperatureduetoreducedmetabolism,orisloweredmetabolismduetoloweredtemperature?

If the lowering of temperature comes from without and is responsible for the reduction ofmetabolism,itwouldseemtobeimpossibleforthebattoarouseitselforbearousedfromitsstateof“torpor”byanythingshortofanincreaseof temperature.Solongasthetemperatureofthecave isthirty-three degrees, Fahrenheit, that of the bat should remain nearly as low and “torpor” shouldpersist.ItcouldnotflyoutofitscavetoseeifSpringhasarrived,ormoreaccurately,perhaps,tosee

ifthereisafoodsupplyinevidence.Ifcontrol isfromwithout, thebatshouldbehelplessuntil thecontrol—temperature—is changed. Only the coming of warm weather should awaken him. Batsleavingacaveandflyingtoanotherwhenitstemperaturestartstodroptotoolowlevelsshows thatthe reduction of theirmetabolism is not a result of lowered temperature. For, if itwere, a furtherloweringof temperaturewould further decreasemetabolism andmake it impossible for the bat toawakenandflyinsearchofamoreshelteredabode.

The fact that some species commence their period of hibernation while the temperature is stillrelativelyhighandfoodisstilltobehad,indicatesthatthecontrolofmetabolismisfromwithin,notfromwithout.Thehibernatinganimalisnothelplessinthegripofexternalconditions.

FastingMetabolismInManMetabolismisloweredfromone-fourthtotwo-fifthsduringthefast.Thisfallsquiterapidlyduring

thefirstpartof thefastuntil thetruephysiologicalminimumformetabolismis reached.Fromthispointon,untilthereturnofhunger,metabolismismaintainedatafairlyuniformlevel.Iffoodisnotconsumedwhenhungerreturnstherefollows,soon,arapiddroppingofmetabolismtonewlow,butpathologicallevels.

During the first fifteen days of Levanzin’s fast there was an appreciable decrease in oxygenconsumptionandincarbon-dioxideproduction.Duringthefirstsevendaysofthefastheconsumed352.6litersofoxygenandproduced260.4litersofcarbon-dioxide.Duringthesecondhalfofthefirstfifteendayperiodheconsumed303.2litersofoxygenandproduced219.5litersofcarbon-dioxide.During the first half of the second fifteen day period he consumed. 272.3 liters of oxygen andproduced193.7litersofcarbon-dioxide.Duringthelasthalfofthesecondperiodheconsumed270.3litersofoxygenandproduced192.9litersofcarbondioxide.

In a general way the changes in the metabolism of proteins, fats, etc., run fairly parallel withcarbohydratemetabolism.Nitrogenmetabolism in the fasting baby supplies a remarkable apparentexception to this.Nitrogen excretion tends to increase from day to day, rather than decrease. Thesmallsupplyofglycogenpossessedbythebabyisrapidlyoxidizedanditiscompelledtodrawuponitsproteinsformaintenance.Itwillberecalledthatthegrowinginfantutilizesitsproteinsprimarilyforthebuildingupoftissueandthatitnormallyexcreteslessnitrogenthanisconsumed.

Kunde(1923)says:“Carlsonsuggeststhatthehighermetabolismafterprolongedfastsmaybeduetotemporaryexcessactivityofsuchglandsas thethyroidandthegonads,glandsthatseemtohavedirecteffectsonthemetabolicrate.Itiswellestablishedthatfastinginducesmarkedatrophyoftheseglands.Therecuperationoftheseglands,ontheresumptionofeating,maycarrythem,forawhile,beyondthelevelofactivitynormalfortheageofthesubject.Thiswouldinallprobabilityleadtoahigherbasalmetabolism”(p.444).

Thatthisexplanationisincorrectisevidentfromthefollowingconsiderations:

1. Fastingdoesnotcauseatrophyoftheglands.Atrophytakesplaceinstarvation.2. Thereisnoreasontobelievethatatrophiedglandswillfunctionexcessively.Theywouldbe

morelikelytofunctiondeficiently.3. Theincreasedmetabolicratebeginsimmediatelyupontheresumptionofeating,beforethe

“atrophied”glandshavehadtimetorecuperate.

Glaze (1928) writes that one result of a two weeks’ fast which he observed was a markedintensificationofthesexualimpulseafterthefastwasover,thoughitwaslargelyinhibitedduringthefast.Thiscertainlycannotbeduetoatrophyofthegonads.Itindicatesincreasedgonadalefficiencycorrespondingtotheincreasedacutenessofthesensesofsight,taste,smell,hearingandfeeling.Wewould not attribute better eyesight following a fast to optic atrophy or better hearing to auditoryatrophy.

One is constrained to ask, what is the “level of (glandular) activity normal for the age of thesubject?”Thelevelofactivitypresentedintheoldmanandwomanoftodayisapathologicallevelratherthanaphysiologicalorbiologicalnorm.

Kundedwellsatlengthontheincreasedmetabolicrate(oxygenconsumption)followingafastandsuggeststhatthismaybeduetothecellmembranesbecomingmorepermeabletofoodthanbeforethefast.Thedoctordoesnotseemtounderstandthesignificanceoftoxineliminationbyfasting.Lackof understanding of toxemia and its role in reducing physiological processes leads to muchmisinterpretationofphenomena.

Kundecontinues:“Butthefactthatthereisatendencyforthemetabolicratetoreturntoitsformerlevelpointstointernalco-ordinatingprocessesthatarenotpermanentlyalteredbyfasting”(1923,p.443).But thismaypoint to a speedy reproductionof theprefasting“physiological” conditionbyareturn to the formermode of living.Living cannot be left out of the formula.What ismeant, forexample,byanormaldiet?Newprotoplasmbuiltbya“normal”dietmaynotbeofbetterqualitythanthatlostduringthefast.

RespirationThisisoneofthefundamentalorganicfunctionswhichMorgulisstatesisimprovedbyfasting.The

remarkableeffectsoffastinguponthebreathingofasthmaticscanbereallyappreciatedonlybythosewhohavewatcheditinmanycases.

During the fast the excretion of carbon dioxide decreases. During the first stage of the fast theamountofcarbondioxideproducedgrowssteadilylessasthefastprogresses,untilthefastinglevelformetabolismisreached.Thisisduetodecreasedactivityandloweredmetabolism,andnottoanylesseningoftheefficiencyoftheexcretoryfunctionofthelungs.Thebreathisexceedinglyfoul;somuchsoattimesthatonecanhardlyremaininthesameroomwiththepatient.

EliminationFasting is nature’s own method of ridding the body of “diseased” tissues, excess nutriment and

accumulationsofwasteandtoxins.NothingelsewillincreaseeliminationIhrougheverychannelofexcretionaswillfasting.Nothingelseaffordstheorgansofeliminationthesameopportunitytocatchupwiththeworktheyarebehindonandthusbringtheirworkuptodate.

At the startof the fast thereoccursa temporary increase ineliminationover theamountsusuallythrownout,afterwhich there followsavery rapiddrop to lower levels.The fastingbodystrikesanew balance of excretion, one which represents a closer approach to the true wastes of the dailyactivitiesoflife.Muchofthelargeramountseliminateddailyprevioustothefastwasduetothedailyintakeofmuchmore food than thebody required.As soon as this surplus is excreted, eliminationseeksalowerlevel.

Asthefastprogresses,thebloodandlymph(lymphmakesupfrom25percentto35percentofthebodyweight; blood only amounts to about 5 per cent of bodyweight) becomes purified; pent-upexcretions are expelled from the body; the nervous system and all the vital organs rest. As thenervous system secures relief, body and mind become rested and the bodily irritations that havecausedthementalirritationsandthementalbadconductcease;indeed,theindividualis“madeover.”Ridding the cells and fluids of accumulated toxins accounts formost of the benefits derived fromfasting.Thebenefitslastuntilthetoxinsreaccumulateandinmostcases,thistakesplacequiterapidlyduetosubsequentreturntoatoxogenicmodeofliving.

Onegreatsourceoftoxinsisdecomposingfoodinthedigestivetract.Fastingsooneliminatesthiscompletely. The alimentary canal becomes practically free of bacteria. Only a week of fasting isrequiredtoresultinthecompletedisappearanceofallgermsfromthestomach.Thesmall intestinebecomessterile.Thehibernatingbearandotherhibernatinganimalslosealltheircolonbacilliduringhibernation.Typhoidcasesthatfastthroughtheirillnessarefreeof“typhoidbacilli”attheendoftheacutestageandarenot“dangerous”as“carriers.”

OrganicHouseCleaningThe vital cells of the bodymust be nourished during the fast. These are nourished off the food

reserves stored in the body and off the less essential tissues, or off the salvable portions of the“diseased”anddeadtissues.Thebodypossessespowertorefineandusethematerialsithasonhandduringa fastof reasonable length.Thepopularbelief that immediatelyupon thediscontinuanceofmealsthebloodandsolidstructuresofthebodybegintobreakdownandthatorganicdestructionsetsin,isunfoundedasisprovedbytheresultsobtainedinmanythousandsofcasesoffastingpatients.The vital cells of the organs and glands of the body, those cells doing the actual physical andchemicalworkoftheseorgans,donotbegintodisintegrateuntilactualstarvation•ets in.Weknowthatitisnotuntilthetotalofthebody’sreserveshavebeenconsumedthatdeathfromstarvationsetsinanditisonlyaftertheseareconsumedthatnaturewillpermitasinglevitalorgantobedamaged.Underfavorableconditionsofrestandwarmththesereservestoresmayholdoutforweeksandevenmonths.

The faster lives on the same thing when fasting as when eating, the difference being that wheneating,hereplenisheshisnutritivestoreseachday,whileinfastinghegraduallyconsumesthem.Thefaster lives on those portions of his body which represent stored food and not upon the vital orfunctioningtissuesofhisbody.Thevitalcellsarenotinjuredunlessthefastisprolongedbeyondthepointwhere all the body’s nutritive reserves are consumed and no fasting advocate believes in orpracticessuchathing.

Thefastingbodybeginstogrowsmaller,andinordertomaintaintheintegrityofitsvitalorgans,itutilizes all the surplus material it has on hand. Growths, deposits, effusions, dropsical swellings,infiltrations,fat,etc.,areabsorbedandusedtosupporttheseorgans.Withnodigestivedrudgeryonhand,natureemploysthelongdesiredleisureforgeneralhousecleaningpurposes.Accumulationsofsurplus tissues are overhauled and analyzed; the available component parts are turned over to thedepartmentofnutrition,whiletherefuseisthoroughlyandpermanentlyremoved.

Emaciationfrees thebodyofexcess inertmaterials in its tissuesandproves thereby tobeagreatboon.Oneofthefirstthingsthatnaturedoesinanacute“disease”istocastoffalotofhersurplusweight.Shedispenseswith theunnecessaryburden.The loweringofweight is anaturalmethodofdefense.Itrepresentsareductionofthebody’snutritivelabors,sothatthesemaybefulfilledwithout

exhaustingthevisceralorgans.

There is no knownmeasure that is equal to fasting as ameans of accelerating the processes ofelimination. When food is withheld, only a short time elapses before the organs of eliminationincrease theirwork of throwing off accumulatedwaste products. Secretions begin a physiologicalhousecleaning.

Carrington and others insist that in fasting accumulatedwaste and toxins are eliminated first anduntiltheseareeliminatednoneofthereallyvaluabletissuesofthebodywillbedestroyed.Thisistosay,excess foodmaterials in thebodyanddiseased tissuesareutilized first in the fast. Carrington,indeed, thinks that “the whole physiology of the fast is contained in” this principle. He says that“weaknessisduenottolackoffood,buttothepoisonsofthedisease;emaciation isduenot to thefact that too little food is supplied the system, but to the fact that disease wastes the body—bypoisoningit.”

ActionsInRelationToPoisonsThenervoussystemofthefasterbecomesrelativelylargerthanatothertimesanditssensibilities

becomemoreacute.Forthisreason,theactionsofthebodyinrelationtodrugsaremorepromptandvigorous when fasting than when feeding. Because this is so, fasting usually compels one todiscontinueone’sdrughabits.Thiswillbediscussedmorefullyinalaterchapter.Thefastershouldavoiddrugsofallkinds.

XI.TheMindandSpecialSensesDuringaFastSpiritualPowersInsanity“AbnormalPsychism”TheSpecialSenses

Thementaleffectsoffastinghavebeenknownforagesandhavebeenmuchdiscussedbyallwritersonfasting.AfewyearsagoagroupofyoungmenandwomenattheUniversityofChicagolivedforoneweekwithout food. During this period they attended their classes and engaged in their usualsports, following out their usual routine. Their mental alertness was so much greater during theperiod that theirprogress in their schoolworkwascitedas remarkable.Several repetitionsof thisexperiment,alwayswiththesameresults,provedthatthiswasnotexceptional.

All the purely mental powers of man improve while fasting. The ability to reason is increased.Memoryisimproved.Attentionandassociationarequickened.Theso-calledspiritualforcesofman—intuition,sympathy,love,etc.—areallincreased.Allofman’sintellectualandemotionalqualitiesare given new life. At no other time can the purely intellectual and aesthetic activities be sosuccessfullypursuedasduringafast.Sinclair(1910)says:“Iwentoutdoorsandlayinthesunallday,reading; and the same for the third and fourth days—intense physical lassitude, but with greatclearnessofmind.AfterthefifthdayIfeltstronger,andwalkedagooddeal,andIalsobegansomewriting.Nophaseoftheexperiencesurprisedmemorethantheactivityofmymind:IreadandwrotemorethanIhaddaredtodoforyearsbefore”(p.743).

Peopleseemtolearnfasterwhenhungryandtoratehigherinintelligencetestswhenhungrythanwhenthestomachisfull.Thismeansthat,astheoldRomansusedtosay:“afullstomachdoesnotliketothink.”Thiswellexpressesafactthatisknowntoallmentalworkers.Afullmealleavesthemdull,unabletothinkclearlyandcontinuouslyandoftenmakesthemstupidandsleepy.Mentalworkershavelearned to eat a light breakfast and lunch and have their heavymeal in the evening after the day’swork isdone.When Iwasahighschoolboy, Iused tomiss ameal entirelywhen Iknew Ihadanexaminationahead.AtthattimeIknewnothingoffasting,butIhadlearnedthatIcouldthinkbetteronanemptystomach.Thesefactsareduetophysiologicalcauses.Largeamountsofbloodandnervousenergieshave tobesent to thedigestiveorgans todigestameal. If theseenergiesarenot requiredthere,theymaybedrawnuponbythebraininthinking.

Inmyexperiencewithfasting,Iseldomseeanyincreaseinmentalpowersatthebeginningofafast.Thisisbecausewedealwiththesickandthesepeopleareallinebriatesandaddicts—foodinebriates,coffeeandtea inebriates, tobaccoandalcoholaddicts.Assoonas these thingsare takenfromthemtheysufferaperiodofdepressionwithheadachesandvariousslightpains.Afterafewdays,thatis,when the body has had sufficient time to readjust itself and overcome the depression, the mindbrightensup.Thespecialsensesalsobecomeacute.

Levanzinsays:“But ifphysicalstrength isnot lostduringafast, thementalpowerandclarityareextraordinarilyincreased.Memorydevelopsitselfinawonderfulway,imaginationisatitsbest.”Oneofthemostremarkablethingsaboutthefast,onethatimpressespatientsevenmorethanthephysicalgainsmadewhilefasting,isthementalbenefitthataccruesfromaperiodofabstinence.Theclearnessofthemind,theeasewithwhichpreviouslydifficultproblemscanbehandled, the improvementof

memory,etc.,allsurpriseandpleasethepatients.Theseimprovementsmustbeattributedtoclearingthebodyoftoxins.

Thealmostuniversal testimonyof fasters is that theirmindbecomesclearerand their abilities tothinkandsolveintricateproblemsareenhanced.Theyaremorealertandtheirmindsseemtoopenupintonewfields.Thisincreaseinmentalpowermaynotmanifestinthefirstfewdaysofthefast,duetothe fact that when patients are taken off their coffee, tea, alcohol, and stimulating viands, there islikelytobeageneralphysicalandmental let-down.Butaftera fewdays, re-actionsets inand theyimprovebothphysically andmentally.Experimentson students have shown that short fasts greatlyenhancementalpowers.

Whyshouldfastingresultinanincreaseinmentalabilities?Primarily,Ithink,becauseitaffordsthebodyanopportunitytothrowoffitsloadoftoxins,hencethebrainisfedbyacleanerblood-stream.Secondarily, I think that the restofall the functionsof life that fastingprovides, supplies thebrainwith more power to think. Who can doubt that modern living tends to dull the mental powers?Especiallyournationaldrugaddictions andour almostuniversal overeating tend to reducementalabilities.

SpiritualPowersAfewwordsabouttheeffectsoffastingupontheso-calledspiritualpowersmaybeappropriately

introducedhere.Indetailinghisexperiencesduringhisfortydays’fast, takensomeyearssince.Dr.Tannersaid:“Mymentalpowersweregreatlyaugmented, to theverygreatsurpriseofmymedicalattendants, who were constantly on watch for mental collapse, which was freely predicted, if Ipersisted in theexperimentuntil the tenthday.About themiddleofmyfirstexperiment, I, too, hadvisions;likePaulofold,Iseemedtobeintromittedtothethirdheavenandtheresawthingswhichnoteven the pen ofMilton or Shakespeare could portray in all their vivid reality. As a result of myexperiment, Icametocomprehendwhytheoldprophetsandseerssooftenresorted to fastingasameansofspiritualillumination.”

Thatthementalpowersofthefasterareelevatedinsteadofdecreasedbythefast,Ihaveshown,butIpause here to expressmy opinion about these visions that fasters see. They are, I believe, due tohysteriaorautohypnosis.Theyareseenbypeoplewhoarecalledpsychicwhichmeanstheyareeasilyswayed by suggestion, particularly auto-suggestion. Fasting tends to increase temporarily thissuggestibility and for this reason was and is employed by all mystic religions for purposes of“illumination.”Auto-suggestion,duringthesereligiousfaststakestheformoffrequentandrepeatedprayers.Toaddtothereligiouspowerofthefast,sexualdesiresdisappearandthoughtsofsexceasetoobtrudeupon themind. In India thepriests connectedwith the sacred templesarepledged to thestrictestchastity.TheHinduhighpriestisforcedtoundergoalongperiodoftrainingandpurificationandtopassthroughmanyseveretrialstoprovethathehasthoroughlyconqueredhissexualappetitesandpassionsandhasthemwellundercontrolofthehigherpowersofmindbeforeheisadmittedtothepriesthood.Inthesedayswhenthefallaciesofpsychologyandpsycho-analysisareonthelipsofeveryone and when feminine leaders declare chastity and continence to be neither desirable norpracticableandinsistthattheywouldbeharmfulifputintoeffect,methodsofattainingself-controlinmattersofsexarefrownedupon.Thisfeatureoffastingmaynot,therefore,appealtomanywhoreadthese lines. Fasting does increase one’s control over all one’s appetites and passions and thiswillaccountinsomemeasureforitsusebyhighpriestsandothersinthereligionsofold.

Insanity

Nowheredoesthebeneficialofficeofphysiologicalrestinenhancingmentalclearnessshowmoreclearlythaninfastingbytheinsane.Ishallhavemoretosayaboutthisinafuturechapter.Hereitisnecessary only to deal with it briefly. Dr. Dewey tells of an insane woman who was completelyrestoredtosanitybyafastofforty-fivedays.Dr.Rabagliatitellsofsimilarcases,althoughhemoreoftenemployedgreatlyrestricteddiets,ratherthanacompletefast.Asmallquantityofwheyeachdaywasafavoriteofhis.

Thecommonpracticeistofeednervouspatientsallthe“goodnourishingfood”theycanbeinducedtoswallow.If theyaredeprivedoffoodand theiraccustomedstimulants, there followsaperiodofdepressionandanincreasednervousirritability.Feedinganddruggingsmotherthesesymptomsjustasadoseofmorphinerelievestheaddictwhoissufferingfromforcedabstinencefromhisdrug,andthis leads physician and patient to believe he is improved thereby. Yet, these very measures, sofrequentlyemployedtocure,areoftenthecauseofnervousness.

Ifsuchpatientsarepermittedtofastforafewdays,aremarkablechangeoccursintheirmentalandnervous symptoms. One example must suffice. A young lady once consulted me. She was soextremely nervous that if her husband only pointed his finger at her and said ‘boo!” she wouldbecome hysterical, laughing and crying alternately for sometime before she would finally regaincomposure.Alittlenoiseinthehouseoroutsideatnightfrightenedher.Shewasplacedonafast. Itlasted only a week, but her nervousness was completely overcome in this short time. Nothingfrightenedheranymoreandnothingwouldcausehertobecomehysterical.

Benedict(1907)says:“Acharacteristicofmanydelusionsisarevulsiontowardsfoodanddrink,somarkedindeedthatinmanyinstancesalltheskillofthetrainedpsychiatristisrequiredtocombatit.Inalargeproportionofsuchcases,artificialfeedingmustberesortedto”(p.3).Herecountsanumberofcasesfromtheliteratureofthesubject,noneofwhichwillbementionedhere.Letmestate,withasmuchemphasisasIcan,thattherejectionoffoodbythesepatientsis,inmyopinion,notsomethingtobecombattedbuttobeaccepted.Insteadofforcedfeeding,theyshouldbepermittedtofast.Isaythis,notalonebecauseIknowofthebenefitstobederivedfromfasting,butalsobecauseIhaveseensuchcasespermitedtocontinuethefastandrecoversanitywhilestillfasting.Asmyobservationsinthisfieldhavenecessarilybeenlimited,Ihavenomeansofknowingwhatpercentageofthemwouldthusrecover. It ismyopinion that the revulsion to food is an instinctivemove in the right direction ascertainlyasisthecuttingoffofthedesireforfoodinacutedisease.

Kelloggsuggestsa“blanddiet”“incasesofinsanepersonswhorefusetoeatandmustbenourishedby tube feeding.” I helped care for one such case andwe premitted him to fast. For forty days hecontinuedtorefusefood,thenhedevelopedanuncontrollablehungerandwouldinvadethekitchen,ifnotwatched,andget foodatall times.Theyoungmanmadegreat improvementbothmentallyandphysicallyandwasabletorunandalsotoputupastifffightwheneffortsweremadetorestrainhiminsomeofhisactions.Hecommittedsuicidebeforehisrecoverywascomplete,however.

Insanity is frequently overcomewhile fasting, and practically all cases are improved by the fast.Max Nordau declared: “Pessimism has a physiological basis.” It really has what we call apathologicalbasisandthis is removedbyfasting.Manycasesofparalysisof the throat, legs,armsandotherformsofparalysishaveyieldedtothekindlyinfluenceoffasting.

Dr.Kritzer,followingtheleadofDr.HenryLindlahr,warnedagainstfastinginmental,nervousand“psychicdiseases.”“Bewareofanemptystomachinmelancholia,”hesaid,“forthepatient’sconstant

broodingcausesacongestionofblood in thebrain,andunless theblood iswithdrawnthrough theprocessofdigestion,thechancesofaggravationofthementalsymptomsareincreased.Allpersonsnegativelyinclinedphysically,mentallyorpsychically—the‘sensitivetypes’—wouldfarebetteronaproperlybalanceddietratherthanfasting,eventhoughforshortperiods.”

Wemust deplore thismixing of occultism and spiritualismwith physiology and dietetics. I onceplacedona fast,apsychicwomanwhohadpreviouslybeenwarned thata fastwouldruinher.Sheimproved steadily during the fast and went on to good health. I do not hesitate toMoras tells ofplacingawomanonadietofstrainedorangejuicewho“hadbeeninsaneforeightmonthsandtreatedbyeminentneurologists.”Insevendaysthegirlcalledforfoodandinsixweekswasnormal.Shewas“psychic.” I have found it best, in those caseswho have had shock treatment and long periods on“nerve”drugstoemployrelativelyshortfasts,twoormore,ratherthanthelongfast.

Dr.Kritzer said: “The ill effect ofprolonged fastingupon thenervous system is, however,morepronouncedandoflongerduration.Indeed,the individualdrifts intoanegativecondition,becomesirritableandextremelysensitive.

“Itoftenrequiresyearsofcareful livinginorder tosuccessfullyovercometheshockreceivedbythenervoussystemafteraninjudiciouslongfast.”

Dr.Kritzerhadnotbeenstudying fasting;butamixtureof fastingwithhotandcoldbaths, spinalmanipulations, massage, electrical treatment, psychotherapy and other such forms of destructivenonsense.Fastingdoesnotproducetheeffectsheattributestoit.Thedepletionofthenervoussystemhe and others write about, is due to the insane abuse in the form of so-called treatment to whichpatients are often subjected in most drugless and semi-drugless institutions, and often occur inpatientsthatarefed.“Thosewhoobtainthebestresultsfromfastingandproperdieting,”toquoteDr.Weger, “are those whosemental state is not shattered by the long continued use of drugs and bypsychicshock.”Hemakesthisobservationwithparticularreferencetocasesofepilepsy,butitistrueingeneral.Bythis isnotmeant thateventhesecasesdonotderivebenefit fromfastingandproperdiet,butmerelythatthebenefitisnotsoapparentandrequires,often,muchlongertimetomakeitselfmanifest.

LennoxandCobb(1928),oftheHarvardUniversityMedicalSchool,experimentedwithfasting inepilepsy and reported that except inonepatient therewas little permanent effect on the “seizures.”They found that in the majority of the cases the “seizures” were entirely absent or were greatlyreducedduring the fast,but that these returnedwith the resumptionof eating.As this experience iswhollyoutofkeepingwithmyownIshallmakeafewremarksconcerningthe“essentiallynegativeresults of fasting”which they report. Letme say that I have had only two cases in which the fitsreturned after the fast. I recall one case, however, which was in a sanatorium with which I wasconnected.Thispatient had two fasts of about twentydays each.Themilkdietwas employed aftereach fast. Itwas found that ifmore than sixquarts ofmilkwere consumed in oneday a “seizure”wouldresult.Itwasalsofoundthatifhewasgivenmilkforsixdaysandnofoodofanykindonthe7thday,hewouldgoforlongperiodswithouttrouble;butassoonashetookmilkonthe7thdayhehad a “seizure.” This case very forcibly illustrates the relation of eating habits to the “disease.”Anotherofmycasesthathadbeenhavingoneandtwo“seizures”aweek,didnothaveoneseizureduringoverthreemonthsundermyobservationafterafastoflessthanaweek.Thefastwasfollowedwith proper diet and living reform. The fasting cases of Lennox and Cobb lasted from four to

twentyone days, and the longer fastswere certainly long enough to produce great benefit in thesecases.Theythinkthatiffastingwereemployedintheearlystagesofthe“disease”theresultsmightbemoreencouraging.Theyalsosaythatitwouldbestrangeif“anyacutetherapeuticdieteticmeasure”shouldgivelastingresultsinachronicconditionlikeepilepsy.

Iwouldsay,however, inviewofmyownexperience, that their lackofknowledgeof fastingandespecially their lack of knowledge of proper feeding after the fast, is responsible for their partialresults.Theeffectsoffastingareprofoundandlasting,butthesemaybetotallyspoiledbyinjudiciouscare.Dr.Weger says: “It is concededby physicians thatmost epileptic seizures are precipitated bygastrointestinalderangement,gastrichyperacidityand intestinal fermentation,evenbyaveryslightdeviationfromnormalatanyperiodofthedigestivecycle.Themostfrequentsourceofirritationisthe colon.” One of my cases noticed pain in the left pelvic region and a knotting of the colonprecedingeach“seizure.”Therewasafailureofcolonicfunctionbeforeeach“attack”withalossofappetite.

Ifgooddigestionissoimportantinthesecases,itshouldbequiteobviousthat thepermanencyoftheresultsobtainedbyfastingmustdependlargelyuponproperfeedingandpropergeneralcareafterthefast.AsDr.Wegersays,“Itisabsurdtolookforgoodresultsinthisclassofcasesunlesssomeattentionisgiventothekindandcombinationoffood.Ifthesamekind,quality,andquantityoffoodispermittedafterthefastthatthepatientwasinthehabitoftakingbeforethefast,theexperiment isdoomedtofailure.”

Fastingandprayerwereprominentamongtheremediesemployedby theancients inepilepsy.Dr.Rabagliatisaysthatthebestremedyforepilepsy“consistsofacarefulrestrictionofthediet.***Ihaveformanyyearsnowadvised restrictionof theacutecases inepilepsy to twomealsdaily, andsometimesone,and inacutecaseshave recommended furtherandgreater restriction toapintorapintandahalfofmilkdailyforaconsiderableperiodoftime.***Fastinginfact,seemstobeofverygreatefficacyinthetreatmentofepilepsy.”

“AbnormalPsychism”Dr. Henry Lindlahr conjured into being a condition to which he applied the term “abnormal

psychism,”whichhesaidoftenresultedincertiantypesofindividualswhentheyfastedforprolongedperiods. Ihave foundno reference toany suchmental aberrations in thewritingof anyothermanwhohashadgreatexperiencewiththefast,andIhaveseennothingresemblingitinmyownpractice.Nonetheless,asconclusionsbasedonLindlahr ’sstatementsaboutthisconditionwererevivedbytheauthorsofBasicNaturopathy(atextbookforstudentsofnaturopathy),Ithinkitwisetoconsiderhisstatements.Beforegoingintoitmoreindetail,letmesaythatIonceheardastudentaskDr.Lindlahrif he had ever thought of these examples of “abnormal answer, he delivered a lengthy talk on thedifferencebetweentheoryandexperience.Yet,hedidnotdissociatehisexperience fromhis theory;or, since it all stems from the darkened seance room, where magic, slight-o-hand, and manymechanicaldevisesareemployed toplayupon thecredulityof thepeople,hadwenotbettercall itsuperstition,ratherthantheory?

I am of the opinion that such developments, if they do occur, are due to other causes. They dodevelop in people who are not fasting. Many fasting patients have lost their abnormal mentalconditions while fasting. All who have had extended experience with fasting have seen cases ofinsanity recover healthwhile on the fast andmany othersmake great improvement while fasting.Knowing that Dr. Hazzard had had many years of experience with fasting I wrote her for her

experiencewith “abnormal psychism” in the fast. She replied in a letter tome datedDecember 8,1931, that thenotion that fastingproducessuchconditions is“absolutelywrong”and that,“Fastingseemstoclarifymentality,nottocloudit.Norwillitdevelopanyabnormalmentalsymptoms.”

The nearest approach to such a condition that I have found recorded in fasting literature, is onerelatedbyCarrington.Hesays:“Thepatientbecamepractically insane from the second to the fifthdayofthefast—normalconditionsbeingrestoredonthefifthday.Whenoncethecrisiswaspassed,noindicationsofsuchaconditioneverrecurred;thementalitybecame,ontheotherhand,farclearerthaninyears—indicatingthattheconditionwastransitoryandmerelyacurativecrisis;oneaspectofthe vital upheaval, affecting, by chance, thementality. In this case, the condition was undoubtedlybroughtaboutbytheexcessive,morbidactionof theliver,whichwasgreatlyderanged,causinganexcessive flow of bile; and to a disordered circulation. Thiswas undoubtedly the cause, since thepatient also turned almost green during these days—her complexion becoming normal as the fastprogressed”(1908,p.535).

Lindlahr (1919) says: “Next to thehypnoticormediumisticprocess, there is nothing that inducesabnormal psychism as readily as fasting. During a prolonged fast the purely animal functions ofdigestion, assimilation, etc. are almost completely at a standstill. This depression of the physicalfunctions arouses and increases the psychic functions andmay produce intense emotionalism andabnormal activity of the senses of the spiritual material body, the individual thus becomingabnormallyclairvoyant,clairaudientandotherwisesensitivetoconditionsonthespiritualplanesoflife”(p.324).Headds:“Thisexplainsthespiritualexaltation,visionsofheavenly’scenesandbeingsorthefightswithdemonswhicharefrequently,indeeduniformlyreportedbyhermits,ascetics,saints,yogi,fakirsanddervishes”(p.324).

Unhesitatingly, I pronounce thismere twaddle. Inmore than forty years of experience in fastingpatients,inallconditionsandatallages

life,Ihaveneverseenasingledevelopmentsuchasheheredescribes.Ihaveconductedwelloverthirty-five thousand fasts, ranging from a few days to ninety days in duration.Men, women, andchildren, the stolid and the high-strung, the atheist and the religious, the nervous and the mentalsuffererandothershavebeenamongthosewhohavefastedundermycareandnoneofthemhaseverbecome clairvoyant or clairaudient. None of them has become “sensitive” to conditions on anyhypothetical“spiritualplanesofexistence.”Noneofthemhashada“heavenlyvision,”noneofthemhas had any fightswith any devils, nor has any of them ever become hypnotically controlled “by‘positive’ intelligences either on the physical or on the spiritual plane of being”—hypnotism ormediumism.Lindlahrfranklybelievedindemonicobsessionorpossessionor,ashealsophrasedit“spirit control.” He says “spirit ‘controls’ often force their subjects to abstain from food, thusrenderingthemstillmorenegativeandsubmissive.”Hethoughtit“littleshortofcriminal”to“placepersonsofthenegative,sensitivetypeonprolongedfastsandthustoexposethemtothedangersjustdescribed.”

Theoreticallyavegetarian,althoughreportedfrequentlytoindulgeinflesh,Lindlahrsaysthatthese“negative”and“sensitive”peopleneed “an abundanceof thepositivedairyproducts andvegetablefoodsinorder tobuildupandstrengthentheirphysicalbodiesandtheirmagneticenvelopeswhichformthedividingandprotectingwallbetweentheterrestrialandastralplanes”(p.325).Thismixingof spiritualism and occultism with physiology could but lead him to many false conclusions and

manyerroneouspractices.

Uptothepresentwriting(1963)Ihavehadeightcasesofmentalconfusioninmyownpracticeand,asIreviewthesecases,onethingstandsoutveryprominentlyinallofthem;namely,eachandeveryoneofthepatientswasamarkedneurotic.Threeofthempresentedhistoriesofpreviousperiodsofmental aberration.Oneof thesepatientshadbeen thoroughly examined at one of themost famousclinicsinAmericaandherhusbandhadbeentoldbythephysiciansattheclinic,that,duetohardeningofthearteriesinthebrain,shewouldultimatelybecomeinsane.NoneofthesepatientshasresembledanythingdescribedbyDr.Lindlahrandtherewerenosignsthattheywerebeingcontrolledby“spiritbeings.”

Someyearsagoawomanwasbroughtinfromadistantcitywhowastroubledbywhatshecalled“elementals.”Forseveralyearsshehaddabbledinoccultismandspiritualismandhadstudiedwiththeswamiesand shewas convinced that every night these “elementals”were annoying her. She fastedseveraldaysandshelosther“elementals”andthesymptomsthattheyweresupposedtobeinducinginthefirsttwoweeksofherfast.Meateatinghadnotsavedherfromher“negative”and“sensitive”state;fastingsoonbroughtheroutofit.Iamconvincedthatthedevelopmentsintheaforementionedeightcaseswereinthenatureofcrisesandthattheywereinnowiseduetofastingandshallsetforthmyreasonsforthinkingso.Theyare:

1. Theconditiondevelopsextremelyrarely,whereas,ifthefastwereresponsibleforitsdevelopment,itwouldbecommon.

2. Ithasnotdevelopedinthosepatientswhohavehadthelongestfasts,butinallsavetwocases,afterrelativelyshortfasts.Ifthefastproducesthetrouble,thelongerfastsshouldbetheonesafterwhichthetroubledevelops.Inonepatientthementalsymptomsdevelopedafteronlyninedaysoffasting.Itiswelltonotethatafterasubsequentfastofoverthirtydays,thispatienthadnosuchdevelopments.

3. Thesymptomsnevermanifestwhilethefastisinprogress,butonlyafterithasbeenbroken,thefirstsymptomssoappearingthreedaystotwoweeksafterthefasthasended.Iftheconditionresultsfromthefast,itshoulddevelopatleastpartofthetimewhilethepatientisfasting.

4. Theconditiondevelopsonlyincertaintypesofindividuals,andinthesetypesofcases,suchdevelopmentsarequitecommonwhileeatingthreesquaremealsadayinpeoplewhoneverfast.WhileIhaveemphasizedthefactthatthesedevelopmentsoccur,sofarasmyexperienceextends,onlyinpronouncedneurotics,theyarerare,eveninthesepatients.Ihavehadmanyneuroticstofastforprolongedperiodsandreceivenothingbutbenefit.Nomentalandnervoussymptomshavedevelopedduringorafterthefastinallsave,theeightwearehereconsidering.

5. Intwoofmycasesthetroublehasdevelopedafterperiodsofgreatphysicalstressgrowingoutoftheirdiseasesandwouldseemtohavebeenduetothedrainplaceduponthembytheirdiseases.Oneofthese,amanwhodevelopedaseverediarrhealateinthefastthatlastedforseveraldays,hadslightconfusionforthreedaysafterhisfastwasbroken,buthenevergrewirrational.Thedysenteryconstitutedaseriousdrainuponhispowersandresources.Asecondcasewasunabletotakefoodafterthereturnofhunger.Forthreedaysshevomitedallfoodgivenher.Thereaftershewasabletoretainfood,andaftershehadbeguntoeat,shedevelopedmentalsymptomsthatlastedforaboutthreeweeks.

6. Certainofthesepatientswhohadhadsuchdisturbancesbeforefastinghavehadnonesince.Thisistosay,thetroublethatfollowedbreakingthefastwastheendoftheirmentaltroubles.Onewomanwhohadhadsuchperiodsofconfusionbeforegoingonthefast,hadsuchaperiodafter

thefastwasbroken,andhashadnomoresuchtroublesforeighteenyears.7. Inonecase,atleast,theclearingupofthementalsymptomshasbeenaccompaniedbythe

disappearanceofothersymptomsthatwereoflongstanding.Thiswoman,aneurotic,psychoticanddrug-poisonedpatient,becameconfusedthreedaysafterthefastwasbroken(shehadhadsuchperiodsbeforefasting)andremainedsoforaperiodofaboutsevendays.Whenshebecamenormal,certainsubjectiveheadsymptomsofwhichshehadcomplainedforoverayearweregoneanddidnotrecur.

8. Mostofthesepatientsarenowholdingresponsiblepositionsandareenjoyinggoodmentalhealth.

Thereisnomeansofprovingthatthesepeoplewouldhavehadthesedevelopmentsatthetimestheydidhadtheynotfasted,butIthinktheinferenceisplainthattheywouldhave.Inatleastfourofthesecases,previoussuchperiodswhileeatingpointinthisdirection.IntwoothercasesinwhichIhavenopositiveproofofprevioussuchperiods,Ihavesomeevidencethatsuchperiodsofmentaldisturbancehad been previously experienced. If we add to this the frequent and great beneficial results thataccompany and follow fasting in severe neurotic conditions and in cases of actual insanity, theevidenceseemstobecompletethatthefastisnotresponsiblefortheseconditions.Itmaywellbesaidthatthechiefresultofthefastistoretardtheirdevelopment,oreven,inmanycases,topreventthemaltogether.

Inconsideringthesedevelopments,itiswellforustokeepinmindtheabilityofthebodytonourishand sustain the brain and nervous system and to maintain their functional and structural integritythroughoutthemostprolongedfastbydrawinguponitsnutritivereserves,andtheactualbenefitthatis seen to accrue to the nervous system in many cases of paralysis, neuritis, neuralgia, variousneuroses and even in insanity,while fasting, even prolonged fasting, all ofwhich should stronglyindicatethatthebrainandnervesarenotinjured.

TheSpecialSensesDue,nodoubttowronglife,man’ssensesarecomparativelydulled.Inallcasesoffastingthesenses

becomemoreacute.SoinvariableanddistinctiveisthisthatHygienistshavelongregardeditasmoreor less certain evidence that the patient is fasting. ProfessorMorgulis says that “the acuity of thesenses is increased by fasting” and that at the end of his thirty-one days abstinence from food“Levanzincouldseetwiceasfarashedidatthebeginningofthefast.”

Theacutenessofperceptionismostmarkedinfastingcases.Manyusersofglassesareenabledtodiscard theirglassesandseeaswellaseverwithout them. Ihavehadonecomplete recovery fromcompleteblindnessinoneeyewhilefasting.Invariablytheeyesbecomeclearandbright.

Thereareoccasionalfastersinwhom,towardstheendofaveryprolongedfast,visiongrowsdimandcoordinationoftheireyesisimpaired.Theyseedouble,seespotsfloatingbeforetheireyes,andareunabletoread.Thisisatemporaryweaknessthatdisappearsafterthefastisbroken.Ihaveneverseenanypermanentinjuryfollowintheserelativelyrarecases,buthaveseendistinctandpermanentimprovementinvisionfollow.Peoplewho,beforethefastwereunabletogetalongwithoutglasses,havebeenabletodiscontinuetheiruseafterrecoveringfromthistemporaryweakness.

Thesenseoftouchisinvariablysharpened.Itisnoteasytodeterminethestateofthesenseoftasteduring the fast, but the patient invariably discovers that his sense of taste is more acute anddiscriminatingfollowingthefastthanbeforethefast.

The improvement in thesenseofhearing is,commonly,evenmoremarked than thatof theotherspecialsenses.Nodoubtpartofthisimprovementinthesenseofhearingresultsfromtheclearingupofcatarrhalconditionsintheearsandeustachiantubes.Partof it is theresultof thegeneralrise innervous condition. Although no one makes the claim that all deaf and near-deaf individuals canregaintheirhearingbyfasting,itis,nonetheless,afactthatmanydeafpeoplehavesoregainedtheirhearing. I had one patient who had been completely deaf in one ear for twenty-five years whoregainedherhearinginthirtydaysoffastingandwasabletohearherwatchtickatarm’slengthwithherformerlydeafear. Ihadonemanwhohadbeencompletelydeaf in the leftear forsixyears toregainhishearinginthisearonthethirty-sixthdayofafast.Itshouldbeunderstoodthatspectacularresults,suchastherecoveryofsightbytheblindandrecoveryofhearingbythedeafarenottobeexpectedasaregularresultofphysiologicrest.

Thesenseofsmellisinvariablysharpened,oftenasaresultofthedisappearanceofnasalcatarrh,buteveninthosecaseswherethereisnocatarrhofthenose,thesenseofsmellbecomesveryacute.Indeed,itsacutenessisoftensomarkedastobeasourceofdiscomfortduetothefactthatthefastersmellsdisagreeableodorsinhisenvironmentthatwerenotdetectedbeforethefast.Ontheotherhandhederivesaddedpleasurefromsmellingagreeableodors.

The following is from a letter from JohnW. Armstrong which was published in the Yorkshire(England)EveningPost,January16,1933,andillustratesnotmerelytheheightenedacutenessofthesense of smell produced by fasting, but also the strength and endurance an animalmay have afterfourteendayswithoutfood:

Shortly before thewar a discussion betweenRussian professors ofmedicine and a body ofphysicalculturistsresultedinanacidtestbeingmadeoftherespectivefitnessandsensitivitiesofwell-fedand“starving”(?)bodies.Wolveswerechosenforthistest,36animalsbeingkeptinapitwhereastreamoffreshrunningwaterwasdivertedtorunthroughandasimilarnumberoftheuntamedcreaturesplacedinasecondpitandfedeverydayonfreshrawmeatandwater.

For 36 hours the unfed wolves were restless and snappy, then, appearing to accept theinevitable, the pack grew quiet and lazy.Until the tenth day they proved the assertions of theNaturopathsthatthebodyneverfeedssocalmlyandeasilyaswhenfeedinguponitsowntissues,bysleepingmostofthetime.Towardsthe14thdaytheybegantogrowfierceandsuperactive,having lost all their flesh (the healthy flesh formed of natural food in the wilds in outdoorcreaturesmeltsreadilyandquicklyundertheinternalheatengenderedbytheprocessoffasting—thriceasquicklyasfleshformedfromcivilizedcookedandpreparedfood).

Thewolveshadreachedthatstagewherefastingisapproachingitsendandnaturalhungerissettingin,astageatwhichfoodmustbegiven.

Relasedonthe15thdaywithaherdofdeermanymilesbeyondthemandtowindwardofbothpackstheunfedpacktookscentfirst,setupthechaseandwhenovertakenbyfleetmotor-cars,hadcaughtupwiththeirpreyanddinedoffthekilleddeer,leavingnothingbutthebones.

I leave the reader to judgewhat thisproves,butwouldadd, inpassing, the findingsofmanyexperiencedobservers that fasting invariably restores, if conducted long enough, the sense ofsight,hearing,smell,tasteandtouch,andalsothegiftofspeechwhenlostasinseizures,shock,etc.

I do not agree that fastingwill invariably restore sight, hearing, smell, etc., but that it frequentlydoessoisnotamatterofdoubt.Therecanbenodoubtthatallofman’sspecialsensesaremoreorlessdulledorweakenedbycivilizedlifeandbyhis“disease”anddegeneracy.Infasting,withouttherecordedexceptionofasinglecase,thesensesareremarkablyimproved.Indeed,sodistinctiveasignisthisthatwelookuponitasevidencethatourpatient isfasting.Ihaveseenhearingrestoredonafast. Catarrhal deafness of long standing, where there are no adhesions in the eustachian tube, isalways improved or overcome. Hearing in those who consider their hearing normal becomes soacute that sounds that ordinarily are never heard are noticed often to the extent that the faster isannoyedbythem.Peoplewhohavebeendeafforyearsareenabledtohearthetickingofawatchandlowsoundsthatbeforewasimpossible.Ihaveseenthesensesoftasteandsmell,whichhadlongbeenparalyzed,restoredtotheirnormalconditionwhilefasting.Thesenseofsmellbecomessoacutethatthe faster is often annoyed by odors in his daily environment that he never before knew existed.Peoplewhohavewornglassesforyearsandwhocouldnotreadwithoutthemarefrequentlyenabledbyafasttodiscardtheirglassesandfindtheirsighttobeasgoodasever.Theeyesalsobecomeclearandbright.Thesenseoftouchbecomesveryacute.

Theweakeninganddeadeningofman’ssenseperceptionsisduechieflytodepletedenergyandtheaccumulation in the tissues of excess food and retained waste matter. Catarrh of the nose andthickeningofthenasalmucosamustalways impair thesenseofsmell.Thefastbycleaningout theexcesses and wastes and eliminating them from the system and also by permitting nervousrecuperation,removesthecausesofdulledsenses.

XII.SecretionsandExcretionsSalivaGastricJuiceBilePancreaticAndIntestinalJuicesMilkSweatMucusUrine

Thesecretionsofthebodyonthewholeareeithersuspendedaltogetherorgreatlyreducedduringthefast.Secretioniscommensuratewithneed.Thebodyisnotwastefulofitssupplies,asabriefstudyofsecretionwillshow.

SalivaThe saliva is greatly diminished in a fast. VonNoorden says of Succi’s experimental fast: “The

secretionofsalivadiminishedinacutestarvationevenwhenwaterwastakenadlibitum.Thus,Succi,ontheseventhdayofhisfast,onlyproducedasmuchsalivabythemovementsofhisjaws in threehours asunderordinarycircumstances is secreted in fiveminutes” (Kellogg, 1923, p. 637). Salivachangesduringthefastfromitsnormalalkalinitytoaneutralorslightlyacidstate.Itagainbecomesalkalineuponthereturnofhungeroraftereatingisresumed.

Insomecasesthesalivabecomesveryfoulandpossessesaveryunpleasanttaste,sometimes,evencausingvomiting.Incertaincasesitmaybethick,tough,transparent,gelatinous,slimyandthengray,yellowish,greenishandevenpus-like.

GastricJuiceThesecretionofgastricjuiceiscontinuousthroughoutmostofthefast,butinagreatlydiminished

quantity and is of a weakly acid character. At times its secretionmay be accelerated by the usualfactorsresponsiblefor“psychicsecretion.”

In cases of gastric hyperacidity, gastric distress continues andmay even increase during the firstthree tofourdaysof thefast.Thehypersecretionsoonceases,discomfortwanesandfinallyceasesentirely,andafterafewmoredaysoftasting,eatingmayberesumedwithoutthepreviousdistress.Noothermeasurewillsospeedilyorsosurelyendhyperacidity.Therearefastingexpertsoflargeexperiencewhoholdthat regularly thesecretionofgastric juiceendswith theexpulsionof the lastmorselof food in thestomachanddoesnot recommenceuntil thenextmeal is taken.On theotherhand,Ihaveseenafewcasesthatregurgitatedandexpelledgastricjuiceafterthefasthadprogressedtwo,threeandmoreweeks.

BileThe secretion of bile customarily continues during the early days of the fast. Indeed, it may be

secreted in increased amounts. In some very foul conditions of the body, the secretion of bile isgreatlyincreased,eitherduringthefirstfewdaysofthefast,or,atsomeperiodofitsprogress.Thisis likely toberegurgitated into thestomachwhere itcausesnauseaandvomiting. Insuchcases thebileisinvariablyevil-smellingandtainted.Afteracrisisofthiskind,thepatient’sconditionisseentobemuchimproved.Theamountofbilesecretedisthengreatlydecreasedinamount.

Aprofusecholerrhagia(flowofbile)throughthebowelsorbyvomiting,isoftenseeninfasting.Thisproducesdrainageofbilethroughthebowels,insteadofbycholecystotomy(thesurgicalwayofdrainingthegall-bladder)inthesecasesandshouldconvincethemostskepticalofthesuperiorityofthisplanofcare.

Normallybileispouredintotheintestineonlyinresponsetoaneedforitintheworkofdigestion.Itispouredoutasthechymefromthestomachemptiesintotheduodenum.Ifnofoodiseatennobileispouredout.Physiologistsareagreedthatwhenananimalisfastingnobileenterstheintestine.Thisisprobablyalsotrueofareallyhealthyman;butitiscertainlynottrueofthesickman.

Theliver,amongotherthings,isanorganofelimination.Theproductsittakesfromthebloodaremade into bile and poured out as such. When the sick man fasts the liver greatly increases theproductionof bile and this is poured into the intestine.Thequantity and character of bile secretedduringa fastaswellas itsdegreesofalkalinityorpossibleacidity seem tobedependentupon thetoxicoverloadunderwhich thepatient is struggling.Habitual hearty eaters, particularly thosewhoconsume large quantities of proteins and carbohydrates, produce the most bile and suffer mostdiscomfortasaresult.

Observations upon thousands of fasting cases have convinced me that the sooner the “over-production” of bile commences, after the cessation of eating, and themore bile is thrownoff, themorerapidlythepatientrecovershisorherhealth.Thepatientiscleaningout.Itisdoubtfulifsuchbile would have much value as a digestive fluid. In many cases, at least, its alkalinity is greatlyreducedanditmayevenbeslightlyacidattimes.Whenvomiteditrangesincolorfromalmostthatofwater,havingbutlittlebilepigmentinit,toverydark.Ifoftenhasaveryoffensiveodor,notanodorofdecay,andiscommonlymixedwithlargeamountsofmucus,thislattercominglargelyfromthestomach,nodoubt.Suchbilemustbeconsideredasalmostwhollyaproductoftheexcretoryfunctionoftheliver.Thesecretoryfunctionisprobablyatrestlikethatoftheglandswhichsecretedigestivejuices.

This is only one of the evidences of increased elimination during a fast and the cleaning outaccomplishedby this isof immensevalue in restoringhealth to thosewhohave, throughabuseorneglect,permittedtheirhealthtoslipaway.

PancreaticAndIntestinalJuicesThepancreaticandintestinaljuicesarereasonablythoughttobesecretedinreducedquantities.Itis

known that they areweaker in digestive power than normally, but little else is known concerningthem.Theyarecustomarily secretedandpoured into the intestine in response to theneed for themand,whennoneedexists,littleornojuiceissecreted.Whatsecretionispresentisprobablylackinginenzymes.

MilkIt is usual for a female hibernating bear to bring forth her young and secrete sufficient milk to

maintainhercubs.Thehumanmotherisnotsofortunate.Fastingoccasionsarapidreductioninmilksecretionandforthisreasonshouldberesortedtoduringlactationonlywhenurgentlynecessary.

SweatThesweatisfoulandinrarecasesprofuse.Underordinarycircumstancessweatingcanhardlybe

regarded as an eliminating process, but apparently there is increased elimination through the skin

duringafast.

MucusDuringafastsomepatientswillthrowoffanalmostincredibleamountofthick,tough,transparent,

white, gelatinous and slimy expectoration.Later thismay becomegray, yellowish or greenish andpus-likeinquality.Thedischargefromthenosemayalsoincreaseatfirstandthengraduallylessen.Inchronicbronchitis,asthma,etc., thesamegradualcessationof thecatarrhal conditionandof thecough and expectoration occurs. The discharge from the nasal sinuses gradually ceases as thecatarrhal condition ends. In cases of “diseased” and long abused stomachs such matters may bethrownoutbythegastricmucosaandvomited.Thusweseehownatureadoptseverypossibleavenueofeliminationasameansofcleansing the system. Incasesofmucouscolitis, theamountof long,tenacious,worm-likeropesofmucusthatwillbepassedisastounding.Afteratimethisceasesandthe“disease”isended.

Acid secretionsof thevagina, leukorrhealdischarges, etc., soonceaseand the secretionsbecomenormal through fasting. The foul stench that comes from the vagina and womb of the womansufferingfromfemaletroubles,ortumorofthewomb,soonceasesandtheodorbecomesnormal.

UrineThevolumeofurineexcretedduringafast,asatothertimesoflife,isdeterminedbytheamountof

watertakenandbytheamountofsweatingdone.

In the early days of the fast, the urine is invariably dark in color and high in specific gravity,stronglyacid in reactionwithabundanceofurea,phosphatesandbilepigment. Itsodor is foulandstrong.Itbecomeslighterincolorandlosesitsoffensiveodorasthefastprogresses.Afterthefirstincreaseineliminationhaspassed,specificgravityislowered,andthequantityofmineralsubstancesdecreases.Specificgravitymaygoaslowas1.010.Itsacidityisincreasedatfirst,buttowardstheendofacompletefasttheurinemaybecomeneutralorevenalkalineinreaction.

Dr.Hazzardsays:“Thehibernatingbearneversoilshisdenwithurineorordure, fornowaste isformed, consequently none is voided.” This is a very marked difference between hibernation andfasting.

ExaminationoftheurineofSuccishoweditstoxicitytobemuchincreased.Fromthisobservation,Kellogg (1923)draws thestrangeconclusion that fasting isnotanefficientmeansofcleansing thebody of poisons. The increased elimination of toxins, shown in the case of Succi, proved to Dr.Kellogg that elimination is checked. True, he thinks the increased urinary toxicity results fromabsorption from the colon, but there is no reasonwhy there should bemore absorption from thecolonduringafastthanwhenoneiseating,andcertainlythereislessinthecolontobeabsorbed.Hetells us that fasting produces all the evidences of intestinal auto-intoxication.This is decidedly nottrue,butonthecontrary, fasting is thespeediestmeansoferadicatingsuchintoxication. Ithasbeenmy observation that intestinal auto-intoxication is found in those who habitually eat, and eatexcessively. In discussing intestinal auto-intoxication Kellogg himself traces it chiefly to dieteticerrorsratherthantofasting.

Theincreasedtoxicityoftheurineofthefastingpersonisduetoincreasedeliminationandnot,asKelloggreasons,tothefactthat“fastingisnot,asclaimed,anefficientmeansofcleansingthebodyof poisons.” I presume that to satisfy Kellogg that fasting is an efficient means of increasing

eliminationwewouldhavetoprovethatthekidneyswhollyceasetoexcretetoxins.Heseemstothinkthatfastingshouldsendthetoxinsoutof thebodythroughsomesecretchannelrather thanthroughtheorgansofelimination,orelse,thatbysomesubtlealchemy,thesetoxinsshouldbetransmutedintoangelsofmercyandleftinthebody.Thefactthattheyareeliminatedingreaterabundancesomehowprovestohimthateliminationischeckedbythefast.

Benedict (1907) says of the urine during a fast: “Complete fasting during which no water isconsumedresultsinloweringinamarkedmannerthetotalamountsofurinevoidedperday. . . .Ingeneral,whenwateristakenduringafast,thevolumeofurineapproachesmorenearlythatvoidedbypeopleundernormalconditions.Indeed,whenmoderateamountsofwaterareconsumed,thevolumeofurinepresentsasarulenonoticeableabnormalities....Ingeneral,then,duringtheearlierstagesofafast,withtheexceptionofthefirstday,thevolumeofurineisinlargemeasuredeterminedbythequantityofdrinking-waterconsumed. If thevolumeof ingestedwater is small thevolumeofurinemayexceeditseveraltimes.Whenthevolumeofdrinkingwaterisover1000cc.thevolumeofurineisusuallynotfarfromthatofthewaterconsumed....Inallofthesamplesofurine,whethertestedbyperiodsorforthewholeday,thereactionwasacid.Thepressureofotherworkpreventedanaccuratedeterminationofthedegreeofacidity.AccordingtoBrugsch,however,theacidity,atleastinthelaterstages of a prolonged fast, remains nearly constant from day to day.... All the specific gravitiesobservedcamewellwithinwhatwouldbetermednormallimits....Ingeneraltheaverageamountoftotal solids during the different experiments is not far from 40 grams per day. . . . The only dataregardingtheasheliminationduringfastingwithwhichwearefamiliararethequantitiesintheurineofJ.A.Onthelastdaywithfoodthetotalashofurineamountedto23.0grams;inthe5fastingdaysthetotalasheliminatedwas14.7,6.7,5.7,5.0,and4.5grams,respectively....Ingeneraltheamount[oforganicmattereliminated]rangessomewherebetween30and40grams. . . .Theproportionofashintotalsolidsisasarule,greatestonthefirstdayandmarkedlylessonthesecondday....Thereisatendencyforthenitrogenexcretiontoapproachconstancyonthefourthday....Inconsideringthelongexperiments,itisnoteworthythatthecarboneliminationisinvariablylowestonthefirstdayand on the remaining days is relatively constant. . . . The excretion of total creatinine, namely,preformedcreatininepluscreatinineformedbyheatingthecreatinineoftheurinewithacid,remainssingularlyconstantonalldaysofthefast,evenduringthe7-dayfast,experimentNo.75....Whilethe quantity of preformed creatinine gradually diminishes as the fast progresses, the amount ofcreatine,whichinnormalurinesisextremelysmall,graduallyincreases,andonthesixthdayofthefast(No.75),thereisexcreted0.585gramofcreatine....Theproportionofcreatininehasadistincttendencytodiminishasthefastprogresses....Duringevenashortperiodofinanitiontheuricacidoutputmaybegreatlyreduced....Theexcretionofsulphurincreasesonthesecondday.Thereisanincreaseonthethirddayandasteadydiminutiononthesucceedingdaysofthefast....Thereisasaruleatendencyforthephosphoricacidexcretiontoincreaseforafewdaysafterfastingbeginsandthensubsequentlytodiminish.. . .Thechlorineeliminationon the last foodday is invariably largeand...onthefirstfastingdaythereisusuallyamarkeddiminutionintheamount”(pp.345-415).

Dr.Ealessays:“Ihavearecordofacasewhereonthetwenty-eighthdayalargeamountofsedimentappearedintheurineandthetemperature,whichhadbeensub-normalforyears,immediatelyrosetonormal after the urine cleared.” This case is of interest, not merely as indicating increasedeliminationof toxinsby the fast;butalsoasshowinghowthe fastbringsabouta return tonormaltemperatureincaseswheresubnormaltemperatureexists.Inthiscase,atleast,itwouldseemtohavereturnedtonormalasaresultoftheeliminationofmaterialwhichhadinterferedwithheatproductionorheatconservation.Oneofmyowncasespassedalargequantityofsedimentintheurinewhichwas

flakedand looked like flakesof iron rust.Noanalysiswasmade todetermine the character of thesediment.Anothercasehadanabscessofonekidney(whichhadbeendiagnosed,afterbeingX-rayed,asakidneystoneandforwhichanoperationhadbeenadvised)todrain,aneight-ounceglassfullofpuspassingatonetime.

DailydeterminationofthespecificgravityoftheurinewasmadeduringthefastofDr.Eales.Onthefirstandseconddaysofthefasthisurinehadaspecificgravityof1.015.Onthethirddaythespecificgravityoftheurinewas1.018.Itroseto1.020onthefourthdayandto1.023onthefifthday.Onthesixthdayitdroppedto1.022;was1.020ontheseventhandeighthdays;1.018ontheninthandtenthdays;1.020ontheeleventhandtwelfthdays;1.022onthethirteenth;1.020onthefourteenth,fifteenthandsixteenthdays;1.019onthe twenty-firstday;1.018on the twenty-secondand twenty-thirddays;droppedto1.005onthetwenty-fourthday,duetotheconsumptionoflargequantitiesofwater; roseto1.012onthetwenty-fifthday;backto1.018onthetwenty-sixth;1.020onthetwenty-seventh;1.016onthetwenty-eighth;and1.018forthelastthreedaysofthefast.Duringthedayofthetenthdayofthefast,followinganenemaandabath,thespecificgravityoftheurinefellto1.010.

Except during the first five days, the doctor consumed habitually during the fast two quarts ofdistilledwatereach twenty-fourhours.Thevolumeofurinekeptup through thewholeof the fast,aboutsixty-fiveouncesbeingexcretedeverytwenty-fourhours.Onthelastdayofhisfasthisrecordshowshisurinetohavebeennormalincolorandreaction.

XIII.BowelActionDuringFastingAfterthedigestionofthelastmealpriortothefast,thebowelspracticallyceasetofunction.Theytakea rest. Dr. Oswald says: “The colon contracts, and the smaller intestines retain all but the mostirritatingingesta”(1883b,p.201).Sometimestheywillcontinuetomoveregularlyforthefirstthreeor four days of the fast. In rare cases a diarrheawill develop even after fifteen ormore days offasting.Twain(1899)describescasesofstarvingshipwreckedmenwhosebowelshadnotmovedfortwenty and thirty days. For this reasonmost advocates of fasting insist upon the daily use of theenema.Ithinkthattheenemaisadistinctevilandshouldnotbeemployed.

Kellogg(1923),quotingVonNoorden,writes:“infasting,thestoolswerehighlyputridand‘similarinappearance to thefecespassedwhen thediet ismainlycomposedofmeat’” (p.637).Both thesemen shouldhave conducted a few hundred fasts and thenwrote about thematter. Theirmistake isbasedonthenotionthatthefastingpatientisonameatdietandshouldhavethestoolsofameateater.Itisanassumption,notafact.Evenifwegrantthecontentionthatthefastingbody’sreservesareofadifferentcharactertothenutritivesuppliesofthefeastingorganism(andtheyarenot)wearestillleftwiththefactthatthestoolsarenotmadeupofthesereserves.

The stomach, intestinesandcolonaregivenacomplete restby the fast andare enabled to repairdamaged structures. Piles, proctitis, colitis, appendicitis, enteritis, enteric fever (typhoid), gastritis,etc.,speedilyrecoverunderthefast.Thealimentarytractbecomespracticallyfreeofbacteriaduringafast.Thesmall intestinesbecomesterile.Butaweekoffasting is required toresult inacompletedisappearance of all germs from the stomach. The quickest means of remedying bacterialdecomposition in the digestive tract is fasting.Dr. Tilden says: “The fact that the hibernating bearloses its colon bacilli is not acted upon, and a fast recommended when disease results fromovereating,bacterialdecompositionandtoxinpoisoning.”

Bowelaction isnecessarilymoreor lessabsentduringa fast.Theremaybe twoor threeactionsduringthecourseofacomparativelyshortfast,ornoactionatallduringamostprolongedfast.Theuse of the enema during the fast, so much advocated in many quarters, is both unnecessary andpernicious,Howunnecessaryitiswillbeshownbythefollowingcases.

Dewey(1921)tellsofplacingadyspeptic,withfeeblebodyandverylowmentalstate,whohadbeenunderthecareofphysiciansfortenyears,ononemealaday.Hesays:“Theconstipatedbowelswerepermittedtheirowntimesforaction”(p.106).Furtheronheadds:“Mypatient’sbowelsgavenohintof their localityuntil theeighteenthday,when theyactedwith littleeffort;on the twenty-fourthdayagaininaperfectway,andthereafterdaily”(p.107).

It has been said that Dr. Dewey’s fasting cases would have recovered more promptly had heemployedtheenema.ButIfindnosatisfactoryevidencethathiscases,asawhole,wereanylongerrecovering than the cases of thosewho employ the enema.Where they do appear to be longer inrecovering,Ithinkthismaybeaccountedformoresatisfactorilybythefactthatinmanyofhiscasesheemployedcertaindrugs,especiallydrugstodeadensensation(relievepain),andbythefurtherfactthathis limitedknowledgeofdietandhisprejudicesagainst fruit,whichhehadbroughtoverwithhim from his medical training, did not give his patients the best after-care. Many of the fastsconductedbyDeweywereunderfifteendays.Hisrecordsdonotindicatethathisfastslastedlongeror that his results were less satisfactory than those of Hazzard who employed the enema more,

perhaps,thananyotheradvocateoffasting.Hisfastswerenotundulylong.ButIthinkthebestanswertothischargeagainstDewey’spracticeisthefactthatpatientswhoareplacedonafasttodayandwhoarenotgiventheenemarecoversoonerandmoresatisfactorilythanthosewhodogetenemas.Theenervatingeffectof theenemais indisputableandnooneofexperiencewilldeny that it isa tryingordealformostpatients togothrough.Inmanycases it leavesanimmediateweaknesswhichlasts,often,forhours.

Dr.Eales’bowelsmovedatleastonceadayduringthefirstweekofhisfast;withaslightmovementabout once a week thereafter. He records movements on the eleventh, and seventeenth days. Heemployedoneenemaaweekandhadbothanenemaandaspontaneousmovementontheseventeenthday.His bowels beganmovingwithin twelve hours after breaking the fast andmoved twice a daythereafter.

IcaredforacaseinmyinstitutioninFebruaryandMarch,1929, inwhich thepatienthadasmallbowel movement on the second day of an absolute fast, another on the fourth day, a copiousmovement on the ninth day andmedium sizedmovements on the eleventh and thirteenth days.Noenemawasemployedatanytimeduringthefast,whichlastedsixteendays.

Ihadanothercaseofayoungmanwhohadabowelmovementontheseconddayofhisfast,asmallmovementon themorningof thesixthdayanda largemovementon theeveningof the sameday.Againontheninthdayhehadasmallevacuationandaverycopiousmovementintheeveningofthesame day. This man had suffered with acne vulgaris for several years and his face was thicklycoveredwitheruptionswhenhebeganthefast.Therewasnothingoftheseexceptthediscolorationbythe end of the tenth day. Later a lady fasted nine days undermy direction, and had a good bowelmovementoneachoftheseventhandeighthdays.

Twoladiesfastedhereintheinstitutionatthesametime;oneforeightdays,theotherforninedays.In both cases regular bowel action began on the third day after breaking the fast and continuedthereafter.Bothofthesewomenmaderapidprogressanddidnotsufferduringorafterthefast.Therewasnotatanytimeanyevidenceofpoisoningineithercase.

Apatienttookenemascontrarytomyinstructions,forthefirstthreedaysofthefast,butabandonedthemthereafterbecauseofthediscomfortandsicknesswhichtheyproduced.Onthetwenty-thirddayofthefastshehadtwospontaneousmovementsofthebowels—oneat5A.M.,theotherat11A.M.Onthemorningofthetwenty-fourthdaytherewasanothermovement.

AladyarrivedatmyplaceonJanuary4,1932,afterhavingfastedsincethemorningofDecember12,1931.Duringthewholeofherfastbeforereachingmyplaceshehadhadadailyenema.IstoppedtheuseoftheenemaandherbowelsactedspontaneouslyonJanuary8th.Therewerenomorebowelactions during the rest of the fast. The fast was broken on January 21, and the bowels actedimmediately.

Another lady whose bowel action had not been good was placed upon a fast as a means ofovercomingarthritis.Herbowelsmovedtwiceonthefifthday,onceontheeighthdayandagainonthetwelfthdayofherfast.Anothercase,thatofaman,withabraintumor,hadbowelactionson thefourthandninthdaysandtwoactionsontheeighteenthdayofhisfast.AwomanwhofastedundermydirectioninFebruary,1932,hadabowelmovementoneachofthefourth,tenthandfifteenthdaysofherfast.Anotherwoman’sbowelsactedonthefourth,fifthandseventhdaysofherfast.

InDec.1932andJan.1933apatientfasted31daysinmyHealthSchool.Hisbowelsmovedonthe2nd,6th,7th,13thand20thdaysofthefast.AnotherpatientwhotookashortfastinDecember,1932hadabowelmovementoneachofthe4th,8thand9thdays.ThispatientthentookalongerfastinJan.1933 with bowel movements on the 1st, 3rd and 9th days, there being a diarrhea on the 9th day.Anothercasewasthatofayoungladywhohadabowelmovementonthe21stdayofherfast.

OnJuly21,1933,awoman,age68beganafastinmyHealthSchool.Thefastwasbrokenontheeveningofthethirteenthday.Shehadabowelmovementonthefirstandseconddaysofthefast,onthethirdandfourthdaystherewereloosestools;therewasnomovementonthefifthday;onthesixthday therewasonemovementandasmallmovement,onlyonesmallpieceoffecespassing,on theseventhday.Thiswomanhadorangejuicealldayonthefourteenthday,sixorangesonthefifteenthdayandagoodbowelmovementfollowedonthemorningofthesixteenthday.

Onthesamedaytheforegoingwomanbeganherfastanotherwoman,age37,wasplacedonafast.For aperiodof twelvedaysormore, thiswomanhad sufferedwith apersistentdiarrhea.The fastlastedforaperiodoftwenty-eightdaysandthebowelsdidnotmoveoncethroughoutthewholeofherfastafterthefirstday.Thefastwasuneventful,therewerenocrisesandnosignsofpoisoning,butasteadyimprovementinhealth.

InAprilandMayof1948IhadintheHealthSchoolawomanfromChicagowhofastedtendaysandhadabowelmovementeverydayofherfast.Thisisararecase,butfasterswhohaveseveralbowelmovementsduringthecourseofafastareverycommon.

At the end of the year 1949 awoman came to theHealth School fromSan Francisco and fastedthirty-fivedays.Shehadelevenbowelmovementsduringthefirstthreeweeksofherfastandanothermovementonthethirty-fourthday.

Contrastthesewiththecaseofayoungwoman,age25,whowasplacedonafastonFeb.24,1933inmyHealthSchoolandwhosebowelsmovedonthetwenty-firstdayofthefast.Inthiscasetherewerenocrises,noneofthesymptoms“re-absorptionoftoxins”issaidtocause,butasteadygaininhealth.

Thesefewcasesoutofmanyprovethatthebowelswillmovewhenthereisneedforamovement;alsotheyshow,asdohundredsofothers,thatthereisnoinjuryfromwaitinguponthebowels.Thesecasesparticularly refute thenotionentertained insomequarters thataprolongedfast paralyzes thebowels.Thisnotionfindslodgementinthemindsofsomewhoknownothingaboutfasting,andoneusuallyfindsthattheydonotwanttoknowanythingaboutit.Mostoftheforegoingcasesallfastedbeforethefirsteditionofthisvolumewaspublished.SincethattimehundredsofsimilarexperienceshavebeenobservedhereattheHealthSchool.

Benedict(1907)says:“Fasting...affectstheamountandregularityofdefecation....Owingtolongretention in the colon, fasting feces become hard, much dried and pilular, and frequently causeconsiderableuneasiness.Muchdifficultyisexperiencedinpassingthem,andattimestheymaycauseconsiderablepain,withslighthemorrhages.Theuseofanenematoremovethefecalmatterduringinanitionisquitecommon.Thismethodwasemployedthroughoutthe30-dayfastofSucci,reportedbyLuciani....Dependingupontheamountoffoodconsumedonthedayprevious,thedefecationofthefirstdayoffastingmaybequiteasregularasontheordinaryfooddays”(pp.338-343).Themostimportantfactornotedwasthatfeceswerefrequentlyretainedforanumberofdaystogether,duringfastingwithnoapparentattemptonthepartofnaturetoeffectamovement.

Thehardfeceshementionsdoessometimesformduringafast,butitisbynomeanstheregularorusualdevelopment.Onthecontrary,itisrelativelyrareandisusuallyeasilyvoided.Onlyincasesofhemorrhoidsdotheygiverealtrouble.Ahardplugoffecesstopstheanusofthehibernatingbear,buthehasnodifficultyingettingridofitwhenheresumeseatinginthespring.Thefecesofthefasteriscommonlysoft,at times loose,onlyrarely largeenoughandhardenough tooccasiondifficulty inpassing. In those cases where there is spastic constipation, and in hemorrhoids, the plug doessometimes, although by no means always, become sufficiently hardened as to occasion pain andbleedinginpassing.Insuchcases,itismypracticetoemployanenemaafterthefastisbroken,whenthepatientfeelsthefirsturgeforstool.Noenemasareemployedduringthefast,eveninthesecases.DuringthefirstfiveyearsofmypracticeIemployedtheenema,bothinthefastandwhilemypatientswereeating,butIparticularlyemployeditinthefast.Ihadbeentaughtthatitwasnecessaryinthefast,thatiftheenemawasnotusedtowashoutthecolon,wastematterthathadbeenthrownintothiswouldbere-absorbedandthepatientwouldsufferfromauto-intoxication.Twofactscausedme,finally,tobegintodoubtthewisdomofemployingtheenema.Thesewere:

1.IfoundtheenemapainfulwhenItookitmyselfandInoticedthatmostofmypatientsalsofounditpainful.

2.IfounditleftmewithafeelingofweaknesswhenItookanenemaandIfoundthesamethingtobetruewhenmypatientsweregivenenemas.

Theseexperiencescausedmetodosomeeffectivethinking.ThefirstquestionIaskedmyselfwasthis:AmIdoingrightinemployinganenervatingmeasureinmycareofmypatients?Icouldnotgetan affirmative answer to this question, nomatter how I tried. Then I ranmymind back overmystudiesoffastingamonganimals.Thequestioncamenaturallytomind:Iffastinganimals,manyofwhich fast formuch longerperiods thanmancanever fast,donotneedenemas,whydoes fastingman require them? I could find no logical reason why man required them while fasting. Then IreviewedtheliteratureoffastingandIdiscovered thatJennings,Dewey,Tannerandothershadnotemployedtheenema.Cautiously, Ibeganto test theno-enemaplan. Isoonbecameconvincedof itssuperiorityovertheenemaplan.IfoundDr.Claunchrejectingtheenema.IdiscoveredthatDr.Pagewasnotanadvocateofitsuse.Ihadarrivedatmyconclusionthehardway,onlytofindthatIwasnotalone.

Dr.Tilden,afrequentandregularuseroftheenema,admittedthatitwasenervating.Butwhyshouldweemploymethodsofcarethatfurtherenervateourpatients?Itisourduty,incaringforourpatients,to conserve the energy of each patient in every way possible and not to needlessly dissipate thepreciousenergiesoflife.

Itisourdutyatalltimestoconservetheenergiesofourpatients.Allenervatingpracticesshouldbeeliminatedfromourcareofthesick.Wemaysaythatnosuchpracticesareever justifiable,exceptwheretheyarethelesseroftwoevilsandtherearerareinstanceswheretheenemamaybethelesseroftwoevils.Macfadden,himselfagreatadvocateoftheuseoftheenemaandofitsuseinthefast,said:“Butenemasaresomewhatenervating,andwhen thepatient isalreadyweak,hemayfind it adrainuponhisvitalitytotakemanyofthese.”—EncyclopediaofPhysicalCulture,Vol.III,p.1374.

IsoonbecameconvincedfromtestsImadethatthereisnoabsorptionoftoxinsfromthecolon.Atthattime,thirty-sevenyearsago,physiologistswerestill teachingthattoxinsareabsorbedfromthecolon.Sincethen,theyhavechangedtheirminds.Theliningmembraneofthecolonnomoreabsorbs

toxins thandoes the liningmembraneof thebladder. If thebladderdoesnotabsorburinewhich isliquid,howcantheliningmembraneofthecolonabsorbfeces,whichismoreorlesssolid?Answerthis question in any way you may, there is one thing of which I am certain and this is, that, nosymptoms of auto-intoxication develop during a fast of the longest durationwhen no enemas areemployed.

Iamcertainofanotherimportantmatter,namely,thatthefrequentuseoftheenemaduringthefast,as at other times, impairs bowel function, so that after the fast is broken, bowel function is not asefficient as in those patients who have not had enemas.My good friend, Dr. Carlos Arguello, ofNicaragua, put thismatter to a test by dividing his patients into two groups and giving one groupenemas and the other no enemas during their fasts. After their fasts were broken he kept carefulrecordsofthebowelmovementsofthemembersofbothgroups.Thosewhoreceivednoenemashadnearlyathirdmoremovementinthesameperiodoftimefollowingthebreakingoftheirfasts.

Theregularandfrequentuseoftheenemainducesseveralimportantevilsinthecolonanditsuseisnottoberecommendedatanyperiodoflife,certainlynotwhenone issickandweakandneeds toconserveoneselfineverywaypossible.Atthebeginningof1925IceasedusingtheenemaandIammuch better satisfied with its non-use in the fast than with its use. My patients also escape thediscomfortsitinduces.

Theuse of “purgative” drugs andmineralwaters during a fast is evenworse than the use of theenema.Takenbymouth,astheseare,theyoccasionexcitedandwastefulactionwiththesecretionofmuchwaterymucusalongthewholelengthofthealimentarycanal;whereas,theenemareachesonlythecolon,except inthosemanycasesofchronicconstipation inwhich thereexists insufficiencyofthe ileocecalvalve. In these cases thewater and the feces in the colon are frequently sent back, byreverseperistalsis,intothesmallintestine,andinsomecases,thefecesandwaterarecarriedallthewaybacktothestomachandfromherevomited.Thesamethingoccurssometimeswiththecolonicirrigation,which is but an oversized enema,which costsmore and cannot be administered by thepatienthimself.

Inthesedayswhenweliveforourbowelmovementsandaremiserableiftheyfailtomovebythetimewearereadytogotoworkinthemorning, the truthaboutourbowels ishard toget intoourheads.Wehavebeenwelltrainedbythosewhohaveconstipation“cures”tosell.

Dr.Tanner,duringandafterhisfirstfast,hadnobowelmovementfromthe15thofJulytothe31stofAugust, a period of forty-seven days. In commenting upon this fact,Dr.Hazzard declares, “Tocarryoutafasttodayinthismannerwouldbedeemedabidfordisaster.”Whya“bidfordisaster?”Both Dr. Tanner and Dr. Dewey repudiated the enema, and to quote Dr. Hazzard, “preferred andinsisteduponwaitingupon thebowels toact ‘naturally’ashe (Dewey) termed it.”Jenningsdidnotemploy theenema,nordidPage. Inmyownpractice Ihavenotdayswithoutanevacuationandnodisasterbefellhim.

Levanzin reports of his fast of 31 days that, “duringmywhole fast I had no defecations. I had abowelmovement just before I started the fast, and the next was thirty-two days afterward, when Ibrokeit.”Headds:“Ididnottrytoprovokeany,asIdidnotwishtospoilthescientificresults;andso,thebad,bitterandupsettingtasteinmymouthwasverytrying.”Theimplicationofthisstatementisthattheuseoftheenemapreventsthebad,bittertasteofthemouth.Thisisnottrue,asanyonewhohaseverfastedandemployedenemascantestify.Thetonguebecomesjustasheavilycoated,theteeth

justaspastyandthetasteinthemouthjustasfoulwhenenemasareusedaswhentheyarenotused.

ProfessorBenedictwritesofLevanzinthat“whendiscussingthequestionofdefecationhestatedthatin some of his long fasts he had defecated only once or twice, often he did this shortly after thebeginningofthefast,andthennotagainuntilafterthefastwasover,butafterbeginningeatinghewasquitenormal.”

Dr. Jennings reportedcases inwhich thebowelsdidnot act forweeks. I hadoneman to fast forthirty-sixdaysinmyinstitutionwithoutabowelmovement,thebowelsactingforthefirsttimeonthethirddayafterthefastwasbroken.Anothermanfastedforty-ninedayswithnobowelactionduringthetime.Hisbowelsalsoactedonthethirddayafterbreakingthefast.

Oneyoung ladybegana fastundermydirectiononDec.3,1929,andended it onDec.28th.Herbowelsdidnotactduringthewholeofthisperiod,actingthefirsttimeonJan.4,1930;aperiodofthirty-threedaysfromonebowelactiontothenext.ThisladysufferedwiththeworstcaseofpsoriasisIhaveeverseen.Herwholebody,face,neckandlimbsincluded,beingcovered.Theskincleareduprapidlyandbeautifullyduringthefast.

Shortly after the foregoing case came tome, a youngman sufferingwith constipation, digestivetroublesand“nervousness”beganafastinmyinstitution.Hefastedtwelvedays,duringwhichtimehisbowelsdidnotact.Theyactedfirstonthefifthdayafterbreakingthefast.Duringtheseseventeendayswithoutabowelmovementthepatientmadegreatimprovement.

Noharmevercamefromwaitinguponthebowels.Theymaybedependedontofunctionifthereisaneedforaction.Ifnoneedexists,therecanbenogainfromforcingthemtoact.Weshouldlearntodistinguishbetweentheforcingandtheactualneedforbowelaction.

It has been noted that dogs and other animals do have bowel actions during a fast. In my ownpractice I have noticed that the stronger and more vigorous are more likely to have bowelevacuations.Theweak,thosewhosufferwithloweredgastro-intestinaltoneorwithvisceroptosisareleastlikelytohaveanactionofthecolonwhilefasting.Inanycasenoharmresultsfromlettingthecolonaloneandforgettingthatitexists.

Dr.HarryFinklemakestheabsurdclaimthatfastingparalyzesthecolon.Itdoesnothingofthekind,butimprovescolonicfunctionineveryinstance.Theenemas,colonicirrigations,purges,etc.,almostdowhathesaysthefastdoes.Thegreatdifficultiesmanymenhavewithfastingariseoutofthefactthattheyhavenotobservedtheeffectsoffasting,butfastingplusalotoftherapeuticmeasures.Theythink they are observing the effects of fasting, when they are merely watching the effects ofsomethingelse.Theyinsistupontreatingtheirfastingpatientswithalloftheharmfulcure-allswhichchancetobeinfashion,andthenattributeanyevilresultstothefast,althoughsuchevilsarefrequentresultsofthesetreatmentswhenappliedtonon-fasters.

Fastinganimals,whetherhibernating,aestivating,fastingduringthematingseason, fastingduringillness,orfastingbecauseofalackofsomethingtoeat,donothaveanddonotneedenemas.Someoftheseanimalsfastformuchlongerperiodsthanispossibleforanymananddonotdieofnorsufferfromthemuch-fearedpoisoningbyabsorptionfromthecolon.Icanfindnoproofthatpoisonsareeverabsorbedfromthecolon;but,assumingthattheysometimesare,theabsorptionofaverysmallfractionofwhatwasthrownintothecoloncancertainlyproducemoreoftheevilsattributedtoit.Ifit

could, thewhole of thematerial thrown into the colonwould have killed the patient before itwasthrowntherein.

TheCanadianbearentersuponhibernationwitha flesh that is repugnant to flesh-eaters.Whenhecomesoutofhibernationhis flesh is sweetand isconsideredagreatdelicacyby thepeopleof theNorth.Canadianbiologistsdescribethebowelsofabearthathadjustsettledforthewinter,andwhichthey opened, after killing the bear, as emitting a stench that was “overpowering,” the flesh“nauseating, fishy and unfit for food.” By Spring the bear ’s flesh has undergone a complete andremarkablechange,sothatitis“themostsought-afterofallnorthernfoods.”Bythistimeverylittleresidueisfoundinthedigestive tractand“thebowelwasodorlessandquitesterile.Noculturesofanyoftheusualintestinalfloraorbacillicouldbeobtained.”

Thiscompletesterilizinganddeodorizingoftheintestinaltracttogetherwiththesweeteningofthefleshofthebear,allwithoutabowelmovementinfourtofivemonths,orinsomecaseslonger,willnot be easily explained by those who insist upon the urgent need of enemas in the fast. As thehibernating bear never suffers with autointoxication during the most prolonged period ofhibernation,weareforcedtoacceptthefactthatheisnotpoisonedbyanyhypotheticalre-absorptionofwastefromthecolon.

XIV.FastingandSexTheeffectsoffastinguponthesexualfunctionsaresovariablethatnogeneralizationispossible.TheexamplesofthesalmonandtheAlaskanfursealbullweregiveninapreviouschapter.Thesearenottypical.Indealingwiththeeffectsoffastingonthehigherinvertebrates,Jackson(1925)tellsusthat“thegonadsthemselvesareusuallyveryresistanttostarvation,being(likethenervoussystem)asaruleamong the lastof theorgans toundergo involution.Thereare,however, evidentvariations indifferentspeciesandindividuals”(p.28).

Theruttingseasoninanimalsisalmostalwaysaveritableorgy.Bothmalesandfemalesindulgesomuch and sooftenduring this period as to give the impression that they are trying to compress ayear ’ssexualactivityintoafewdays.Indulgencegoesonatfrequentintervalsbothdayandnight.Inthecaseof thebullwhomayhave tosatisfy thedemandsof twoormorecows, thisorgy lasts fordays.One may expect that a period of such intense activity would be accompanied by voraciouseating.Theoppositeisalmosttherule.Sexualactivityseemstosuspendthedesireforfood.

Fastingoftenrestoressexualreproduction,bringingbackthemale,inorganismsthat,withabundantfood supplies, reproduce asexually or parthenogenetically. The restoration of the male inparthenogeneticallyreproducingformsisbutoneexampleofmanythatfastingmayprovebeneficialtothesexfunction.

Surfeitseemstobeantagonistictothehighestgeneticpurposesandfastingbecomesnecessaryasameansof assisting at least, towards a re-establishmentof a tolerabledegreeofdomestic (organic)symbiosis.Asexualreproductioninlowerformsisassociatedwithsurfeitandtheintroductionofthesexuallinkinthealternatesexual-asexualreproductionoftheseforms,isinallcases,dependentonapreviousreductionofthenutritiveoverflow,theoverfedasexualunits,or“nurses,”beingincapableofthephysiologicallaborrequiredbysexualreproduction.Alternationofgenerationis,infact,theresult of changing nutritive conditions. Asexual generation is the expression of excess orantisymbioticnutritiveconditions,whilesexualgeneration isconditioneduponanormalmetabolicrate growing out of strenuousness and moderation. Thousands of studies and experiments bybiologistsshowunmistakablythatnutritiveredundancyisthenecessaryconditionoftheovergrowthwhichmakesasexualreproductionpossibleandinterfereswithsexualreproduction,whileareductionofthenutritiveoverflowandareturntolegitimatenutritionrestoressexualnormality.

In hibernation the ovaries and testes undergo certain changes in size, structure and function.ThetesticlesofthefrogarelargestinAugust,smallestintheSpring.Nussbaumobservedgrowthinthesexglandsoffastingfrogs.Malefrogs,immediatelyuponresumingactivitiesintheSpring,thisistosay, at the end of hibernation, take on distinguishing seasonal marks, as brighter colors, swollenforefinger, or some unusual feature.The females lay their eggs and themales fertilize them soonaftertheyemergefromhibernation.

While these changes in color and structure and the reproductive activity seen in frogs followimmediatelyupontheendingofhibernation,withitsprolongedperiodofabstinencefromfood,theymust have been prepared for during the period of fasting. The fact that reproduction follows socloselyupontheperiodofabstinence,even,inthemorenortherlylatitudes,afterprolongedfasting,indicatesthatfastinghasnoilleffectuponthereproductivefunction.

No specific changes in the sex glands of the hibernating gopher are found. In the hibernatingmarmot no sperm cells are produced. Cyclic changes are observed in the interstitial cells of theovariesand testiclesof thehibernatingwoodchuckwhichundergogradualenlargementduring thisperiod.

Enforcedfastinginnon-hibernatinganimalsalsoproducesvariableresultssimilartothoseseeninhibernation.Where lossesandchangesoccur in theovariesand testes in fasting theyareabout thesameasthose thatoccur in thesestructures inhibernation. Ingeneral, the testicles lose less rapidlythan thebodyasawhole, theproductionofspermcells isgreatlydiminishedorceasesaltogether;rapidgainsuponresumptionoffeeding,whichoftenlagbehindthegeneralsystemicgains,butearlyrestorationofnormalfunction,istherule.Thisisthegeneralruleintheovariesalso.

Morgulis,experimentingwiththenewtDiemyctylus,foundthatthe“ripe”femalewithstandsfastingbest,becausesheactuallyabsorbsandutilizesthelargereserveofstoredfoodinthenatureofeggsandtherebysavesherotherorgansandtissuesfromwasting.Heidkampfound, inexperimentswithTritoncristatus,afreshwatersalmon,thatwhenthefemaleisdeniedfoodthefullydevelopedeggsinherbodyarethefirsttobeabsorbed.

In males the process is a bit different. No spermatozoa are produced during inanition. Thespermatozoaalreadypresentusuallydieafteratime.Somedegenerationoccursinthecellsliningtheseminiferous tubules, so that, as Ugriumov discovered, the young born of starved males presentdistinctsignsofdegeneration,whereastheyoungofstarvedormalnourishedfemales(butsiredbynormally fed males), as Rudolski has shown, merely show evidences of malnutrition (Morgulis,1923).

Fasting in animals is frequently associatedwith reproductiveactivity. In some instances, themalealone fasts, in other instances the femalealone fasts and in others both sexes fast. There are eveninstancesinwhich theyoungalsofast.Commonly, fastsduring thematingseasonor following thebirthoftheyoung,areseasonsofgreatphysicalandsexualactivity.

Ordinarilyafriendlyanimal,thefursealbull,becomesanuglyspecimenduringthematingseason.Thebullsstagefrequentbattles, theseusuallycausedbyonemale trying tosteala femalefromtheharemofanother.Theseharemssometimescontainfromfiftytotwohundredfemales.Physicallyaswellassexuallyactive,thesebullsfastthroughoutthematingseason.

The Emperor Penguin of the Adele Islands is the largest of the seventeen species of penguinsknown,themalesreachingaheightofoverthreefeetandaweightofovereightypounds.Themalesamongthesepenguinsgowithoutfoodduringthetwomonthshesetsontheeggs,afterwhichhegoesonalongtrecktotheseainsearchoffood.Itissignificantthattheyoung,whichcannotbeaffectedbythepaternalfast,arestillwabblyintheirwalk,afterthreemonths,andmatureslowlydespiteahighproteindiet.

In fastingmale salmonandcertainotheranimals the testiclesgreatlyenlargeduring the seasonalfastingperiod.Theovariesoffastingfemalesalmonalsoenlarge.Inthefrog,asinthesalmon,partof itsmuscles are sacrificed to serveasmaterial in thedevelopmentof the sexglands. “These areconspicuousexamplesofdystrophicgrowthchangesduringadult inanition, certainportionsof thebody growing at the expense of others, as occurs generally during chronic inanition in youngorganisms.”

Scientists say that the “mystery of this starvation during reproduction” is all the greater because“maturity is delayed and sexual activity usually decreases during periods of famine.” That foodscarcitygenerallyoccasionsareductioninsexualactivityistrueenough,butthen,sodocertaintypesofoverfeeding. Itmaywellbe that fastingbecomesnecessary in certainover-indulgent animals inordertorestoresexualpotencyandreproductivecapacity.

Fastingacceleratesthenormalprocessofmetamorphosisintadpoles—indeed,thetadpolesofsomefrogs normally cease to eat at a certain stage in their development, and develop their legs at theexpense of their tails. A similar “physiological inanition” is seen at certain stages of themetamorphosisof insects.Thesepresentnumerousexamplesofdystrophicgrowthchangesduringfasting.Jacksonfoundanincreaseof22percentintheovariesofadultalbinoratssubjectedtoacuteinanitionuntiltheyhadlost33percentinbodyweight.

Jackson(1925)says:“Morgulis,HoweandHawkfoundnoapparentabnormalityintheovariesofadogas a result of protracted inanition.Ovawere present in all stages of normal development” (p.395).

It has been found that the cells lining the seminiferous tubules in the testicleswhich give rise togermcells,preservetheirnormalcharacterforthelongestperiodoftimewhennofoodistakenandundergodegenerativechangesonlyduringthestarvationperiod.Eventhen,partsofthesestructuresremain entirely normal. In the unaffected areas Simonowitch found the seminiferous tubules ofstarvedrabbitsandguineapigstobefilledwithlivingspermatozoa.InfastingdogsLoiselfoundthatspermatogenesis ceases. Grandis found that no spermatozoa are produced in pigeons duringinanition, althoughalready formed spermatozoamaycontinue togrow.He foundhowever that thespermatozoainthetubulesusuallydie.Insomeformstheembryotendstodevelopattheexpenseofthematernalorganism;inotherstheeggsorembryoareabsorbedbythematernalbodyandutilizedasfood(Morgulis,1923).

Bothmaleandfemaleorgansareenabledtohealandrepairthemselvesduringafast.Menstruationis often brought on a week or two weeks ahead of the regular time. After this is usually ceasesaltogether.Disordersofovulationyieldquiterapidlytothekindlyinfluenceoffasting.

Sexualdesiremustvaryasmuchasthepreviouslynotedchanges.Themalegoose(gander) losesaboutone-fourthinbodyweightduringtheperiodjustprecedingandatthebreedingseason.Thereisaconcomitantawakeningofthesexinstinct.Thisissimilartowhatisseeninthesalmonandtheseal.Otheranimalssoondiscontinueallsexualactivityifforcedtogowithoutfood.

Thereseemstohavebeennoactualstudiesmadeoftheeffectsoffastingandstarvation,asdistinctfrom malnutrition and its many causes, upon the human ovary and testicle. Noting ovarian andtesticular changes in all human cachexias certainly is a far cry from the effects of fasting. Thesestudiesof“inanition”arenotseparatedfrompathologyduetomanycauses.

Carringtonfoundthatallthefastershequestionedsaidthatsexualintercourseduringaprolongedfastbecomesapracticalimpossibility“afterthefirstfewdays.”Ashepointsoutthis“impotency”ismerelyatemporarysuspensionofthesexualfunction,for“thefunctionreturns,initsfullvigorandforce,togetherwithhunger.”Hepointsoutthatthislackofsexualvigorisalmostinvariablypresent,irrespectiveofthevigorofthefaster,whichmaybeincreased,butthatsexualvigorreturnstogetherwithhunger andbefore any foodhasbeen ingested. It is true, as hepoints out, thatmanycasesof

impotencyofyears’standing,andfemalesterility,arefrequentlyremediedbyfasting.

Thatfasting,usually,insuchinstancesreducesorabolishessexualdesireandsexualpowerinmenandwomeniscertain.Thatthisisonlytemporaryisequallycertain.Ontheotherhand,somefasters,continuetoindulgesexuallyduringthefastwhilenocturnalemissionsareoccasionallyseeninmen,eveninadvancedfasting.Ihavemadenoefforttodeterminethepresenceorabsenceofspermatozoainsuchinstances.Thattheseresultsarenotinvariableshouldbestressed.Ihaveseen impotentmenregainpotencyduringafastandagedandlongimpotentmenhavenocturnalemissions.Youngandsexuallyvigorousmenoftenmanifestnoreductioninsexualvigor.Inthewinterof1961-62Ihadaforty-twoyearoldwomanwhohadbeenfrigidandsexuallyquiescentforsixyearstoregainsexualdesireaftertwoweeksoffasting.Sheretainedthissexualdrivethereafter.Reducedorabsentsexualdesireandrelativesterilitymayformtheruleinfastingmenandwomen,butthisisbynomeansaninvariable rule.Mr. Johnson, whose fast will be mentioned later, was neither impotent nor sterileduringathirtydays’fastIsupervisedforhim.Oneofmywomenpatientswasannoyedasmuchbysexualdesirewhilefastingaswhileeating.Anotherwassoannoyedbysuchdesire,wewereforcedtobreakthefast.Desireceasedaftereatingwasresumed.

Tolstoy pointed out the close connection between idleness and gluttony on the one hand andunchastityontheother,andrecommendedfastingasameansofcontrollingstrongsexualpassions.Thisshouldbeunderstoodtomeanthatfastingistobeemployedtoaidinremovingthesurfeitthatisresponsiblefortheabnormalsexualdesirethatisacommonresultofnutritiveredundancy,notthatfastingshouldbeemployedtosuppressnormalsexualurges.Fastingshouldnotbelookeduponasameansofconqueringhumannature—itisnoasceticprogramthatHygienistsoffertheworld.

Whileitseemstobetheruleforimpotencytodevelopduringaprolongedfast,thesexualpowersreturnwith full, even renewed vigor with the resumption of eating, often even with the return ofhunger.Sometimesthere isabriefdelayin theirreturn.Oneelderlypatientofmine,whohadbeenimpotentforyears,quicklyregainedvirilityafterafastofthirty-onedays.Anothercaseofimpotencyofseveralyearsdurationregainedpotencyafteronlyashortfast.

Wehavepreviouslypointedoutthattherearemanyanimals,ofwhichthemalesalmonandAlaskanfursealbullareoutstandingexamples, that fast throughout thewholeof thematingseasonwithnoimpairment of sexual vigor and fecundity. Indeed, fasting often restores sexual reproduction,bringing back the male in organisms that, with abundant food supplies, reproduce asexually orparthenogenetically. Sexual activity among fur seals is confined to the fasting period. The AdeliepenguinsfastduringthebreedingperiodandProf.J.A.Thomsonsaysmanyotherexamplesoccuramong animals (Reinheimer, 1915). Love seems also to diminish the desire for food in boys andgirls.

The fear of permanent sterility in females, from fasting, fostered in laboratory works on thissubject, isunfounded.The fact is thatwe frequently seepreviously sterilewomenconceive shortlyafterafast,evenalengthyone.Oneofmypatients,unabletoconceiveforseveralyears,conceivedshortlyafterafastoffortydays’duration.Herbabywasnormalineverywayandpresentednoneoftheabnormalitiesagainstwhichwearewarned.Another,marriedtenyearswithnoconceptionduringthistime,conceivedshortlyafterafastoftendays.Athirdpatientconceivedatherfirstintercoursetwoweeksafterafastofthirtydays.Thiswomanhadnotbeenpreviouslysterile.Ayoungwoman,married for several years and failing to conceive, had a fast of thirty days and conceived soon

thereafter.Casesofthiskindcouldbemultipliedindefinitely.

XV.RejuvenescenceThroughFastingUpton Sinclair (1911a) says: “The great thing about the fast is that it sets you a new standard ofhealth”(p.335).Oldandyoungalikearerenewedandhavetheirwholeorganismrepairedandtheirfunctions improved. Fasting supplies opportunities to the body to eliminate accumulated excessweight.

Regenerationofthebodyisaceaselessprocess.Thedailyrenewalofitscellsandtissuespreventsoldageandearlydeath forconsiderable time,despite theworst abuseswhichareheapedupon thebodies of most of us. Fasting enables the processes of renewal to out-distance the processes ofdegenerationand the result is ahigher standardofhealth.Regenerationof the flesh, even theverymarrowofthebones,ispossiblethroughthismethod.Byitwemayactuallyteardownmuchofthebodyandthenrebuilditandhaveaneworrenewedone.

Whenoncewehave learned that thebody isable to rip itsstructures topiecesand re-useand re-arrangetheirconstituentstomatchandfit itsorgans,wearepreparedtounderstandhowfastingsoquicklybringsaboutarejuvenationofthebody.Thetextureandtoneandfeelingandlookandutilityof your organs and functionswill be as fine, after theyhave gone through the cleansing, refiningprocessoffasting,asaresoiledsilksorlacesafterthesehavegonethroughtheprocessofcleaning.Therejuvenatingeffectupontheskinisvisibletoallwhohaveeyestosee.Lines,wrinkles,blotches,pimplesanddiscolorationsdisappear,theskinbecomesmoreyouthful,acquiresabettercolorandabettertexture.Theeyesclearupandbecomebrighter.Onelooksyounger.Thevisiblerejuvenationintheskinandeyesismatchedbymanifestevidencesofsimilarbutinvisiblerejuvenescencethroughoutthebody.

Mostofmyreadersarefamiliarwiththemethodofpropagatingcertainplantsfrom“cuttings”andfrom“buds”ratherthanfromseeds.Partsofsomeplantsandofsomeofthesimplerformsofanimallifeareable to reconstitute thewholeplantoranimal.Child (1915)andothershave shown that thereconstitutedorganismsarephysiologicallyyoungerthantheplantoranimalfromwhichtheywerederived.“Thedegreeof rejuvenescence” insuchcases“is ingeneralproportional to thedegreeofreorganizationintheprocessofreconstitutionofthepieceintoawhole”(p.110).Thereisreasontobelieve,asReinheimer(1920)haspointedout,thatthevirtueoftheseprocessesofreorganizationandreconstruction lies in a simultaneous reduction of what he thinks is best described as a “nutritiveoverflow.”Reorganizationandredistributionaswehavealreadyseen,occurinthebodyofthefasterconcomitantlyandcoetaneouslywiththereductionofsurplusnutrition.Weknowthatreductionofa“nutritiveoverflow”willnotaccountforalltherejuvenatingeffectsobserved,forweseethesealsointheundernourished,mal-nourishedandunder-weightpersons.

ExhaustiveexperimentsbyProf.Morgulishaveprovedbeyondadoubtthatfastingrejuvenates.Hehasalsoshownthatthebodydoesnotteardownitstissuesnorimpairthemstructurally.Thecellsarereducedinsizebut there is littleornodestructionofcellsexcept incasesofactualstarvation.Thenucleiof the cells tendusually to retain their size and lose so little of their bulk that theybecomerelativelylargerinproportiontotherestofthecell.Suchacellhasthecapacityforassimilationandgrowth which characterizes the cells of embryos and young animals. This accounts for the rapidgainsintissueafterafast.The laymanmaysee theseremarkablechanges in theskinfor thisoftenbecomes as fine grained and smooth, almost as that of a child. Drs. Carlson and Kunde, of thedepartmentofPhysiologyoftheUniversityofChicago,showedthatafastoftwoweekstemporarily

restores the tissues of a man of forty to the physiological condition of the tissues of a youth ofseventeen.

Howlongthisyouthfulconditioncanbemaintainedtheseinvestigatorsdonotknowandcouldnothaveshown,fortheyhavenoknowledgeofthecausesoftheagingprocessandthereforedidnotseethatthesewerenotreturnedtoafterthefast.Thefasterssimplyreturnedtotheiraccustomedhabitsofliving. Mr. Hoelzel, who took part in this experiment, assures me that neither he nor Dr. Kundesmokedortookalcoholicsafterthefast,buthethinksthathedidovereat.Everyfasterknowsthathisbodyandhisenergiesarerenewedbythefastandwherehelivesproperlyafterward,heknowsthattheimprovementislasting.Thesefactsarenotnew.TheywereonlynewtoDrs.CarlsonandKunde.

Kunde (1923) says: “It becomes evident that where the initial weight was reduced by 45%, andsubsequentlyrestoredbythenormaldiet,approximatelyone-halfoftherestoredbodyismadeupofnewprotoplasm.Inthisthereisrejuvenescence”(p.443).Itshouldbepointedoutthatmuchofthe55percentofthebodythatwasnotlosthasundergonerejuvenatingchangesofgreatsignificance.

Byrepeatingtherejuvenatingfastsatappropriateintervals,theindividualcankeephimselfyounger,yearafteryear,muchyoungerphysiologically, thanhewouldotherwisebe—inshort,staveoffoldage.

Mr.Hoelzelgivesitashisopinionthatlittlerejuvenationcanbeexpectedaftertheageofthirty-five.This is not borne out by the observations ofmenwho have had greatest experiencewith the fast.Thirty-fiveyearsisafixedchronologicalpoint,butinthehumanorganismwedealwithabiologicalentity of very variable physiological status, so that marked distinctions are made between thephysiological,Perhapsatthirty-fiveorthereafter,wecouldmoreproperlyrefertothepathologicalageoftheindividualseekingrejuvenation.Iwouldsaythat,insteadoftheageofthepersonbeing,perse,thefactordeterminingtheamountofrejuvenationpossible,itdepends,rather,upontheaggregateamount of irremediable pathological developments present in the individual organism, so that, thepossibilitiesforrejuvenationaredifferentinallmenandwomenofthesamechronologicalages.Dr.Rabagliattiquotedsomeoneashavingsaidthat“oldpeoplebearabstinencewell,andthattheybearover-feedingbadly,”afactwhichhethoughtwasfullofhopeintheattempttoprolongthelivesofoldpeopleandinrelievingthemoftheirsufferings.

Ourfleshisrenewedthrougharenovationofourwaysoflife.Throughfastingwehaveunloadedthe toxic burden and the old flesh and new flesh has been built out of better food, exercise andsunshine with entire absintence from tobacco, tea, coffee, alcohol, etc. We are renewed andreinvigorated both by a reduction of surfeit and by the excretion of accumulated toxins and theirpathologicend-results.

E.Schultz,experimentingwithfastinghydra,producedpositiveproofoftherejuvenatingeffectsoffasting,theanimalsrevertingtoanembryonicstate.Intensivenourishmentresultsinmuchpoisoningininfusoriaandashortfastisneededtorestorethemtoyouth.Areductionofsurfeitisessentialtothemostvigorousmanifestationsofvitality.Inhigheranimals“briefhungerhasabeneficialeffect.”Prof.C.M.Child,oftheUniversityofChicago,tooksomesmallflatworms,wormswhichwhenfed,growold,lazyandinfirm,andchoppedthemupintosmallpiecesandeachpiecegrewintoanewandyoungworm.Hetooksomeoftheoldwormsandfastedthemforalongtime.Theygrewsmallerandsmaller, livingofftheirowninternalresourcesformonths.Then,whentheyhadbeenreducedtoaminimumsize,hefedthem.Theystartedtogrowandwerejustasyounginphysiologicalcondition

asevertheywere.

Theplanarianmaycontinuetoshrinkuntilreducedtolessthanone-hundredthofitsoriginalsize,toasizeevenbelowthatatwhichithatchedfromtheegg.Whenthispointisreachedasupplyoffoodwillenableittogrowagain.Thesereducedwormshavetheproportionsofyoungratherthanthoseofoldworms.They look rejuvenated.Prof.Childalternately fedandstarvedagroupof thesewormsandcausedthemtoliveoveraperiodof twelvegenerations.Theyshowednosignsofprogressiveaging—whenever theywere large theywereasoldasordinarywormsof the samesize;whenevertheywere small theywere as young as ordinaryworms. It is stated that ifwe choose to go to thetroublewecouldprobablykeepasingleflat-wormalternatelygoingupanddownthehilloflifeandnevergoingbeyondacertainagelimitforperiodsthatwouldmakeMethuselahseemveryshortlived.

Child(1915)tellsusthatwithabundantfoodsomespeciesmaypassthroughtheirwholelifehistoryinthreeorfourweeks,butwhengrowthispreventedthroughlossoffood,theymaycontinueactiveandyoungforat least threeyears.“Partialstarvation inhibitssenescence.Thestarveling isbroughtbackfromanadvancedagetothebeginningofpostembryoniclife;itisalmostre-born.”

It hardly need be said that in the larger and more complex forms of life the possibilities ofrejuvenescence are more narrowly limited than among the lower forms, such as the planaria.Nevertheless, according to Prof. Child, in the organic world, generally, rejuvenescence is asfundamentalandimportantaprocessassenescence.Prof.Huxley,ofEngland,sonoftheolderProf.Huxley,tooksomeyoungplanaria,orearthworms,andperformedaveryinterestingandinstructiveexperimentwiththem.Hefedawholefamilyoftheseastheyordinarilyeat.Heisolatedoneofthemandfeditinthesamemanner,butforcedittoundergoatregularintervals,shortperiodsoffasting.Itwas alternately fasted and fed. The isolatedwormwas still alive after nineteen generations of hisbrothershadbeenborn, lived their regular life cycles andpassedaway.Theonlydifference in themodeoflifeandthedietofthiswormandthatofhisbrotherwormswashisperiodicfasts.

Excess is fatal to healthy action. A reduction of surfeit is essential to the most vigorousmanifestationsofvitality.Weismann’sobservationsandtheresultsoftissue-cultureinthelaboratoryrevealthattherearenolimits tovitality.Autogeneratedtoxinsandpoisoningfromgastro-intestinalputrefactionandfermentationarethechieflimitinginfluencesuponlife.Surfeitproducesandfastingeliminatesthese.Aremovaloftoxinsandsurfeitpermitstissueregeneration.

Anexperimenterat theUniversityofChicagoprocuredsomeinsectsofakind, thenormallifeofwhich is only twenty-four hours.He isolated them and placed themwhere they could not procurefood.Insteadofstarvingtodeathimmediatelyordyingattheendoftheirnormaltwenty-fourhours’lifespan,theylivedforfifteendays.Fastingenabledthemtoliveforfifteengenerations.

Now, these results obtainedwith theworms and insects only forcefully remind us again that wecannotsafelyarguefromonespeciestoanother.Mancannot liveforfifteengenerationsbyfastingnorfornineteengenerationsbyperiodicshortfasts.Norcanhebecomeaminutemanbyfastingandthen,when fed, grow into a new and youthfulman aswas the casewith theworms.But there is arenewal ofman’s body to a certain extent.His body does become smaller.He does get rid of hissurplustissues,surplusfood,accumulatedtoxinsand“diseased”tissues,etc.

Fastingproducesnoorganicdeterioration,nopathologicalchangesintheorgansofthebody.Thiscan occur only after the period of starvation is reached and, even when this occurs, complete

recoverygenerallyfollowsuponthesupplyofpropernutrition.Activegrowthandregenerationmaygo on simultaneously with fasting, as Morgulis and other experimenters have shown. Fastingimprovesthefundamentalorganicfunctionsand,uptoacertainpoint,increasesmuscularstrength.

Thatsomeof thecellsand tissuesareconsumedin thisprocess isbothnaturalandnecessary,butnothingis lostwhichnaturecannotorwillnotreplacewhenfavorableconditionsareaffordedher.Herreservesareconsumedandsomeofthemuscularandglandulartissuesaresacrificedtosustainthemorevitalorgans.However,the“germofthecell”oritsownpowertorenewitselfandtobuildnewcellsisnotdestroyed.“Thenucleusretainsitspotentialitytorejuvenatethecellafteraperiodofrest, and it recuperates to function with renewed activity after its environment has been freed ofdeleteriouswaste”bythefast.

Agreatchangeincelllifeandstructuretakesplacesduringafastanditiswelltocontinuethefastuntilthischangeiscompleteandnothingbuthealthytissueremains.Inthiswayanewbodyemergesfrom the process. It is thin, but ready to be re-built upon normal lines.After such an overhaulingprocess,whenthebodyhasbeenlargelytorndownandthrownaway,whentheaccumulatedwasteanddebrisofalife-timehavebeenrefinedorcastoutand,afterthechemicalreadjustmentoccasionedbythefast,hasoccurred,thebodythatisproperlycaredforisbuiltanewanditsyouthrenewed.

Dr.Carlson found that the increasedvigorof thehunger contractions,whichappeared in fasting,lasted for some days after a five days’ fast. He suggests that this effect may be analogous to thegeneralrejuvenatingeffectoffastingasseeninanimals,andintimates thatanoccasionalperiodoffastingmay exert a beneficial influence in renewing vigor and prolonging life and in increasingone’scapacityforwork.

Experimentsuponhumanbeingsanddogs,performedattheHullPhysiologicalLaboratoryoftheUniversity of Chicago, and reported by Kunde (1923), showed that a fast of thirty to forty daysproducesanincreaseoffivetosixpercentinthemetabolicrate.Adecreaseinthemetabolicrateisoneof thephenomenaofoldage.Fastingby increasing themetabolic rate produces, as oneof itseffects,rejuvenation.

With toxindeposits clearedup; thebodypurified; theblood rejuvenated;organs renewed; sensesimproved; digestion and assimilation enhanced; the cells and tissues returned to a more youthfulcondition; infiltrations, effusions, andgrowths absorbed; dead anddying tissues removed andnewtissuesintheirplaces;bodychemistrynormalized;thebodyisinverymuchthesameconditionasthemattressthathasbeentothefactoryforrenovationandmakingover.Afterthefasthasclearedawaytheaccumulationsandthedevitalizedcells,stronger,morevitalandhealthytissueisbuilttotaketheplace of that which was cast away. Regeneration of the body is brought about through the dailyrenewalofitscellsandtissuesandfastinghastensthisrenewal.

OnMay18th,1933,oneofthephysiciansattendingGandhi,duringhisfastatthattime,reportedthaton thatday, the tenthdayofhis fast, “despitehis64years, fromaphysiologicalpointofview, theIndianleaderwasashealthyasamanofforty.”

XVI.GainandLossofStrengthWhileFasting“Mostmencanunderstandeatingtogetstrong,”saysDr.Tilden,“butittakesalongtimetoeducatethem to stop eating to get strong.” As paradoxical as it may seem to those who have had noexperiencewithfasting,thereisafrequent,andperhapsalwaysagaininstrengthwhilefasting.Letme beginwith a quotation from a thoroughly “orthodox” and “scientific” source. Benedict (1915)details a number of experiments upon the strength of Prof. Levanzin during his experimental fast.Referringtosimilartestsmadebyothers,hesays:

ThetestsmadebyLucianionSucci,inwhichadynamometerwasusedtomeasurethestrengthof the rightand lefthands, showed results seeminglyatvariancewith thepopular impression.Thus,onthe21stdayofthefast,Succiwasabletoregisteronthedynamometerastrongergripthan when the fast began. From the 20th to the 30th day of the fast, however, his strengthdecreased, being less at the end than at the beginning of the fast. In discussing these results,LucianipointedoutthefactthatSuccibelievedthathegainedinstrengthasthefastprogressedand hence probably did not exert the greatest power at the beginning of the experiment.Consideringthequestionoftheinfluenceofinanitionontheonsetoffatigue,LucianistatesthatthefatiguecurveobtainedfromSuccionthe29thfastdaywassimilar tothatobtainedwithanindividualundernormalconditions”(1907,p.327).

On the lastdaysofhis fastSucciwould ridehorsebackorascend theEiffelTowerofParis,runningupthetremendousstaircasethattirestheaveragemantomerelyascendit.”

Levanzinlostnostrengthduringhis thirty-onedays’fastasshownby thedynamometric tests.Onthelastdayofthefast,thisnon-athleticman,usedtotakingnoregularexerciseexceptwalking,wasabletopressuptoonehundredandtwentypoundswithhislefthand.Itissomewhatamusingtoreadthatattheendofhisfastofthirty-onedaysintheCarnegieInstitute,LevanzinwantedtocontinueituptofortydaysandthatProf.Benedictobjectedbecauseitwouldbeveryexpensiveandfatiguingtohiswell-fedmen.

Dr.Tanner ’sstrengthdecreaseduntilafterhebegantotakewater,butincreasedthereafter.Hewaschallenged by a reporter who declared one could not keep up one’s strength without eating. TheDoctorsaid:“HerehaveIbeenforseveralyearsasemi-invalid,sufferingfromallkindsofdiseases,andnowIhavefastedfortwoweeks.Youareyoung,healthy,strongandvigorous.IwilljusttakeadrinkofwaterandthenIwillrunyouaracearoundthishallandseewhocanendurethelongest.”The reporter confidently accepted the challenge and the race began. To the amusement of theaudience,whohadexpectedtoseetheyoungmaneasilywin,thedoctoreasilyandspeedilyoutranhiscompetitor,whopuffedandblowedinhisdistress.

Mr.Macfaddensaid:“Inseveralcases treatedbymyself,andalso inanumberofcasesquotedbyDeweyandCarrington,thestrengthincreasedfromdaytoday,untilthepatientwasenabledtowalkseveralmiles aday toward thecloseof a long fast,whereas at firsthewasunable towalk at all!”Againhesaid:“Itisafactthathasbeendemonstratedagainandagainthatmanyindividualsinsteadoflosingstrengthbyfasting,gain it. Inonecaseawomanwascarried tooneofour institutionsonastretcher, soweak frommalnutrition that shewasunable towalk.Herphysicianhadprescribed allkindsofnourishingdietswhichshehadbeenunabletodigestandinspiteoffood(orbecauseofit—author ’snote),drugsandnursingshehadrapidlygrownweaker.Shewasatonceplacedonafastand

toheramazement,she,daybyday,increasedinstrength.”

Inmyownpracticethereisthecaseofamanwhowasconfinedtobedandunabletogetoutofit,althougheatingthreemealsaday.Attheendofaweekoffastinghewasabletogetupandwalkabouttheroom,althoughstillfasting.Thereisthecaseofanothermanwhowassoweakhecouldnotwalkfromoneroomtoanotherofhishomewithoutsupport.Aftertwoweeksoffastinghewasabletogodownstairsunsupported,gooutsideandhaveasunbathandreturnupstairstohisbed.Afterfifty-fivedaysof fastinghewas still able to do this.Hewasmuch stronger at the end of his fifty-five dayswithoutfoodthanwhenhebeganthefast.

In1925,itwasannounced,fromtheUniversityofChicago,thatfootballcoacheshavefoundthatiftheyforcetheirplayerstogowithoutfoodashorttimeandthenfeedthemaheartymealafewhoursbeforethegametheyare“raringtogo,bothmentallyandphysically.”Manyathleteshavefoundthatshort fasts during their training periods aid them considerably. The late Harry Wills, Negroheavyweightpugilist,wasanoutstandingexampleofthis.Asanoppositeexample,habitualgluttonycameveryneartopermanentlyretiringBabeRuthfromthebaseballdiamond.Somebodypointedouttohimthecauseofhistroublesandreducedeatingrestoredhimtogoodphysicalcondition,aswellasovercamehisirrascibletemper.

Arndt(1922)tellsofanItalianfencingmasterwhopreparedforcontestswithaweekoffastingandcontinuous practice and who had never been vanquished. Freddy Welsh, one time light-weightchampionoftheworld,alwaysstartedhistrainingforimportantfightswithafastofaweek.Hefoundthat thisshortenedconsiderably the timerequired toget incondition for the fight.Heneverhad topostponeanyfightsbecauseofcolds,boils,etc.,aswasoftendonebyJoeBeckett,GeorgeCarpentier,andothers.

InDecember1903,eightathletesunderthesupervisionofMr.Macfaddenenteredasevendays’fastandperformedfeatsofgreatstrengthandenduranceunder thewatchfuleyesofprominentmedicalmenfromdifferentpartsofNewYork.TheseeightmenwereenteredonthelistonSaturdaynightatthe beginning of their fast and the same eight athletes presented themselves in the final contest ofenduranceontheeveningoftheseventhdayofthefast.

JosephH.Waltering,ofNewYorkCity,wonfirstprizeintheraces,winningthe50-yarddashinsixandtwo-fifthsseconds,the220-yardrunintwenty-sevenandfour-fifthsseconds,andthemileruninsixminutes,fourteenandtwo-fifthsseconds.GilmanLow,ofNewYorkCity,artist,health-director,athlete,wonfirstprizeinstrengthcontests;lifting900poundsinastraighthandgripliftandthrowingthe56-poundweight thirteenfeetsix inches.Onthesixthdayofhisfast,Mr.Lowliftedwithhandsalone500poundstwentytimesinfifteenseconds,and900poundstwiceintwentyseconds.Inthebackliftheliftedonetontwelvetimesintwentyseconds.FollowingtheSaturdaynighttestsinthepresenceofphysicianstowhomhedesiredtodemonstratethat therewasnodeteriorationofstrengthafteraweekoffasting,heliftedonetontwenty-twotimesinnineteenseconds.

Mr.Lowdid not break his fast until the end of the eighth day.Then, atMadisonSquareGarden,before the astonished gaze of 16,000 people, he established nine world records for strength andendurance,whichstoodforyearsbeforetheywerebroken.Theserecordsare:

1. Raising950poundsthreetimesinfourseconds.2. Raising500poundstwentytimesinfifteenseconds.

3. Throwing56-poundweightthirteenfeetsixinches(forheight).4. Leg-lifting—Raisingwithlegsalone1,000poundsfiftytimesintwenty-fiveseconds.5. Leg-lifting—Raisingwithlegsalone1,500poundsthirty-fivetimesintwenty-fiveseconds.6. Raisingwithlegsalone1,800poundseighteentimesineighteenseconds.7. Backlifting—bringingallthemusclesofthebackintoactionraising2,500poundsfivetimesin

tenseconds.8. Raising2,200poundstwelvetimesintwelveseconds.9. Raising2,200poundstwenty-ninetimesintwentyseconds.”

Theseremarkablerecordsweremadeaftereightdaysoffastingincompetitionwithothermenwhohadbeeneatingregularly,Mr.Lowgoingoutofhisclass todo it.Hehassetotherworldrecords,afterfastingatother times.Ononeoccasion inreply to theclaimofphysicians thatshouldonegowithoutfoodforaweek,onewouldbesoweakonecouldscarcelywalkandafewmoredayswouldendangerlife,Mr.Lowchallengedanytwoofthemtohandlehiminanywaysuitabletothemafterhehad fasted for fifteen days. He asserted that after a fifteen days’ fast he underwent a few yearspreviouslyinBoston,hecouldhavewhippedhisweightinwildcats.

Prof.Levanzinsays:“Thosewhofeelanylackofstrengthduringafastaretobeclassedinthesamecategorywith thosewho feel hungry.They are nervous andvery impressionable people, and theirsufferingsareonlythebanefuleffectsoftheirtoovividimagination.

“Ifyousuggesttoyourselfthatyouarestrongandthatyoucanwalktwomilesonthethirtiethdayofyourfast,believeme,youcandoitwithoutgreatdifficulty,butifyoufixinyourweakmindthatyouaregoingtofaint,andworry,andpersisttoworryaboutit,besurethatnotaverylongtimewillelapsebeforeyoufaintreally,avictimofyourwrongauto-suggestion.”

Muchtohissurprise,Sinclairhadnoneoftheweaknessduringhissecondfastthatheexperiencedduringhisfirstfast.Mrs.Sinclairexperiencedmuchweaknessduringherfirstfast,butnoweaknessduringhersecondfast.Macfadden,Carringtonandothers,recordnumerousexamplesofincreaseofbothmentalandphysicalstrengthduringthefast.Everyonewhohashadexperiencewithfastinghasseensimilarresults.Mr.Carringtonusedthephenomenonoftheincreaseofenergyduringafastasabasis of criticism of the reigning theory of science that energy is derived from food. He alsoemployed it as a basis of interpretation of life. The very title of his book, Vitality, Fasting andNutrition,issignificant.

Morgulis says: “Laboratory experiencewith fasters, aswell as long fasting among followers ofcertainreligioussects,provethatnoharmcanbefallthehealthyindividualwhoabstainsfromfood.”Lacking clinical experience with fasting patients, he says: “Indiscriminate fasting, however, ofpatients whose strength is already impaired should be discouraged.” Prof. Morgulis has neverwatchedaweakpatientgrowstrongerduringafast.Hehasnotseenthedaybydayimprovementinthestrengthandgeneralconditionofsuchpatients.Valuableashisworkis,heisnotentitledtospeakwithauthorityinthisfieldoffasting.“Again,”saysDr.Dewey,“letitbeborneinmindthatrecoveryfromacutediseaseisattendedwitharevivalofstrengthineverypowerthatmakeslifeworthliving,andthateverypersonnotacutelysickwhohasfastedundermycareorwhohascutdownthewasteofbrain power by less daily food has found the same revival of power. To this there have been noexceptions”(1921,p.161).

OnepatientIhelpedcareforafewyearsagogrewstrongereachdayduringafastofeighteendays.

Thismanwassoweakatthebeginningofthefastthathewouldgetdownonhishandsandkneesandcrawlupthesteps.Hetoldmeafterwardsthatsometimeshethoughthewouldnotbeabletomakeittothetop.Beforehiseighteendaysoffastingwereuphewasabletorunupthesteps.

It should not be thought, however, that one may fast indefinitely with a continuous increase instrength.Onthecontrary,whenthemusclesbegin towaste theremustcomeagradual lesseningofstrength. In the average case strength should begin to lessen slightly after about the twentieth day.This, however,must vary in keepingwith the amount of reserves possessed and the rapiditywithwhichtheseareconsumed.Insomecasesanincreaseinstrengthisregistereduptoandbeyond thethirtiethday.

Strength isacombinationofmuscle (machinery)andnerve force (motiveenergy).Thepurityorimpurity of thebloodgreatly influencesboth themuscles and the nerves. Fasting brings about thepurificationboth themusclesand thenerves.Fastingbringsabout thepurificationof thebloodandalsoconservesnervousenergy,sothatthereismoreenergyonhandtobeusedandtheconditionofnerveandmuscleisimprovedsothattheyrespondmorereadilytothewill.Thisincreaseofstrengthis, therefore,mostmarked in thosewho aremost toxic andoverloadedwith excess food. Such anincrease cannot continue indefinitely due to the gradual wasting of the muscles. After these havewasted below a certainminimum,while there is no diminution of nervous energy, therewill be adecreaseinstrength.

It isnecessarytodistinguishbetweenone’sactualstrengthandone’sfeelingofstrength.Themanwhoisaccustomedtoeatingthreesquaremealsadayofrich,highlyseasonedfoodsandtakingteaandcoffeealongwiththese,andusingtobaccobetweenmeals,willfeelmiserablyweak,languidandshakywhendeprivedofthese.Hewillfeeltooweaktositup,perhaps.Thisfeelingofweaknessisduetothewithdrawalofenergyfromthemuscles.Asthefastprogresses,hewillfeelstrongerandmorecheerful.Faintingduringthefastusuallycomes,ifatall,duringthesefirstthreeorfourdays.

Whatwemaydesignate physical strength to differentiate it fromwhatwemay call physiologicalstrength, fluctuatesduring the fast,beinggreateroneday, lower thenext andgreater thenextor itmayincreaseforaweekandthen,suddenly,begreatlyreduced,onlytobeincreasedagainadayorsolater.Onedaythefasterseemshardlyabletolifthisheadoffthepillow;thenextdayhewantstogototown.Othersymptomsfluctuateinmuchthesamemanner,withasteadygeneral improvementin them.Much of this apparent weakness seems definitely to be of mental origin, as it is quicklydispelledbyavarietyofexpedientsshortofbreakingthefast.Thefasterwhofeelsweakwillfindthathe feels much stronger after a few minutes of exercise. The feeling of weakness is due to thewithdrawalofenergyfromthemuscles.Exercisecausesagreatdeterminationofnervousenergytothese.

Whatevermaybetrueoftheincreaseofenergyduringthefastitisnottruethatthereisacontinuousincreaseofstrengththroughoutthelengthofalongfast.Strengthistheabilitytoexpressenergyandrequires the possession of certain mechanisms for the expression. As the fast progresses and themusclesgrowsmaller,itisinevitablethatatimecomeswhentheyarelessabletomanifestenergy—thatiswhenmuscularstrengthwilldiminish.

Therearenumerousfastingpatientsinwhomthereisanunmistakablefeelingofweaknessevenofprostration. Some of them are so weak they cannot raise their heads from the pillow. But it isquestionablewhetherornottheweaknesssoevidentinthesepatientsisrealoronlyapparent.Forone

thing,itisacommonoccurrenceforthemtobecomesuddenlystrongassoonastheyhavetakenthefirsthalf-glassoforangejuice,evenbeforethejuicehasleftthestomach.Wheredoessuchasuddenrushof strengthcome from? If thisphenomenon isnot tobe explained aspurelymental, then, theexplanationseemstometolieinthephysiologicalletdown”thatfastingoccasions.

Theapparentincreaseinstrengththatfollowsimmediatelyuponeatingisduetotheawakeningofthebody’sdormantpowersandisnotanyactualincreaseinstrength.Ifcondimentsaretakenwiththefood, as they sometimesare, there is theexcitement that is called stimulation.The “weakness” thatfollowsthewithdrawaloffoodismerelytheinevitable“letdown”thatalwaysfollowsthewithdrawalof stimulants. Most people are in the habit of taking stimulating substances with their foods andbetweenmeals. The same phenomena are seen when tobacco, alcohol, coffee, morphine, etc., arewithheldfromthehabitualuserofthesesubstances.Thefactthatthegreatestlet-downisseeninheavyflesh-eatersandthelightestlet-downisseeninvegetarianssupportsthisview.

Whenfoodandstimulantsarewithdrawn,thereisageneralletdownofphysicalandphysiologicalactivitiesandacessationoftheexcitedactivitythatiscalledstimulation.Theslowingupoftheheartbeat, reducedrespiratoryrate, loweringofmetabolism,etc.,mean that thebody is resting. It is thisphysiologicallet-downthatgivesonethefeelingofweakness.Alittleactivitytospeeduptheheart,increaserespirationandstep-upmetabolismsoonremediesthefeelingofweakness.

LongagoProf.Atwaterpointedoutthatwehaveneitherthemeansformeasuringpotentialenergyassuch,noraunitforexpressingsuchmeasurementsiftheyweremade.Wecanmeasureoutputonly.Butoutputisexpenditurewhereasquiescenceisconservation.Trallsays:“Allpersonsknowhowtheyfeel;butalldonotapprehendthetruesourcesoftheirgoodorbadfeelings,andthemajoritymistakethesenseofmerestimulationfortheconditionofactualstrength;theydonotdistinguishbetweenthefeelingofstrengthandvitalpower;theydonotconsiderthatstrengthorpowerisonlyshowninitswasteorexpenditure,notinitsaccumulationorpossession”(1851a,p.418).

Carringtonpointedoutthattheimmediatefeelingof-strengthandexhilirationthatfollowsuponthetakingofthefirstfoodafterthefastcannotonanypossibletheory,bederivedfromthefooditself,for the reason that the exhiliration comes immediately,whereas the food cannot possibly give anystrengthtotheorganismbeforeitisdigestedandassimilated.Carringtonsuggeststhatthetakingoffoodoccasions therousingupofdormantor latentenergy.During thefast,and this is particularlytrue if the patient has been resting, energy becomes latent. He also points out that much of theexhilirationismental.Ihaverepeatedlyseenpatientswhowereso“weak,”theycouldnotraise theirheadsfromthepillow.Withthefirsthalfglassoffruitjuicetheywerereadytogooutandengageinmarked activity. In these instances, both the “weakness” and the sudden returnof “strength” are soobviouslymentalthatnoonewhohaswatcheditrepeatedlyeverdoubtsit.

Carringtoncontendsthat“thevitalenergies,sofarfrombeinglessened,invariablyincrease,asthefastprogresses(nomatterwhatthefeelingsofweaknessmayseemtoindicate);thatthemindisneveraffectedbythefastinanymannerwhatever,orinanyotherwaythanbeneficially. . .”Notethathemakesacleardistinctionbetween“feelingofweakness”andanactuallesseningofenergy.Onlybykeepingthisdistinctioninmind,canhisstatementbeproperlyunderstood.Ihaveseenpatientswhohadfastedforprolongedperiods, thirty to fortydaysandmore,manifestmostastoundingstrengthandenergy.

Carrington points out that themore distinct and uninterrupted gains of energy,while fasting, are

seen,andthegainismostmarkedandsteadywherethegreatestdegreeofprostrationandweaknessisobserved,andwhere,ifanywhere,weshouldexpectcollapsetofollowuponthecompletewithdrawaloffood.Asheputsit,“Incaseswhicharealreadyweakenedbydisease,andconsequentlywherethevitalityisalreadyataverylowebb,thisincreaseofenergy,consequentuponthewithdrawaloffood,isalwaysmostreadilyseenandmostmarked.

“Theoretically,ofcourse,thecompletewithdrawaloffoodinsuchcases,shouldhavetheeffectofcausingthespeedydeathof thepatient, for thereasonthat the lastsource(accordingtoscience)ofbodilyenergyhasbeenwithdrawn.Butinactualpractice,wefindthattheveryoppositeisthefactinthecase,andthatthepatient’sstrengthandenergyreturnandcontinuetoaccumulateduringtheperiodoffasting”(1908,pp.260-261).

XVII.GainandLossofWeightDuringFastingNoDangerFromLossOfWeight

Afemalecatwillloseweightandgrowskinnywhilesheisnursingherkittens,althoughshemaybewellandabundantlyfed.Sheroundsoutagainbythetimesheisreadyforhernextpregnancy.Hervery tissues are called upon to supply food for her young.This is very similar towhat is seen infasting.Thecatpresentsnoevidencethatsheisinjuredinanywaybythislossofweight.

When an individual ceases to eat he quite naturally losesweight.Althoughwe usually say that afaster loses about a pound a day, the loss of weight varies greatly, depending on a number ofcircumstances.Fatsubjectslosemorerapidlythanleanones.Themorephysicallyactiveoneis, themore rapidlyone losesweight.The longer the fastprogresses, the less rapid is the lossofweight.LossesoffiveorsixpoundsadayfortheFirsttwoorthreedaysareoftenrecorded.Buttheselossesarenot lossesofflesh.Mostof thisapparent lossisduetotheemptyingof thealimentarycanalofseveralpoundsoffoodandfeceswhichisnotreplacedbymorefood.

Hereisanalmostincrediblecase.Fatpeoplecommonlyloseweightveryrapidlywhenplaceduponafast.Theylosemuchmorethantheaveragepoundaday.AveryfatwomantookafastoffiftydaysintheHealthSchoolin1952andlost,inthistime,twelvepounds.Asshehadnowaytogetfoodfromtheoutside,hadnoaccesstothekitchenandasalltheothersymptomsindicatedthatshewasfasting,IthinkIcansaythatsheactuallyfastedthewholetime.Shehad,beforecomingtotheHealthSchool,averylowrateofmetabolism.ThisistheonlyexplanationthatIcanfindforherabsurdlylowlossofweightinafastofsuchlength.Herlossthroughthewholeofherfastofanaverageofaquarterofapoundadaywas thatof the losscommonlyobserved in theclosingdaysofanextended fastwhenmetabolismismuchreduced.

ItookthiscaseupwithMr.HoelzelinthehopeofreachingDr.Carlsonwithit,butHoelzelwrotebacksaying:“Dr.Carlsonwouldnotbelikelytobeconvincedthatafatwomanlostonly12poundsin50daysoffastingalthoughIbelievethatthismightbepossibleifherfluidintakewasnotlimitedtodistilledwater.”Idonotknowhowhide-boundDr.Carlsonwas,butifhewasofthetypethatcloseshismindtowhatmayappeartobeunusualphenomena,hewaspoormaterialoutofwhichtomakeascientist. Thiswoman’s fluid intakewas confined to distilledwater. Luciani found, in his study ofSucci,thatwhenmineralwaterisused,weightcanbegainedonafast,duetothestoringofwaterandmineral.Ihavefound,inmyextensiveexperiencewithfasting,thatmineralwaterisnotessentialtogainingweightinafast.Itmaybedoneondistilledwater.

IdiscussedthiscasewithbothDr.WilliamL.EsserandDr.ChristopherGian-Cursioandfoundthatboth thesemen, in extensive experienceswith fasting, had cared for similar casesof but little lossduring an extended fast. In each of their cases therewas lowmetabolism. I have had several suchcases,someofthemseekingtoreduceweightandtheyfoundtheexperiencedisappointing.Althoughnoneofthemwereasdramaticastheforegoingcase,allofthemhadalowmetabolism.

GeorgeS.Keith,M.D.,LL.D.,F.R.C.P.E.,whosuccessfullyemployedfastinginhiscareofthesickformanyyears,saysinhisPleaforaSimplerLife:“Ahealthyman,whenhetakesnofood,losesinweightatfirstaboutapoundaday,whichisgradually lessenedtohalfapound if theabstinence isprolonged”(1901,p.37).InTheBestThingintheWorld,Mr.Shaw,recordingthedevelopmentsinhis

ownfast,whichhecarefullywatched,says:“Thelossoffleshformanydayshasbeenlessandless,ascomparedwiththeearlierdaysofthefast...Thelossofweightgrowslessandlessdaily.”

Itisthehistoryofallfaststhatweightislostmorerapidlyduringthefirstfewdaysthanduringthesubsequentperiod.Inonefastof thirtydaysconductedbymyself, the lossduring the last fivedayswasone-fourthofapoundaday.Thefasterwasmoderatelyactivefrom9A.M.to7P.M.DuringMr.Johnson’sthirtydays’fasthelostfromone-halfapoundtotwopoundsaday.Onthethirtiethdayofthefasthislosswasone-halfpound.Onthetwenty-secondandtwenty-thirddaysheweighedthesame,apparentlylosingnothing.Thishowever,wasduetoprofusewaterdrinking.Ihaveseencasesgainweightfortwoandthreedaysatatimefromdrinkingsomuchwater.Atthebeginningofhis30days’fast,Mr.Johnsonweighed154½lbs.Atitscompletion,hisweightwas12l½lbs.,histotallossbeing23lbs.Duringthe20daysofwalkingfromChicagowithoutfood,helost37½lbs.,morethaninthepreviousfastofthirtydays.Itgoeswithoutsayingthatthephysicallyactivefasterlosesmorerapidlythanthefasterwhorestsmostorallofthetime.

DuringthefirstfewdaysofhisfastSinclairlostfifteenpounds;anindicationoftheextremelypoorstateofhistissues.Duringthenexteightdayshelostonlytwopounds,averyunusualthingforthisstageof fasting. Levanzin lost 29 pounds during his 31 days’ fast in theCarnegie Institute.MajorGotshallsays:“ForthefirsteightdaysofmyfastIlosttwenty-fivepounds”(1926,p.362).Thisveryunusuallossindicatesthathistissueswereinverypoorcondition.

Theweightlostbyfatpatientsintheearlydaysofafastisastounding.Ihaveseenlossesoffiveandsix pounds a day for the first fewdays.Awomanwho fasted in theHealth School in January andFebruaryof1950 lost twenty-fivepounds in the first twoweeks.Asbefore indicated, rapid lossofweight in a fast indicates a poor condition of the tissues. It has been repeatedly noticed that fatindividualswhoaresoftandflabbylosemorerapidlythanthosewhosefatisfirmandsolid.Asthefastprogresses,therateoflossdecreasesinfatpatients.Skinnypatientscommonlyloseslowlyfromthebeginning,butonewhosetissuesareinverypoorconditionmayloseveryrapidlyattheoutset.Thedifferenceinthedaytodayweightlossbetweenfasterswhoareactiveandfasterswhoarekeptinbedissurprisinglysmall.Thetotaldifference,overaperiodofthreeormoreweeks,isconsiderable.

Mr.Carringtontabulatedandpublishedthelossesofweightsustainedintenselectedpatients.In253daysoffastingtheselost248pounds,orapproximatelyapoundaday.Suchfiguressupplyuswithafairlyaccurateindextotheamountofactualnutritivesubstancetheaveragepersonrequireseachday.Byactualnutritivematerialismeantwater-freeandwaste-freefood.Thegreaterpartofourfoods,asweconsume them, iswater and indigestible fiber,orbulk.About apounda dayof actual nutritivesubstanceissufficienttomaintainahealthfulbalancebetweenincomeandoutgooffood.IpresentCarrington’stableofweightlossesfromhisVitality,FastingandNutrition:

Name WeightatCommencement

WeightatEnd Days LossofWeight

Geo.E.Davis 228 174 50 54Mrs.I.Matthews 150 123 22 27Rev.H.H.Lohre 178 165 10 13Prof.F.W. 182 158 20 24Mrs.J.B. 135 127 8 8

Mrs.G.W.Tuthill 108.5 72.5 41 36Mrs.F.J.C. 136 103 28 33Mrs.T.A. 117 92 34 25RobertB. 135 118 17 17 1534.5 1286.5 253 248

Itwillbenotedbyacarefulstudyofthischartthattheratesoflossvariedmuchinthesetencases.Several factors account for this. Fat patients lose much faster than do thin ones; nervous andemotionalpatientslosemorerapidlythancalmandpoisedindividuals;patientsthatare relaxedandresting lose lessweight than those that are tenseor active.There is also a correlationbetween theconditionof thepatient’s tissueandhis lossofweight.Fat individualswhoare softand flabby fallawayveryrapidly.Thosefatindividualswhoarehardandfirmlosemuchslower.Thereistheaddedfact that much water drinking tends to keep the weight up by water-logging the tissues, withoutpreventing the usual loss of solid substance. It is also true that themost rapid losses occur in theearliestpartofthefastsothatonthewhole,shortfastsshowgreateraveragedailylossesthandolongfasts.Lossesarenotasgreatinsecond,thirdorfourthfastsasinthefirst.

Onthebasisofthistableandotherdatawhichheconsidered,Mr.Carringtonconcludedthat:“Theaveragelossofweightbyfastingpatientsamounts,ceteriesparibus,toonepoundperdiem.”Henotedthatinsomecasestherearegreatvariationsfromthislossandpointedoutthatthelossisgreateratthebeginning thanat theendof the fast.He says: “Apatient loses approximatelyoneandone-halfpoundsper diem, at the very beginning of every fast for one-half poundwhich is lost toward itsclose.”

As these observationswere allmade on sick individuals,Mr.Carrington asks the question:Howmuch should the normalman lose?He says: “more than a pound a day is obviously toomuch—denotingobesity;while less than half a pound is too little—denoting emaciation.”He says thatwecannotaccept theaveragelossofweightofapoundadayasthe“normal”lossfor thereasonthat:“Allpatientswhofinditnecessarytofastabsolutelyarealreadyinagrosslyabnormalcondition,andtheirlossofweightmustconquentlybeconsideredabnormalalso.”Hesaysthatonepoundadaymustrepresentthelossofadiseasedbody,andisbynomeansanormalloss.

Reversinghispositionthatifthenormalmanfasts,hestarves,hetakesthepositionthatalossofapoundadayforanormalmanistoogreat.HementionsalossoffifteenpoundsinaweekoffastingbyMr.Macfadden,a lossofnothingatallduringafastof fourdaysbyMissLouiseKopsofNewYork (May1904)and thegainof three-fourthsofapoundbyMr. J.Estapper inaweekof fasting.Theseare exceptional cases and provide no basis for a calculation of theweight a normal personshouldloseduringafast.Fromaconsiderationofvariousdata,however,hereachedtheconclusionthatthefastingnormalmanshouldloseanaverageoftwelveouncesaday.This,hethinks,representstheactualnutritiveneedsof thebodydaily inorder topreserve itsweightand to replacewornouttissue.Rabagliatiarrivedatthesameconclusionfromdifferentdata.Thereaderwillunderstandthatfood—thatistherawmaterial—isnotallnutriment.Thisdoesnotmeantwelveouncesoffood,buttwelveouncesofnutritivematerialthatthedigestivesystemmayextractfromthefood.

Discussing losses ofweight during a short fast,Benedict (1907) says: “Losses in body-weight inexperiments of but few days duration are wholly without significance. With regard to the totalcumulativelossastheexperimentprogresses,itappearsthatinthelongexperimentsofSuccitheloss

bearsingeneraladirectratiotothelengthoftheexperiment”(p.310).HerecitesafastconductedbyNicholson,usingaprisonerfortheexperiment,inwhichtherewasanaveragedailylossexperiment”(p.302).

Observationsshowthatwomenloseslightlymorethanmendowhenfasting.Thisisthoughttobeduetothefactthatwomenusuallycarrymorefattytissuethanmen.Therateofmetabolisminwomenislowerthaninmenandweshouldexpectmentolosemorerapidly.Butitisawell-establishedfactthatthefattertheindividualthegreaterthecomparativelossofweight.ThisisaddedconfirmationofCarrington’sconclusionthathealthysubjectsloseataslowerratethanthesick.

What are lost pounds to thosewho have recovered from theirmiseries, so that theymay eat incomfort andwith pleasure?After they have been restored to good health by a period of physical,mentaland physiological rest, theymay regain the lost pounds.There is this difference, however;afterthefastthepatientmayputonhealthyflesh.

Macleod’s Physiology inModernMedicine says that “All of the fat does not disappear from thetissues during starvation. This has led to the concept that a certain amount of fat in a tissue is anessentialpartofthattissuewhiletheremainderispresentasstoragematerial.Theessentialportionisconstant in amount while the storage fat varies with the amount present in the diet, and with themetabolicactivityofthetissues.”Itistheloweringofthemetabolicratethatfollowsthefirstpartofthefastthataccountsfortheslowingupoftherateofloss.

Itissaidthatamanmaylosefortypercentofhisnormalweightbeforehislifeisendangered.Weknow,however,thatmanyfastingpatientslosemuchmorethanthiswithoutdangerorharm.Indeed,Dr.Deweyinsiststhat“whendeathoccursbeforetheskeletonconditionisreacheditisalwaysduetoold age or some other form of disease or injury and not to starvation.” Dr. Hazzard and Mr.Carringtonholdthesameviewand,aswillbeshownlater,therearefactswhichsupportthisview.

Chossat found that the ultimate proportional losses in different animals experimented on, werealmost exactly the same, death occurring when the body had lost two-fifths (40 per cent) of itsoriginalweight.Differentpartsofthebodyloseweightindifferentproportions.Thechieflossesaresustainedbytheadiposetissues,themusclesandglands.Youngorganismsaresaidtodiewhentheyhavelosttwentypercentoftheiroriginalweight.

Itmakesagreatdifferencewhereonecommencestofigurethe40%lossthatresultsindeath.Itmustbecomputedfrom“normal”weight;not“original”weight.ThefastofJ.AustinShaw,ofNewYork,recordedbyDr.Dewey,wasofforty-fivedaysduration,duringwhichperiodhelostbut26¾lbs.Atthe beginning of the fast he weighed 199¾ lbs., at the end 173 lbs., being still over-weight. Mr.Propheter,NewYork,fasted52days,losing43lbs.,from135½atthestartto92½attheend,40%ofhisoriginalweightwouldreducehimto81.3lbs.orallowhimtolose11.2lbs.more,whichwouldhavetakenthreemoreweeksattheratehewaslosing.Youngchildrenhave,inmorethanonecase,lostmorethantwentypercentoftheirweightbeforedeathoccurred—seethetwocasesrecordedbyDewey.Discussingagainoffourpoundsduringaneightdaysfast,byaMrs.MartinsonofStapleton,Staten Island, and a case reportedbyDr.Rabagliati of a gain of one and one-half pounds in threeweeks,byapatientonlessthaneightouncesoffoodaday,aboutninetypercentofwhichwaswater,Carringtonsays:“Theexplanationisinallprobabilitythis:Inallsuchcasesgreatdensityoftissueispresent—itisobstipated,asitiscalled—andwhensuchapersonfasts,heorsheoxidizesoffapartof this toosolid tissue,andfills in the intersticeswithwater,which thepatient isat liberty todrink

during the fast. This is, at least, the explanation which I have been driven to adopt— none otherseeminglycoveredthefacts.”

J.H.Washburn,ofCalifornia,wasreportedtohavefasted43daysin1870withoutlosinganounceofflesh.This,Idonotbelieve.OneoftheathleteswhofastedsevendaysatMadisonSquareGarden,inFeb.1904,actuallygainedthreepoundsduringthe7days.Theeightathleteswerewatchedduringtheentiretimebypaidguards.

Dr.Tanner tooknowaterduring thefirst16daysofhis fast (tissuesbecamedehydrated)and lostweight rapidly.After thesixteenthdayhedrankconsiderableamountsofwater (tissues rehydrated)andgainedfourandone-halfpoundsduringthenextfourdays,afterwhichheagaincommencedtoloseweight.

Carringtonrecordsthat“MissLouiseKopsofNewYork,lostnothingatallduringafourdaysfast(inMay 1904), and in the case ofMr. J. Estapper, Jr., a week’s fast resulted in an actual gain ofthreefourthsofapound.”

Theweight ofMr. Estapperwas very accurately ascertained, and it is asserted that there was nopossiblesourceoferrorthroughwhichamistakecouldhavebeenmade.Thefasterwasoneofthecompetitorsinthesevendays’fasting-athleticcontestheldinMadisonSquareGardenduringthelastweekofDecember,1903.Measurementsandweightsweretakenwiththegreatestcare,thecontestantsbeing under the strictest surveillance during the whole period and were frequently observed andexaminedbyphysicians inNewYorkCity.Mr.Macfadden,discussing thecase inPhysicalCulture,March, 1904, attributed the gain in weight to the retention within his body of a large part of thedistilledwater,whichMr.Estapper“tookinlargequantities.”

NoDangerFromLossOfWeightThereismuchfearonthepartofmany,thatfastingmayresultintuberculosis.Theyhavetheidea

thattogetthinistolayoneselfliabletothis“disease.”Thisfearisunfoundedandisbasedonafalseview.The thinness in tuberculosis isnot thecauseof the troublebut theresultof itscause.Lossofweightseemstobeessentialtorecoveryfromacute“disease,”andnaturemakescertainthattheacutesufferer loses weight no matter how much food is taken. Indeed, a typhoid usual manner than iffasting.Duetothefactthatthefastingpatientrecoversmorequickly,andevenbetter,duringthemostprolongedfast,thanwhenfedtheaccustomedamountsof“goodnourishingfood,”suchapatientwillloselessweightifhefaststhanifheisfed.

Thelossofweightduringafastdoesnotrepresentalossofvitaltissue,butofsurplusnutriment,waste, fat, etc. It is just so many pounds of “disease” that one loses. The muscles, for example,decreaseinsize.Butthisisduetoadecreaseintheamountoffatinthemandtoadecreaseinthesizeoftheircells.Thereisnoactuallesseningofthenumberofmusclecellsduringtheordinaryfast.

Tuberculosis quite often develops in the plethoric and “well-fed.” Professor Morgulis rightlydeclares: “as a social phenomenon, malnutrition is not simply a matter of either insufficient orimproper nourishment: It is the sinister combination of blighting influences of poverty—overcrowding, under-clothing, unhealthy and unhygienic environment. Here is the fertile soil onwhichtuberculosisreapsitsghastlyharvest.”

Theweightlostduringafastisrapidlyregained,ifitisdesirabletodoso.Thereisnottheslightest

dangerfromlossofweight.

XVIII.FastingDoesNotInduceDeficiency“Disease”Deficiency diseases—scurvy, rickets, multiple neuritis (beriberi), pellagra, certain anemias, andsimilar symptom-complexes—that are due, in great measure to vitamin, mineral and proteindeficiencies in the diet or failure to utilize these elements, even though present in the diet, do notresultfromfasting,eventhemostprolongedfasts,keepinginmindthedefinitionoffastingemployedinthisbook.SofarasIknow,Iwasthefirst tocallattentiontotheremarkablysignificantfact thatfasting,unlikedeficientdiets,doesnot causedeficiencydiseases.This I didmore than thirtyyearsago.

Tilden,Weger,Rabagliati,Hay andothers have repeatedly shown the value of fasting in anemia;McColIumshowedittobebeneficialinrickets;Ihaveemployeditwithbenefitinearlypellagra.Iamoftheopinionthatitwillprovehelpfulinmultipleneuritisandotherdeficiencydiseases.

In experimentswith animals fed onmineral free diets, itwas found that they becameweak, dull,listless,hadfitsanddied.Theyreachedapointwheretheyrefusedtoeat.Forcedfeedingwasresortedto.Itwasfoundthattheanimalsthatwereforcedtoeatthemineral-freediet,aftertheirinstinctshadputoutastopsign,diedquickerthananimalsnotfedatall.Inexperimentsofthisnatureitwasfoundthatthenervoussystemsufferedmost.Adogsofedshowedsuddenfitsofmadness,becameweakanduncertainofhismovements,trembledandshowedsignsofnervousness,andgrewweakerandweakeruntilhecouldhardlycrawl.

Years ago Dr. Forster ’s experiments proved that pigeons and dogs develop symptoms of auto-intoxicationanddiesoonerwhenfedonfoodsartificiallydeprivedoftheirminerals,thanwhengivenno food at all. Dogs fed on demineralized food died in twenty-six to thirty days; whereas dogscompletelydeprivedofallfoodlivedforfortytosixtydays(Austin,1922).Onewillstarvetodeathwith just asmuchcertaintyandmuchmore speedily, if oneattempts to liveupon foodscontainingonlyoneor twoelementsofnutrition,as ifonewere totallyabstaining fromfood.Adietofwhiteflourandwater,orwhitesugarandwater,willresultindeathmuchsoonerthanadietofwateronly.Ifnofoodiseatenthebodyfeedsuponitsownfoodreserves,butitsubsistenceonone-sideddiets.

Ifnofoodistakenthebodyfeedsuponitsstoredreservesanditslessvitaltissues.Ifnecessary,untiltheskeletoncondition is reached, it isable tomaintainabalancebetween itselementsandwillnotdevelop,beyondemaciation,anyof the“deficiencydiseases.” Indeed, judicious fasting is distinctlybeneficialinsuch“diseases.”Butnaturehasmadenoadequateprovisionforproperlynourishingabody that is fed indefinitely upon half-foods. The body does not containwithin itself the elementsneeded to compensate, formore than a brief time, for the deficiency created by denatured foods.Indeed,aspointedoutelsewhere,onemaystarvetodeathmuchquickeronsomediets,thanonewilliftotallyabstainingfromfood.Onewilldiequickeronadietofwhiteflourthanfromfasting,andthemoreflouroneconsumes,themoreseverewillbeone’ssufferingandthesoonerwillonedie.Suchfoodsdrawsoheavilyoncertainof thebody’s reserveelements that these are soon exhausted andbodychemistrybecomesbadlyunbalanced.

Ininnutritionandundernutritionwehaveafailuretobalancethephysiologicalexpendituresoftheorganism.Thedietiseitherinadequateasawhole,orelseitislackinginsomeessentialcomponents.Thisresultsinmalnutrition.Inthiscondition,thereisanunbalanceddemanduponthestoredreservesofthebodycausedbythepresenceofmostofthebody’sneedsinthefoodeaten,withadeficiencyof

someofitsneeds.Thereis,asaconsequence,abasicdifferencebetweentheprocessesofmetabolismunder the two sets of conditions. Contrary phenomena occur when the body is fasting. The bodyeasily controls the use and loss of its reserves, using some of them comparatively rapidly, whileconserving,hoardingandredistributingothers.Inthismannerchemicalbalanceismaintainedandno“deficiencydisease” isproducedandnoorgan is crippled. In total fasting, thebody’s reserves aredrawn upon in a balanced manner, or else, those elements that are most abundant are used mostrapidly,sothatbalanceispreservedorisrestored,asaconsequence.

Prof.Morgulissaysthat“ourobservationthatthechronicallyunderfeddogbecamedebilitatedinameasurenotcommonlynotedinanimalswhichundergoastraightfastisalsoborneoutbythemoreextensivestudyofthismatterbyBenedict,Miles,RothandSmith”(1923,pp.275-276).Thisbearsoutmycontentionthatfastingdoesnotproducethesamedeplorableresultsinthebodythatunderfeedingorunbalancedfeedingdoes.Fastingtendstomaintainandeventorestorechemicalbalance;whereas,theunbalancedorinadequatediettendstounbalancethebody’schemistry.

Scurvy, typhus, spotted fever, influenza and diarrhea are reported to develop in famine districts.Following in the wake of famine and persisting long afterwards, rickets, diarrhea, various skineruptionsandpurulentinflammationoftheeyesarefoundinnearlyallchildren.Thefamineof1848inIrelandleftalargenumberofblindwomenandmenbehind.Thenumberofblindincreasedfrom13,812 in 1848 ot 45,947 in 1851. It is such experiences as these that have served to prejudicethousandsagainstfasting.Theyhavenotknownthatthemostprolongedfastingneverproducessuchresults. Fasting never produces blindness, deafness, idiocy, insanity, eye “diseases,” rickets, boweldisorders, etc., that follow in thewake of famine. So long as no food is consumed the organismseemstobeabletosupplyfromitsstoredreservestheelementsneededtosustainthevitalorgansandtheirfunctionsandtosupplytheseelementsincorrectproportions.Theseevilsareout-growths,notofcompleteabsintencefromfood,butofaveryone-sidedorunbalanceddiet.Wemeetwiththemintheabsenceoffamine,righthereinAmerica,asaresultofsuchdiets.Purulentinflammationoftheeyesandvariousskineruptionsarefrequentout-growthsofcarbohydrateexcess.Soreeyes,“simple”or“purulent,”developalmostwhollyinchildrenwhoeatlotsofsugar,syrup,whitebread,etc.,andwhodonotgetfreshfruitsandvegetables.Notevenaninadequatedietoffruitsandgreenvegetableseverproducessuchconditions.

Jackson(1925)pointsoutthattheteethare“especiallysusceptibletoricketsandscurvy”andthatinadults, there are “slight changes in chemical composition, especially in chronic (incomplete)inanition.Intheyoung,suchinanitionmaydelaytheprocessofdentition,butpersistentgrowthanddevelopmentoftheteeth(asoftheskeleton)occurinyoungrabbitsheldataconstantbodyweightbyunderfeeding.

“Theeffectsofpartialinanitionhavebeenstudiedchieflyinricketsandscurvy.Inbothhumanandanimalricketsthereisdelayedandabnormaldentition.Bothenamelanddentinemaybedefectiveandimperfectlycalcified”(p.156).

Withoutadditionalquotationsabouttheeffectsofdeficientdiets(partialinanition)upontheteethinrickets and in scurvy, let us point out that dentists who have studied the effects of inadequate anddeficientdietsupontheteethanddonotknowthatfastingdoesnotproducethesameresultsassuchdietsarelikelytoconcludethatfastinginjurestheteeth.Indeed,thereisatendencyinallwhostudytheeffectsofdietaryinadequaciesanddeficienciestorunawayfromfasting;for, theyreason,“ifa

defectivedietproducessuchundesirableresults,nofoodatallshouldproducemuchworseresults.”Theyareblissfully unaware that fastingnot onlydoesnot produce anyof the so-called deficiency“diseases,”butthatitisactuallybeneficialineveryoneofthem.

Jacksonsaysthat:“Inscurvy,thegumsaremarkedlycongestedandswolleninabout80percentofadult human cases. . . . The alveolar bone and peridental membrane undergoes necrosis, withconsequentlooseningoftheteeth,andulcerationsorpyorrheamayoccur”(p.156).Inpyorrheaweseeinflammationandulcerationofthegums,pusformation, looseningof the teeth,necrosisof thejaw,andevenfallingoutoftheteeth.Innumerouscasesofpyorrheathatwehavecaredfor,theguminflammationhassubsided, theulcershavehealed,pusformationhasceasedandtheloosenedteethhavebecomefirmlyfixedintheirsockets,andallofthishasoccurredwhilethepatientwasfasting.The effects of fastingmust not be confusedwith the effects of a white-flour-lard-pie-pasteurized-milk-mashed-potato-died.Notonlydosuchconditionsnotdevelopduringevenaprolongedfast,butthey are improved and many of their symptoms completely removed by a fast. This remarkableevidenceof thevalueof fasting is explainedby the fact that there is adisproportionate lossof thevariousconstituentelementsofthebodyduringthefastandaredistributionofsomeofthese,whichresultsinanearapproachtonormalbodychemistry.

It is quite probable that it ismuch easier for the body to secure and utilize its mineral reservesduring a fast than on a one-sided diet. Several years ago. Prof. Forster, of Munchen, who madeexperimentsonfastinganimalsandanimalsfedonmineral-freedietsandfoundthatanimalsfedonmineral-freedietsdiedquickerthananimalsnotfedatall,explainedthatifnofoodiseatenthebodyis nourished on itself and, consequently, a supply of mineral is obtained from the broken downtissues,butif thebodyisnourishedonfoodsfreedoftheirorganicsalts, there isnodemandmadeuponthetissuesforalbumenandcarbohydratesandsonomineralsarederivedfrombrokendowntissue.

The body possesses a reserve fromwhich, in emergency, it may, for a time, draw the requiredminerals,vitaminsandotherelements.Animalsfedondemineralizedfoodsarecompelledtoexpendtheir reserves in two directions—(1) in the regular processes of life; and (2) in balancing up themineral-poorfoodstheyareconsuming—whileanimalsdeprivedofallfoods(fasting)areforcedtoexpendtheirreservesonlyincarryingontheordinary(thoughsomewhatreduced)processesoflife.The reserves of the fasting animal last much longer and the body’s chemical balance is alsomaintained.

Weknow,ofcourse,thatthebodyfedonadenatureddietiscapableofextractingmineralsfromitsowntissues,butitsmineralreserveisnevergreatenoughtomeettheconstantdemandsmadeuponitbyamineral-freediet.Themineral-freedietexhausts these reservesvery rapidly.Duringa fastnosuchdemandismadeuponthebody’smineralreserves.Thebody’svitaminandcomplettinreserves,supposed to be stored in the liver and a fewother internal organs, are also exhaustedmuchmorequicklyonadeficientdietthanonafast.

Experiments with deficient diets must be carried out over sufficiently long periods of time toexhaustthebody’spossibilitiesofselfhelpbeforetheeffectsofthedietcanbeseen.Itsownreservesmust firstbeexhaustedbefore thedeficiencywillbegin tobemanifest.However,whenanitrogen-freedietisgiventhebody,itisforcedtodrawuponitsownstoresformaterial.Weknowthatunderthesecircumstancesthemostimportantelementsarevigorouslyretainedbythebodyandanintensive

nitrogenhungerisinduced.Theabilitytoutilizenitrogenisactuallyimproved.

Duringfastingthesameretentionof themost importantconstituentsof thebody’sstoredmaterialtakes place evenmore efficiently thanwhen on an inadequate diet. For,while the fast compels thebodytodrawuponitsreserves,thedenaturedorunbalanceddietsdrawexcessivelyuponcertainofthesestoresandcompeltheirmorerapidutilization.Indeed,themoreoftheelementssuppliedbythedietaregiven,thegreateristhedemandmadeuponthestoredmaterialnotsuppliedbythediet.Itislargelyforthisreasonthatdeathcanbeproducedquickerbyadietofwhiteflour,orwhitesugar,ormeatsoup,etc.,thanbystarvation.Duringthefastthebodycanregulatetheexpenditureofitsstoredmaterialsinitsownbestinterestandcanconservetheseinsuchamannerastomakethemholdoutlongest.Onadenatureddiet,thedemandforstoredmaterialissuchthatthisregulationisimpossible.The stored reserves are soon exhausted by those elements contained in the diet and become asdenaturedorinadequateorunbalancedordeficientasthedietitself.

There is more malnutrition due to overfeeding with an embargo on assimilation than tounderfeeding.Moreoftenthereisalossofpowertoassimilatespecialelementsthananabsenceoftheminthediet.Animalexperimentationhasshownthatwhenanimalsarefedmineralfreedietstheirnervoussystemssuffermostofall.Nervousness,weakanduncertainmovementsandfitsofmadnessdevelopasaresultofsuchdiets.On theotherhand, thenervoussystemsuffers leastofall (almostnoneatall)inanimalsthataregivennofoodofanykind,exceptwater,until theydieofstarvation.Thismarkeddifferencebetweentheeffectsoffasting,evenofstarvation,andtheeffectsofdeficientdietsmaybeseeninmanifwecontrastacaseofberi-beri(multipleneuritis)orofpellagrawithamanwhohas fasted forty, fifty or sixty days.Nothing couldmore clearly demonstrate the terribledrainuponthebody’sreservescausedbythedeficientdietthansuchacontrast.

In beri-beri, for example, paresis, especially in the lower extremities, paresthesia (diminishedfeeling),hyperesthesia(excessfeeling),tendernessofthenervetrunksandlossofdeepreflexesarethechiefnervoussymptomspresent.Initsadvancedstage,pellagraalsopresentssymptomsreferabletowidespreadchangesinthebrainandcord.Thefastingpatient,afteramostprolongedfast,notonlydoes not present these or other nervous symptoms, but has lost all or nearly all of the nervoussymptoms hemay have had at the beginning of the fast.Almost all the effects of fasting,with theexceptionofthelossofweightandsometimesatemporarylossofstrength,areexactlyoppositetotheeffectsofthedeficientordenatureddiet.

Pashutinsaysthathehasfoundinhisexperimentsondogs,that“whenmineralsaltsarepurposelywithheldfromtheanimal’sfoodforlongperiods,otherfoodfromwhichallmineralsaltshavebeenremovedbeinggiven, the animalwill use themineral salts in thebodyover andover, nonebeingexcretedorpassedintheurine,asoccurswhentheanimalhasaplentifulsupplyofmineralsaltsinitsfood.”Thisisonlypartiallytrue.Whethertheanimalisfastingoronamineral-freediet,itseekstoretainitsmineralsaslongaspossible.Thereis,however,adaybydaylossofmoreorlessofthese,so that in the case of themineral-free diet,mineralsmust sooner or later be added to the diet orserious trouble results. The mineral exhaustion of the organism occurs much more rapidly, aspreviouslyshown,onadenatureddietthanonafast.

Kellogg (1923) offers, among his many objections to fasting, this one: “The body is alsocontinuallylosingvitaminswhichareessentialforthepromotionoftheprocessesofrepairandthemaintenanceofthevariousvitalfunctions.Thedailysupplyofvitaminsisasnecessaryas thedaily

supply of air and water. Vitamins cannot be produced by the animal body. They are an exclusiveproductofplantlife.Theliverhoardsasmallstoreofvitaminssufficienttoserveinemergency,butthesupplyisnotsufficienttolastindefinitelyand,asshownbytheexperienceofsailorswhocontractscurvyandthosewhobecomethevictimsofberi-berithroughlivinguponpolishedrice,thevitaminstore of the liver soon becomes exhausted and the body then falls into serious disorder. Fastingdeprives the body of vitamins and thus involves the risk of serious injury for which no adequatecompensationisoffered.Thetotallossofallvitaminsmustcertainlyinvolvegreaterdamagethantheloss of one only, yet the absence of but one of the three known vitamins for even a short periodproducesnoticeableinjury.Certainlythebodycanbeinnowaybenefittedbythedeprivationoffoodiron, food lime, and other food salts, and of the precious vitamins, the activators of the vitalprocesses”(pp.641-642).

Wehavenomeansofknowinghowmuchofareservestoreofvitaminsthebodypossesses,nordowe knowwhere all of these reserves are stored; still less do we know about howmuch of thesevitaminsarelostfromthebodyduringafast.AllofthisisasunknowntoKelloggandtothewriterastothereader,butwemaybesureofonething:—namely,thesestoresaresufficienttooutlastthemostprolongedfast.Weknowthatscurvyandberi-berineverdeveloponafast.Weknowthat rickets ispositively benefitted by fasting. Kellogg overlooks an important difference between fasting and apolishedricediet—namely,that,whereas,inboth,thebodyisdeprivedofitsdailysupplyofvitamins,fasting makes little if any demand upon its vitamin reserves, while the polished rice diet rapidlyconsumes these. If he could show that fasting, even the most prolonged fasting, ever produces“deficiencydiseases,” thenhis objectionwouldhave someweight.As it is, the facts of experiencemustsilencethevoiceofhistheory.

Itiswelltorecallthatanimalfleshdoescontainvitamins,certainportionsoftheanimalcontaininghigherconcentrationsofthevariousvitaminsthanotherportions.Thecarnivorousanimalsecuresallofhisvitaminsfromtheflesh,bonesandbloodofhisprey.Hetendstoeatthoseorgansthatcontainthe highest vitamin andmineral concentrations. The vitamins stored in the tissues of the body arereleased,asweightislost(thisistosay,asthetissuesareliquidated),andaremadeavailableforuseincarryingontheessentialnutritiveprocessesoflife.

Vitamindeficientdietscompelthebodytoconsumeitsvitaminstores;butwedonotknowthatthebody is forced to consume these stores in living off its own internal resources. We cannot saypositivelythatthesereservestoresdonotcontainthevitaminsnecessarytotheirutilization.Weonlyknowthatpathologicalconditionsattributedtoavitaminosisdonotdevelopasaresultofprolongedfasting.Sincetherearenosuchinjuries,theydonotrequireadequatecompensation.Fastingdoesnotproducedeep-seatedandhiddeninjuriesthatmakethemselvesfeltatalaterdate.Thereisnoharmfuldestruction of important or vital tissues from fasting.Weger says: “Even thoughvitamins are in asmall degree consumed by fasting, we consider this factor quite negligible compared with therefinement of body chemistry and the overwhelming influence for general good that takes place.Afterafast the tissuesaremorereceptiveandreadilyassimilateaswellasutilizevitamins thatarenecessaryelementscontainedinvitalorbase-formingfoods.”—DefenseofRationalFasting.

XIX.DeathintheFastOpponentsnevertireoftellingusofthe“largenumberofdeaths”thathaveoccurred“asaresultoffasting.” They read the story of the death of a faster in some sensational newspaper and, withoutknowinganything of the circumstances of the death, repeat the story over and over. Ifwewere topublishthestoryofeverydeathofpatientswhilebeingtreatedwithpoisonsbythephysicians, theywould rise up in their organizedmight and denounce us for insinuating that they are a group ofmurderers.

ItisthegeneralcustomforthePresstoheraldfarandwideeverydeathduringafast,andattributethedeathtostarvation.Themanythousandswhofastand live,whofastandrecoverhealth,arenotmentioned. Horrified relatives and enterprising newspaper writers are sure to see that the worldreceivesfullinformationaboutanycaseofdeathduringafast.Casesofdeathareoftenattributedto“starvation,”wheredeathwasduetoothercauses.Wequitenaturallyexpectthatwherethousandsofcasesareconcerned,therewillbeanoccasionaldeath,whetherpatientsfastorfeast.Butwemaybecertainthatifwehadsomemeansofrecordingtheexperiencesofathousandindividualsforaperiodof twenty years or more, while fasting and while eating, more deaths would occur among thosetakingthreemealsadaythanamongthosewhofastwhilesick.

AfewyearsagoTheodoreNeufferofGoldsboro,Pa.,wasreportedtohavediedafteronly18dayswithoutfood.Asanewbornbabycangolongerthanthatwithoutfood,itispossiblethatNeufferdiedofcausesotherthanstarvation.Hewas84yearsoldanditwassaidthatbecauseofhisagehecouldn’tstandthestrain.Asnumerouspeopleofhisageandolderhave“stoodthestrain”ofmuchlongerfastswithbenefit,itisstillprobablethathisdeathwasnotduetostarvation.

Deweyestablishedthefactthatitisphysiologicallyimpossibletostarvetodeathbeforetheskeletonconditionisreached(bythisismeantthemereweightoftheskeletonandviscera).Thisfacthasnotbeenfullyunderstoodbymanyoftheadvocatesoffasting,stilllessbyitsopponents.Opponentsoffastingpointtocasesofdeathoccurringlongbeforetheskeletonconditionisreached,whilethereisstillconsiderableflesh,evenfatonthebody,sometimes,indeed,withinafewdaysafterstartingthefast,anddeclarethattheseinstancesdisproveDewey’scontention.Physiologists,on theotherhand,estimatethat“strongadultsdiewhentheylosetwo-fifthsofthebodyweight.”

Itmustbenotedthatinstancesofsuchdeathsinfastingareextremelyrare.Instancesofprolongedfastingbypeopleofallagesandinallpossiblephysicalconditions,areverycommon.Suchdeathsare,aswillbeseen,exceptionsrather thantherule,andare tobeaccountedfor insomeotherwaythanontheassumptionthattheyresultedfromstarvation.Forexample,thereisthetestimonyofMissMarieDavenportVickers(TheMazdaznanFeb.,1906,p.28)whofastedforty-twodaystogoodhealthfromApril19,toJune1,1904.Shetellsusthatontwoformeroccasions,beforesheknewanythingof fasting,other thanhavingseen itmentioned in theBible,shewasforced togowithout foodforsomedays,owing to lackof fundswithwhich topurchase it.She says: “and Ididalmost starve todeath.”Iwasoncecalledtoseeawomanonthefourteenthdayofafastshehadundertakenathome.Shewasalarge,fatwoman,withhighbloodpressure,heartdisease,diabetes,etc.1didnotlikethegeneralaspectofthecaseandadvisedthatshebreakherfast.Sherefusedandinanotherdaybegantovomit.Threedayslater,shefaintedwhilecomingfromthebathroom.Thisfrightenedher.Sheneverovercameherfright.Perhapsshewouldhavedoneso,hadameddlesomeand“know-it-all”daughternotkeptupher fear-engendering suggestionsdayandnight. Ihavealwaysbeen convinced that the

chief cause of death in this casewas fear. It certainlywas not starvation, for at death sheweighednearlytwohundredpounds.InHerter ’sLecturesOnChemicalPathologyhe tellsus thatdeathfrominanitionisnotapossibilitytillthebodyhaslostatleastathirdofitsnormalweight.

Sick people are dying all the time. People seldom turn to fasting until they are desperate. It isinevitablethatamongsuchadesperatelyillclassofpeopleafewdeathswilloccur.Aphysicianwhodiscoveredanew“cure”forillnessandwaspermittedtouseitonlyuponcasesthathadbeengivenupbyallotherdoctors,wouldbelookeduponasagreatphysicianifheeffectedonlyanoccasionalcure.Itisanindisputablefactthatofthethousandswhogouponafasttoenablethemtorecoverfromtheirills, most of them have suffered for years and have given “regular” and “irregular” physiciansunlimitedopportunitytoeffecttheirrecovery.

Inthousandsoffastsrangingfromafewdaystosixtyandevenninetydays,nodeathshaveoccurredthatcouldbeattributedtothefast.Ineverycase,whereanautopsyhasbeenmade,thishasrevealedanorganic “disease” which would have resulted in death, with or without food. Dr. Dewey properlymaintained,thatifone’svitalityissonearlyexhausted,orifavitalorganissobadlydamaged,thatdeathisnearathand,theresultisabsolutelycertain,eatingorfasting.Mostpeopleturntofastingasalastresort,insteadofthefirstresort.Theyturntoitaftertheirbodieshavebeenwreckedandruinedbyyearsofwrongliving,druggingandsurgicaloperations.Undersuchcircumstanceswenaturallyexpect thatanoccasionalpatientwilldieevenwhile fasting.Honestyand fairnesswillnotattributedeath,undertheseconditions,tothefast.

Weshouldbearinmindthatofthethousandsofpatientstreatedintheregularwayandregularlyfed“plentyofgoodnourishingfood,”alargepercentagedie.Howabsurd,then,toblamefastingfortheexceedingly small number of cases that have diedwhile fastingwhen, too late, they turned to thismethodofhealing.Dr.S.Lief,ofEngland,says in theJune1929 issueofHealthForAll:“Duringeighteenyears’experience in the treatmentof thousandsofcases,wehavenotknownasinglecasewheredeathtookplaceasaresultoffasting.”

Deweynotonlyemphasizedthefactthatitisphysiologicallyimpossibletostarvetodeathbeforetheskeletoncondition is reached,buthealsoemphasized the fact thatnaturewill alwaysdemand foodlongbeforethisstageisreached,providingitisaremediablecase.Thatpeoplehavediedbeforetheskeleton stage is reached is true, but in such instances death has been due to causes other thanstarvation.Toomanypeopleturntofastingasalastresort;whereas,itshouldbethefirstresort.If,standing with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, they attempt a fast as a lastdesperateattempttosavelife,andtheydiewhilefasting,thefastshouldnotbeblamedforthedeath.Fastingisanatural,vitalprocess,andnosuchprocessisinjuriousunlessitiswronglyusedorover-used.

Hazzard (1912) says: “When severe and distressing manifestations arise during the period ofabstinence from food, it is virtually certain that defects in organism lie within. Post-mortemexaminationofbodiesofpatientswhohavediedwhilethefastwasinprogressgivesproofbeyondconfutationtothisallimportantpoint,andinthesecasesitwasfurtherdemonstratedthatdeathwouldhaveoccurredfastingorfeeding”(p.337).InalettertoMr.R.B.Pearson,datedNov.18,1919,Dr.Hazzard writes, “In sixteen years actual active practice” she had “fasted nearly 2500 cases witheighteendeaths, in every caseof deathapostmortemnever failed to reveal organic defects whichmadedeaththeinevitableoutcome,fastingorfeeding.”Thensheadds:“Ihaveneverturnedapatient

away.”

Dewey(1921)says:“Asthemonthsandyearswenton,itsohappenedthatallmyfatalitieswereofacharacterasnottoinvolveintheleastsuggestionsofstarvation,whiletherecoverieswereaseriesofdemonstrationsasclearasanythinginmathematics,ofevolvingstrengthofallthemuscles,ofallthesensesandfacultiesasthediseasedeclined....ForyearsIsawpatientsgrowinthestrengthofhealthwithouttheslightestcluetothemystery,untilIchancedtoopenaneweditionofYeo’sPhysiologyatthepagewhereIfoundthistableofestimatedlossesthatoccurindeathafterstarvation....Andlightcameasifthesunhadsuddenlyappearedinthezenithatmidnight.InstantlyIsawinhumanbodiesavastreserveofpre-digestedfood....Inowknewthattherecouldbenodeathfromstarvationuntilthebodywasreducedtotheskeletoncondition....Icouldnowknowthattodieofstarvationisamatternotofdays, butofweeks andmonths; certainly aperiod far beyond the average timeof recoveryfromacutedisease”(pp.31-33).

“Deathduringafastcannotoccur,”saysDr.Hazzard,“unlessthereisorganicdisease,andnotthenunlesstheorganororgansaffectedareinsuchdegeneratedstateasnottopermitofrepair;anditisconclusivelydemonstrated that inascientificallydirectedfast,althoughdeath in theconditioncitedcannotbeaverted,yetbecauseoforganic labor lessened, life isprolonged fordaysorweeks, anddistressandpain,ifpresent,aremuchalleviated.”

Tildensays:“Itissafetosaythatwhenanyonedieswhilegoingwithoutfooditisduetothefactthathediedfromthediseasebefore thefastcouldbeextended longenough for it tobe thrownoff,orfrom fright, or from lack of proper nursing, being allowed to freeze to death. It is a mistake toassociateinmindthetwoterms‘fasting’and‘starving’asoneandthesame.Itrequiresgreatskilltofastapatientproperly.Anyfoolcanstarveapatienttodeath.”Thereareconditionsinthebodiesofmanypatientswhichleadtodeathinevitably.Ifonesoafflicteddieswhilefasting,everyoneisonlytoowillingtoplacetheblamefordeathuponthefast.Dr.Hazzardsaysthatinherexperience“deathduringafastneverhasoccurredwhenmerelyfunctionaldisorderwaspresent,nordiditeverresultforthesolereasonthatfoodwaswithheld.”

True starvation begins onlywhen the body has been reduced to the skeleton and the viscera.Dr.Deweydeclares:“Whendeathoccursbeforetheskeletonconditionisreacheditisalwaysduetooldageorsomeformofdiseaseorinjuryandnottostarvation.”Theorganismdeprivedofincome,mustdrawuponitscapitaltomeettheexpensesofliving.Lifeenduresaslongasthereservecapitallasts.Herecordsthecaseofafrail,spareboyoffouryears,whosestomachwassodisorganizedbyadrinkofasolutionofcausticpotashthatnotevenaswallowofwatercouldberetained.Hediedonthe75thdayofhisfast,withthemindcleartothelasthour,andwithapparentlynothingofthebodyleftbutbones,ligaments,andathinskin,andyetthebrainhadlostneitherweightnorfunctionalclearness.“Inanothercityasimilaraccidenthappenedtoachildofaboutthesameage,inwhomittook threemonths for the brain to exhaust entirely the available body-food.” If such a prolonged period isrequiredforasmallboytostarvetodeath,deathfrominanitioniscertainlyaremotepossibilityinthe average adultwho carries amuch larger reserve of food. It should not be overlooked that thelength of time any individual can livewithout food is determined by the amount of reserve foodstoredinhisorherbody.Thefatpersoncangowithoutfoodmuchlongerthanthethinperson.

Theaveragepatientneedhavenofearofstarvingbeforeherecoversfromhistrouble.Ihavefastedpatientsforasmuchastwentydayswhowere“skinandbones”attheoutsetofthefast.Innoinstance

hassuchapatientbeeninjuredbythefast.Iffearandworryareabsent,ifthefasteriswarmandnotforced toexerthimself,hemaygowithout food fora longperiodnotonlywithoutdamage tohisbody,butwithactualbenefit.

TheAmericanEncyclopediaquotesChossatandBrown-Sequaraas saying:“Inman,as inanimals,the immediate cause of death from starvation is a decline in the animal temperature. Death isacceleratedbycold,anddelayedbythepresenceofmoistureintheatmosphere.”Pashutinmentionsthe case of a man whose temperature remained normal throughout a 50 days’ fast and says:“However,weknowfromtheexperimentsuponanimalsthatonlywhenthetotalofthebodyreservesisconsumed,thebodytemperaturedecreasesmarkedly.”

Itissuggestedthatthe“truemodeofdeath”fromstarvationisfromwantofheat,due,nodoubt,toalackofcombustiblematerialat theend.Chossat found instarvinganimals, thatwhendeathseemedimminent, restoration could be effected by the application of artificial heat. The AmericanCyclopaedia (1873) recounts that M. Chossat “deprived a number of animals (birds and smallmammals)ofallsustenanceandcarefullyobservedthephenomenathatfollowed,andhisexperimentsthrowmuchlightuponthesubjectofstarvation.Thetemperatureinalltheanimalswasmaintainedatnearly the normal standard until the last day of life, when it began rapidly to fall. The animals,previouslyrestless,nowbecamequiet,asifstupefied;theyfelloverontheirside,unabletostand;thebreathingbecameslower and slower, thepupilsdilated, the insensibilitygrewmoreprofound, anddeath took place either quietly or attendedwith convulsions. If,when these phenomenawere fullydeveloped, external warmth was applied, the animals revived, their muscular force returned, theymovedor flewabout theroom,and tookgreedily thefood thatwaspresented to them. Ifnow theywereagainlefttothemselves,theyspeedilyperished;butiftheexternaltemperaturewasmaintaineduntilthefoodtakenwasdigested(andfromthefeebleconditionoftheirdigestiveorgans thisoftentook many hours), they recovered. The immediate cause of death seemed to be cold rather thanstarvation”(p.40).

Carrington gives 76° Farenheit as the lowest temperature at which life has survived in humanbeings, although we know that some warmblooded animals (hibernating) have survived a bodytemperatureaslowas2°Centigrade.Despitethefactthatonemaintainsnormalbodytemperatureonafast,orevenhasariseintemperature,thereisafeelingofchillinessinamoderatetemperatureinwhichoneordinarilyfeelscomfortable.Thisisduetodecreasedcutaneouscirculation.

Fastingdoesnotcausedeath.Starvationresultsindeath,andanydeaththatoccursduringafastmustbecreditedtoothercauses.Severaltheorieshavebeenofferedtoaccountfordeathfromstarvation;for, it is known that death is not due to exhaustion of stored food, since fat and other storesmaypersistinappreciableamounts,butnoneofthemareadequate.Thefollowingarethemostprominenttheoriesthathavebeenofferedtoaccountfordeath:(1)impoverishmentoftheblood,resultingfromloss of solids; (2) fall of temperature (obviously not applicable to cold-blooded animals); (3)inabilityoforganstoutilizeremainingreservestores(inabilitynotexplained);(4)asphyxiaresultingfrom paralysis of respiratory center by accumulation of toxic materials; (5) auto-intoxication,produced by toxins, resulting from disordered metabolism of malnourished tissues; (6) it issuggestedthatdeathisduetoinfectionduetoloweredresistance;(7)alsotodisordersoftheductlessglands. As all of these conditions are present in varying degree it has been suggested that theimmediatecauseofdeathmayvaryaccordingtocircumstances.

The lossofweight in total inanition, in animals, resulting indeath, runs from30 to 65per cent;averagingabout40percent;butvarieswiththeageoftheanimal,thetemperatureandactivityaswellaswithdifferentkindsofanimals.Certainarthropodacansustaina lossofninetypercentofbodyweightbeforelifeends.Inmanycasesoffastinginman,deathhasnotresulteduntilafteralossof60to70percentofbodyweight.

Morgulisfoundthatthecollie,ahighstrungnervousdog,diesafteralossofonly30percentofbody weight, whereas other animals recovered health after a weight loss of 60 per cent, whichsuggeststhatmentalandnervouspeculiaritiesneedtobetakenintoaccountintheconductofafast.Weseemanystrikingexamplesofthisprincipleinfastingnervouspeople.Weneverpermitthemtogowithoutfoodlongenoughtoresultindeathbutmanyofthemdonotstandfastingaswellas thenon-nervoustypes.

Starvationcancomeonlyafter thebody is reduced to theskeletoncondition,death resulting thenmoreasaresultofcoldthananythingelse.Thismeansthatnoonewilleverstarvetodeathasaresultoffastingin“disease.”Ifdeathoccursatallduringthefastitwouldnotoccurinthetimerequiredtorecoverfrompracticallyall“diseased”states.

Pashutinrecordsthecaseofagirlwhodranksulphuricacidandruinedherdigestivetract.Hesays,“some liquid foodwas given for fourmonths but not believed absorbed as it was eliminated toorapidlyandnochloridesinurineatall.Last16daysnofoodatall.”Inthiscasethebodytemperaturedidnotbegintodeclineuntil thelast8daysof life.Manyfastsof longdurationareonrecord.Mr.Macfaddenrecordedoneofninetydays;nineoftheCorkhungerstrikersfastedforninety-fourdays;thousandshave fastedup to fortydaysand longer.Many fastshavegone to fifty, sixtyandseventydaysandlonger,McSwineydiedontheseventy-eighthdayofhisfast.Whilethishungerstrikewason,IheardDr.Lindlahrtellofafastofseventydayswhichheconducted.Dr.Deweyrecordsoneofthreemonths.Innoneofthesecaseshasthereeverdevelopeddeficiency“diseases”norhasdeatheverbeenduetoso-calledacidosis.Itwouldseemthatadeficiency“disease”canonlydevelopwhenthebodyisbeingfilledwithdenaturedfoods.Itsvaststoreofreservesseemstobewell-balanced.Itisknownthatthe blood has almost unlimited power for resisting analkalinity (acidosis), for it will die beforeturningacid.

MoreremarkableproofthatdeathinHygienicfastsisduetoirremediableorganictroubles,andnotto starvation, is the fact that it has been found that in every casewhere death occurred, there stillremainedconsiderablesubcutaneousfat,andthisisalwaysentirelyabsentindeathbystarvation.Thehearthasbeenfoundtobenormalinallcases,exceptwherenormaldevelopmenthadneveroccurred,whileinrealstarvation,theheartisalwaysmarkedlyatrophiedandcontracted.Thebloodhasalwaysbeen found to be practically normal in volumewith no real anemia,while in starvation there is amarkeddecreaseintherelativebloodvolumewithamarkedanemia.IndeathduringHygienic faststhepancreashasbeenfoundtobeeithernotaffectedatall,orbutslightly;instarvationthisorganisalmostentirelyabsent.

Here, letmeemphasize thefact that thedestructiveanddegenerativeconditions found in animals,whichhavebeenusedinlaboratoryexperimentsininanition,areduetostarvationandnottofasting.The lineofdemarkationbetween fastingandstarving isdistinctandunmistakable,although few, ifany laboratory investigatorshave ever recognized it.Weknow that it is onlywhen the total of thebody’sreserveshasbeenutilizedthatdeathfromstarvationcanoccur,anditisonlythenthatnature

willpermitanyvitalorgantobedamaged.Theautopsy,ineverycaseofdeathwhilefasting,showsthattherewassomeseriousorganic“disease”whichmadedeathinevitable,whetherthepatientfastedor ate “plenty of good nourishing food.” Indeed, itmay be affirmed,with a reasonable degree ofcertainty,thatdeathwouldhavecomesoonerinpracticallyeveryinstanceexceptforthefast.

Sinclair(1911a)says:“Itisperfectlytruethatmenhavediedofstarvationinthreeorfourdays;butthestarvationexistedintheirminds—Itwasfrightthatkilledthem....Asanexampleofthepartthatmentaldisturbancesmayplayinthefast,Iwillcitethecaseofawomanfriendwhostartedouttofastforacomplicationofchronicailments.Shewasratherstout,anddidnotminditatall—wasgoingcheerfullyaboutherdailytasks;butherhusbandheardaboutit,andcamehometotellherwhatafoolshewasmakingofherself;andinafewhoursshewas inastateofcompletecollapse.Nodoubt iftherehadbeenaphysicianintheneighborhood,therewouldhavebeenanothertaleofa‘victimofashallow and unscrupulous sensationalist.’ Fortunately, however, business called the husband awayagain,andthenextdaythewomanwasallright,andcompletedaneight-dayfastwiththebestresults.Bearthisinmind,sothatifyouwakeupsomemorningandfindyourtemperaturesub-normalandyourpulseatforty,andyourarmstooweaktoliftyou,andifyourfriendsgetaroundyouandtellyouthatyoulooklikeamummyoutofasarcophagusoftheseventeenthdynasty,...youmaybeabletosmileatthemgood-naturedlyandtellthemthatyouwillneveragaineatuntilyouarehungry”(p.333).

Fearof the fast shouldcertainlybeavoided. Idonotdoubt thatwellmeaning,misguidedrelativesandfriendsoffastershavecausedthedeathofmorethanonebytheircultivationoffearinthefastingindividual.Onehesitatestosaythatalovingsonordaughterkillshisorhermotherorfather,yettheevidencecertainlypointsthiswayinmorethanonecase.Weshouldencourageandcooperatewiththefasterandnotfrightenhimtodeath.

XX.ObjectionstotheFastAnumber of supposedly scientific objections to the fast are offered fromvarious sources but notfrom any source that is entitled, from actual and broad experience with the fast, to speak withauthority. I have not met with a single objection to fasting that was not based upon a lack ofknowledgeoffastingoruponamerehalf-truth.Evilssometimesattributedtofastingareaccountableforbyother causes.There aremany attempting to conduct patients through long fastswhodonotknow how to do so. Fasting is simple and, when properly done, always beneficial. Those whocondemnfastingshouldfirstunderstanditandshouldhavehadsufficientexperiencewithittoenablethemtoknowwhattheyaretalkingabout.Ireadastatementbyaprominentmedicalcolumnist thatoften fastingwill bring on an “attack” of illness due to toomuch insulin in the blood, the insulinbeing secreted by the patient’s own pancreas. Iwonder how he found this out.As he never placespatientsonfasts,whatcanheknowoffasting?Ifastcasesofhyper-insulinismwithbenefit.

Inprecedingpagesmanyofthecommonestobjectionshavebeenmetanddisposedofindiscussingvariouspartsofoursubject,sothatbutfewobjectionsremainforustodiscussatthisplace.

The old opponents of fastingwere open and frank in their attacks upon it. They declared that itweakened the heart, caused the stomach to atrophy, caused adhesions in the stomach, caused thegastricjuicetoturnuponanddigestthestomachandmadesimilarunfoundedobjectionstoitsuse.Itwascontendedbythemthatafastofsixdayswouldcausethehearttocollapseandthepatientwoulddie.Theseoldopponentsdeniedthatanybenefitscouldcomethroughfasting,butthatitconstitutedagreatandimmediatedanger.Timeandexperienceprovedalloftheseobjectionstobeunfoundedandwehearnomoreofthem.Evenincasesofdeathfromstarvation,nothinghasbeenfoundtojustifytheoldnotion that ifwedonot eat thegastric juicewill “eat up the stomach.”The heart does notcollapse,eveninthelongestfast,andthisobjectionhasbeenremovedfromtheencyclopedias.

The present day opponent of fasting is a different type of man and offers a different type ofobjectiontoitsuse.Thepresentattackuponfastingisunderhanded.Theattackercomesintheguiseofafriend.Itisnowthepracticetoadmitthatfastingisoftenbeneficialandthentoattempttokillitbytalkinglearnedlyofitsimaginarydangersandsayingnothingofitsbenefits.Warningsaboutthedangersoffastingcomefromthosewhoknowleastaboutitandwhohavehadnoexperiencewithit.MenlikeMcCollum,whohavehadnoexperienceincaringforpatientsandwhohaveawhollywrongconceptionoftheessentialnatureofso-called“disease”andareunabletorightlyinterpretsymptoms,offer theoretical objections to fasting which grow out of their failure to rightly interpret thedevelopmentsduringafast.Wearegravelywarnedofthedangersofdecompositionofthedigestivejuices,particularlythebile,duringthefast,andaretoldthatthecoatingofthetongueisproofofthis.Theytellusalsothatthereisanexcessofdecompositionproductsintheurineduringafast.Thefactisthattherecanbenomoredecompositionproductsenteringthebodyfromthedigestivetractwhenthis is empty than enter itwhen it is full of decomposing food.There is a gradual decrease in theamount of such products in the urine as the fast progresses, until finally, they cease altogether toappear in the urine. The sluggishness of the intestines during the fast may result in a temporaryincreaseintheamountofsuchproductsduringtheearlydaysofthefast,buteventhiscanbesoonlyinafewpatients.Thedigestivejuicesareallantisepticandresistdecomposition.Bileisantisepticandaids in keeping the intestine and colon aseptic. It does not decompose readily. It is frequentlyregurgitated into the stomach and vomited so that there is no posssibility of its decomposing andpoisoning the body. The supposed evidences of bile decomposition grow less and less as the fast

progressesuntilfinallytheycompletelydisappear.

Dr.J.H.Kelloggwas longoneof thechief foesof fasting.Hecompiledanumberofobjections,most ofwhich have beenmet in preceding pages. There are frequent references to the benefits offastinginhisNewDieteticsandalsomuchdiscussionofthedamagesproducedbyfasting.Hesays:“It is certainly irrational to suppose that great benefit can come from prolonged and painfulresistance of a natural instinct with which the body is endowed by Nature for its protection bysecuringthepromptandregularmeetingofitsessentialrequirements.HungerisasensationthroughwhichNatureservesnoticeupontheconsciousnessthattheenergyresourcesofthebodyarerunninglow and need to be re-, enforced; in otherwords, that food is needed.Thirst is a sensationwhichnotifiestheintelligenceoftheneedofwater.Onpurelyapriorigroundsitwouldseemtobehighlyunreasonable thatman shouldusehis intelligence to thwart thismeansof automaticdefenseof thebodyagainstinjury.

“Arguments could be offered in favor of water fasting as well as of food fasting. Indeed, whyshould not one restrain himself from gratifying the sense of air hunger which prompts constantrhythmic action of the lungs?Air hunger,water hunger, and ordinary hunger are simplyNature’sdemands for supplies of different kinds of foodswhich the body needs for its protection and themaintenanceofitsfunctions”(1923,p.640).

ThisobjectiontofastingrevealsthatDr.Kelloggknowsnothingatallaboutfastingandtheclaimsof those who advocate fasting. We all agree fully with the above statements. Nobody advocatescontinuedabstinencefromfoodinthefaceofhunger.Dr.Kelloggoverlookstheessentialfactthattheinstinctthatfailstocallforfoodorthatproducesrepugnancetofoodorthatcausesthestomachtovomitfoodortheintestinesandcolontohurriedlyexpelitinadiarrhea,isequallyasreliableastheone that calls for food. This man who pleads for the reign of instinct in eating, advocates acarbohydrate diet—“abundant carbohydrate feeding”—in fevers, where there is lacking both thedesireforfoodandtheabilitytodigestit.Hefeedsdespitethemostobviousprotestsofinstinct.Hisinsistence upon sugar in some form, even in themost violent stages of “disease,” is due, in greatmeasure,tohisfearofgerms;which,hesays“willnotgroworatleastarenotvirulentandactiveinproducingtoxinsinthepresenceofsugar.”

Kellogg(1923)says:“Statkewitschstudiedtheeffectsoffastinginalargenumberofanimals—cats,dogs,rabbits,pigeons,frogs,lizardsandotheranimals—andfoundthatafterprolongedfastingthecellsof theheart, liver,muscles, kidneys, pancreas andother glandswere the seat of degenerativeprocesses.Theseprocessesweremostmarkedinthemusclesandtheglands”(p.637).Hisobjectionstofastingarelargelybasedonthedamagesproducedinthestarvationperiod.Alltheevilsattributedto fasting, which are enumerated in the works of laboratory experimenters, are the results ofstarvation.Thisistosay,theseresultsarefoundinanimalsthathavediedofstarvation,thedestructivechanges all havingoccurred after the exhaustionof thebody’s reserves.Laboratory experimentersare in the habit of thinking that starvation sets in with the omission of the first meal, whereas,starvationdoesnotbeginuntilafterthereturnofhunger.ManyofKellogg’sassertionswithregardtotheeffectsoffastingaredirectlycontradictedbynumerouscapable laboratoryinvestigators.Thosewhofailtodifferentiatebetweenfastingandstarvingandwhoareunawareoftheimportantfactthatactual vital tissue damage belongs to the starvation period make many absurd statements aboutfasting. Kellogg speaks of five days without food as a period of starvation. To him fasting andstarvingaresynonymous.

Althoughopposedtofasting,Kelloggmakesthefollowingadmissionsofbenefitsreceivedfromit:

1. “Surplusbodyfatmaybedisposedof.”2. “Anyaccumulationofsurplusor‘floating’nitrogenorwasteswhichmaybepresentwillrapidly

disappearduringafast.”3. “Fastingcreatesanappetitebyproducinganimperiousdemandforfoodandperhapsatthesame

timeincreasestheabilityofthetissuestoassimilatefood.Thiseffectoffastingmaybeanadvantageincertaincases,particularlywhenitisdesirabletoproducearapidgaininfleshbysubsequentoverfeeding.”

4. “Thereissomeevidencethataprolongedfastmayinsomecasesproduceasortofrejuvenescence|insome|ofthetissues.”(Hedeniesthatthereisanyevidencethatthisissoinman.Hecandenythisonlybyshuttinghiseyestothewealthofevidencethatexists.)“However,theobservationhasbeenmadethatafteraprolongedfast,whenthebodyhasbeenbuiltupbyproperfeeding,thereisapparentlypresentanunusualdegreeofvigorandanenhancedsenseofwell-being.”Hetriestoescapetheimplicationsofthisadmissionbyadding:“Itistobenoted,however,thatasimilarobservationisoftenmadefollowingrecoveryfromtyphoidfever,orsomeotheracutewastingdiseaseinwhichthepatienthasbeengreatlyreduced.Itistobefurthernoted,also,thatnotwithstandingthisapparentrejuvenationaccompanyingconvalescencefromfeversthelifeexpectancyofsuchpersonsisonlyone-halfthatoftheaveragepersonofthesameage.Hence,thereisgroundforbelievingthat,notwithstandingtheapparentimprovementresultingfromthefastaswellasfromthefever,acertainconstitutionaldamageisdone,theeffectsofwhichbecomeapparentlater”(1923,pp.639-640).

Intyphoidandotheracuteills,therearepresentpowerfultoxinswhichinducedamages.Therearealso, in most cases, the powerful drugs of the physician as well as the forced feeding. Damagesresultingtothebodyinsuchastatewhichshowuplater,arenotproperlyattributedtothewastingofthebody,whilethetoxinsandthedrugsareignored.Dr.Kelloggshouldshowthatthelifeexpectancyoftyphoidcasesiscutinhalfwherenodrugs,serumsandfoodareemployed.Heshouldalsoshowthat fasting cuts short one’s life expectancy. He says that “many persons have passed through theordealofalongfastandhavesurvived,andinsomeinstancestherehasbeenevidenceofanotableimprovementinhealthfollowingthefast.”

Thetwochiefobjectionstothefastare:(1)itproduces“acidosis”ordecreasesthealkalinityoftheblood;and(2)itweakensthepatient,andlessenshischancesofrecoverywhilerenderinghimmoreliabletoother“diseases.”

Fastingnotonlydoesnotreduceresistanceto“disease,”but,onthecontrary, increases resistance.Resistance is the product of pure blood and an abundant nerve force. Fasting, because it increaseselimination and conserves nervous energy, adds to these qualities. I have known fasters to besubjectedtoallkindsofunfavorableinfluences,butIhaveyettoseeany“disease”developasaresult.I know that “disease” recoversmuchmore rapidly in fasters than in thosewho eat.The followingwordsofGeo.S.Weger,M.D.,agreeperfectlywithmyownexperiencewithfasting:

“Inallmypersonal experiencewith fasting, Ihaveyet to see a caseof tuberculosis develop as aresultofit.Ontheotherhand,Ihaveseenmanypatientsrecoverfromtuberculosiswhomadetheirfirstimprovementsafterafastfollowedbymoderatefeeding.”

“Realvitalresistanceisveryrarelyloweredbyfasting.Temporarymuscularweaknessshouldnot

beclassedasloweredvitality.Indeed,Ihaveseenmanycasesofinfectionofdifferentkindsrecovercompletely on a fast. Take for example an advanced case of sinusitis after five or six painfuloperations—frontal,ethmoidalandantrum—withsurgicaldrainageandirrigationtwoorthreetimesaweek,continuedoveraperiodof two to fiveyears,withno relieforameliorationof symptoms.After almost unendurable suffering, such patients are, as a rule, thin, and physically andmentallydepressed.Whentheymakecompleterecoveriesafteraprolongedfast,asthegreatmajorityofthemdo, is thisnot sufficient proof that fasting somehowor other raises the power of the organism toovercomeinfection,ratherthanthatfastingrendersthemmoresusceptible?Whatistrueofsinusitisisequallytrueofotherinfections,eventhosesosituatedanatomicallythattheycannotbesurgicallydrainedandmustthereforebeabsorbed.”—InDefenseofRationalFasting.

Wehavelonginsistedthatfastingincreasesresistancetoinfections.Thisclaimhasusuallybeenmetbythecounterclaimthatresistanceisloweredbyfasting.Mr.Pearsontellsusthatafterhiscompletefast,mosquitobitescausednoitchingandnoswelling,andthatnoamountofexposurewouldcauseacold. It is almost impossible to have a cold in the last days of a prolonged fast and immediatelythereafter.Animalexperimentershaveshownthatresistanceisincreasedinsomeanimals,decreasedinothers(pigeons,forexample),andunaffectedinothers.Theseresultscannotbeofgreataidtousinstudyingtheeffectsoffastinguponresistanceinman.Morgulis(1923)tellsusthat“asubjectstillveryimperfectlyknownbutonewhichmeritsamostcarefulinvestigationistheincreaseinresistancetoinfectionrevealedbyorganismswhicharerecoveringfrominanition.RogerandJosuereportsuchanincreasedtolerancetowardsBacillicoliinrabbitswhichhadundergoneapreliminaryfastoffivetosevendays.Theinoculationwithbacterialculturetookplacethreetoelevendaysafterthefastwasbroken. Ineachcase thecontrol rabbitssuccumbed to the infection,whileall the rabbitswhich hadpreviouslyfastedsurvivedtheinoculation.Theseexperiments,however,needverification”(p.193).

The rejuvenating effects of fasting upon the blood have been noted in a previous chapter. It wasthereshownthatfastingdoesnotproducehypoalkalinity.Dr.Wegersaysconcerningtheeffectsofthefastinimprovingthebloodcondition:

We quite agree that considerable iron and proportionately other necessary elementsmay beconsumedduringaprolongedfast.However,theneedfulmaterialsinthebodyarenotlosttothesameextentthattheunusablewasteislost.Itshouldnotbeforgotten,aspreviouslystated,thatthehumanbodyhaswithinitselfthepowertouseandrefinethematerials ithasonhandduringareasonablefastingperiod.

Thewriterhaswitnessedinacaseofanemia,actualrejuvenationofthebloodduringatwelve-dayabsolutefast,duringwhichtimetheredbloodcellsincreasedfrom1,500,000to3,200,000,hemoglobin increased from fifty per cent to eighty-five per cent, and thewhite cells reducedfrom37,000to14,000.

This is but one instance of many that have impressed the value of fasting where to somepractitioners itmighthavebeencontraindicated. If the body, because of its crowdednutrition,cannotassimilatevitaminbearingfood,itcanbebroughtintoconditiontodothisbyapurifyingfast.—InDefenseofRationalFasting.

Anotherobjectionoffered to fasting ispurely theoreticaland isbasedon the reigning theories inbiochemistry.Thatthesetheoriesarecorrecthasnotbeenshownandthereareseriousobjectionstothem.Atanyrate, thedevelopmentsweshouldexpect if theseobjectionsarevalid,donot showup

duringthefast.Theobjectionisthis:“Alltheenergyofourbodiescomesfromeitherfatorglucose.Inordertoproduceenergyallotherfoodsmustbechangedintofatorglucose,oneortheother.Buthereistheimportantfact;whenblood-sugarorglucoseisburnedalone,byitself,energyisproducedwithmaximumefficiency.Butwhenfatisburnedalone,it isburnedincompletely,andyieldsasby-productsacetoneandharmfulacids,whichaccumulatemoreandmoreaslongasfatcontinuestobeburnedwithoutsugar.Thisiswhathappenswhenapersonattemptsto‘fast,’thatis,triestogowithoutfood.”

Ifthisobjectionisvalid,itwouldcertainlybeimpossibleforusevertoobservegains instrengthard energy in fasting patients. Either this objection is wrong, or else all who have seen gains instrength in fasters have been seeing the same kind of things seen by the drunk watching “pinkelephants”onthewall.

Werefutethisobjection,notaloneonthegroundsofexperience,butalsoupontheoreticalgrounds.First,thereisnorapidexhaustionofthebody’ssugarreserveasthisobjectionimplies,whenafastisundergone;second, the fastingbodyproducesadailysupplyofglycogenfromits stored reserves.ZoethoutandTuttlesay:“Duringstarvation|fasting|thebloodsugarfallsbutlittlebelowitsnormallevel(althoughitisbeingconstantlyconsumed)andtheliverstillcontainssomeglycogen;thisisduetoglyconeogenesis”(1952,p.392).Glyconeogenesisisthetermappliedtotheformationofsugarinthe animal body out of materials other than carbohydrates. Amino acids, after these have beendeaminized,maybetransformedintosugar.Thisistosaythattheportionoftheaminoacidthatisleftaftertheamineshavebeensplitoffmaybetransformedintosugar.Glycerol,formedbythedigestionoffat,mayalsobeconvertedintoglycogen.Apparentlythefattyacids—palmitic,stearic,butyric,etc.—cannotbemadeintosugar.

What,then,becomesofthoseacetonebodiesaboutwhichwehearsomuch?Thattheydoshowupinthefastisnotdenied.Butwehaveadifferentexplanationofthem.Oneofthesurestsignsthatthefastisnearingitsendisthedisappearanceofacetonefromthebreath,urineandexcreta.Thepresenceofacetoneispartoftheketosisthatfastingissaid,insomequarters,toproduce.

Ketosis is the presence in the bloodof certain end-products of fatmetabolism, known as ketones.Therearethreeketones—acetone,acetoaceticandbeta-oxybutyricacids.Thepresenceofthesebodiesinthebloodissaidtoproduceacidosisanddamagethebody.Thedamagesthattheseketonesproduceareneverdescribedand thosewhohavehadmostexperiencewith fastinghavenever seen them. Itwouldbeinterestingtoseeacatalogueoftheevilsthatflowfromthepresenceofthesebodies.Dr.Gian-Cursio,whosayshehasneverseenanyevidenceofharmfromthepresenceof thesebodies,andwhothinksofthemasevidencesofnormaladjustmenttothefastingstate,saysthat“theirabsencewouldbecauseforalarm.”

Thesesamebodiesarepresentincertainstagesofdiabetesandfromthisfact,itisreasonedthattheyareharmful.Itistherulethatwhenthereisketosis,thebloodisslightlyalkalinesothattheacidosisthat is imagined isnotactuallypresent. It isevendenied thatdiabeticketosis is the sameas fastingketosis.Wearecertainofonething;namely,thatthediabeticfasterisabletooxydizesugar.BenjaminHarrow,Ph.D.,professorofchemistry,CityCollege,CollegeoftheCityofNewYork,says:“Thefactthatinstarvationanddiabetes,acetonebodiesaccumulateinanappreciabledegreehasledtotheviewthat they are abnormal metabolic products. This view must be revised, for the evidence isaccumulatingthatthesesubstancesareindeednormalmetabolicproducts.”Thusthemoreadvanced

physiologistsandbio-chemistsdonotregardtheoldertheoryasanylongertenable.

Itisclaimedthatthesickmusteatto“keepuptheirstrength,”thatfoodcures“disease,”andthatitincreases resistance to “disease.” If food cures the sick, how did they become sick? If feedingincreasesresistanceto“disease,”howdothewell-fedfallill?Iffastinglowersresistance,howdosomanyfastersrecoverhealth?Iffoodbuildsstrength,howdothewell-fedgrowweak?Iffasting,perse, robs the faster of his strength, how do somany fasters grow stronger? If food is essential torecovery, howdo fasting patients ever recover?Whydo not all fasting patients die?Whydo theyhave more comfortable and less protracted illnesses and shorter convalescences? Why do theyrecoverwithoutcomplicationsandsequels?Ifpeoplewhoaretaxedtodeathbyexcessfoodbecomesick,howwillmorefeedinghelpthem?Whydoesfeedingmakethemworse?Whydoestemperaturerunupanddiscomfortgrowmorepronouncedaftereating?Whatarethediseasesthatarecausesbyfasting?Willsomebodypleasegiveusacatalogueofthem?Dr.Shewdeclaredthatabstinencedoesnotcausedisease,thateventhepersonwhodiesfromstarvationdiesfromdebilityratherthanfromdisease.

During the last illness of the actor, Joseph Jefferson, Dr. Chas. E. Page made the followingmemorandumfromthepublishedaccountsofhisillness:

April16th:"Hasnotretainednourishment."April20th:"Thepatientisbetter."April20th:"Retainednourishment."April21st:"Morerestless:conditionlessfavorable."

Accordingtothepublishedaccounts,Mr.Jefferson,whowassaidtohavehadpneumoniaandwhowas said to have sufferedwith gastritis for severalmonths before developing pneumonia, had nodesireforfood.Hewasfedinspiteofthelackofdesireforfoodandnopossibilityofdigestingandassimilatingit.Hisillnessfollowedan“attackofindigestionfromanindiscretionindietonavisittoafriend.”Forcedfeeding,alcoholandheartstimulantsfinishedhimoffanditwasannouncedthathis“agewasagainsthim.”Wasitageorfeedinganddruggingthatkilledhim?

ApatientinasanatoriumwithwhichIwasconnectedsomeyearsagowastooweaktowalkupthestepsatthetimeheenteredtheinstitution.Hewasplaceduponafastanddidnottastefoodofanykindforeighteendays.Beforethistimewasuphewasabletorunupthesteps.Iffoodgivesstrengthwhywashesoweakwhileeatingandwhydidhegainstrengthwhenheceasedtoeat?Ihadonepatientwhowastooweaktowalkupthestepsatthebeginningofafast,butwasforcedtocrawlupthesteps.Afteraweekoffasting,hewasabletowalkupthesamesteps.Foodisnotnutrition.Overeatingwithcontinuedwastingofthebodyisaneverydayexperienceoflife.Reducedeatingwithgaininweightandhealthisbecomingamorecommonexperienceaspeoplelearnthatgluttonousindulgenceisnotconducive tohealthofbodyandclearnessofmind.Themost important element innutrition is theliving,activebodythatutilizesthefood,andnotthedead,passivefoodthatisutilized.Whenthebodyisnotinaconditiontocarryontheprocessesofnutrition,itisworsethanidlewastetofeedit.Suchapatientshouldfast.

Whatevermaybethesourceofvitalenergy,itiscertainthatnofoodcansupplyanyofthisenergyuntil after it has been digested, absorbed and assimilated. It requires much vital power to digest,absorbandassimilatefood,ortomaintainitinastateagainstdecomposition,henceitisworsethanfollytourgefooduponthepatientincasesofdebilityofthestomachorofthewholebody,orwhen

thereisnonaturaldemandforfood.For,beyondanaturalcallforfood,thereisnopowertomakeprofitableuseofit.

Thosewhohavehadtheleastexperiencewithfastingaretheoneswhoofferthegreatestnumberofobjections to it. For example, J. Haskel Kritzer, M.D., makes the ridiculous statement that “inprolonged fasting, the teethoftendecay—formingcavities.”The fact is that in themost prolongedfasts the teethdonotdecayanddonotdevelopcavities.As itwasshowninapreviouschapter thatfastingdoesnotinjuretheteeth,itwillnotbenecessarytodevotemoreattentiontothissubjectatthisplace.

Onewriterobjectedthattherecanbenosuchthingasafastasthebodyconsumesitsowntissuesduringperiodsof abstinence from food, but this “objection” is not to fasting—which is to abstainfromfood.Hecontendedthatthe“fasting”bodydoeseat,butheforgetsthemeaningofthewordeat.Thissameobjector,anadvocateofmuchflesheating,tellsvegetariansthattheycannotlogicallyfast,forinsodoingtheyarelivingonameatdiet.Hegoessofarastosaythatthefasterisonalargelyfatdietandthatthisisthepoorestpossiblekindofdiet.Thisobjectionisbasedontheassumptionthatthefaster consumes his tissues during the fast, rather than his stored food reserves. The fact isoverlooked that these stored reserves are identical with the materials with which his tissues arenourishedwhileeating.Thedifference is that theeater isdaily replenishinghis reserves,while thefasterisnot.Wearandwastewithrepairandreplenishmentarecontinuousandalmostsimultaneousprocessesinalllivingstructures.

Theinconsistencyoftheseobjectionsisapparentintwoparticulars:1.thereisthedemandforplentyoffleshinthedietandthecondemnationoffastingbecausethefasteris“onanexclusivefleshdiet;”and2.thereistheassertionthatfleshalonecanadequatelysupplycertainneedsofthebodycoupledwiththecondemnationoffastingbecausethe“fleshdiet”ofthefasterisinadequate.Thefactisthat,duringeven themost prolonged fast, the blood ismaintained in all due richness from the storagetissues.

I have considered the colon and the enema during the fast, at the proper places, but must heredisprove an unusual objection to fasting,which involves thesematters.Kellogg (1923) says: “Thecolonhasanotherfunctionthanthatofremovingfoodresidues.Ahighlyimportantandessentialpartofitsfunctionistheremovalofthebodywasteswhichareexcretedbytheliverinthebileandalsoextractedfromthebloodbytheintestineitself;inotherwords,thecolonisanexcretoryorganaswellasagarbagedisposalplant.Thisexcretoryfunctionhasbeenquiteoverlookedby theexploitersofthe fasting method. They have thought only of the food residues” (p. 644) Again he reveals alamentable ignorance of the literature of fasting. It is because of this excretory function that hementions,thattheenemaandothermeansofforcingbowelactionaresomuchinfavor.Formostofthosewhoemploy fasting, forget, likeDr.Kellogg, that thecolon isanexcretoryorgan—its chieffunctiontheybelievewithKellogg,istosecretetoxinsintotheblood.

Dr.Kritzersays:“Asthebowelactionismateriallylessenedduringafast,thereisagreatpossibilityforintestinalreabsorption,notonlyofaccumulatedfecalmatter;butalsoof the tissue that isbeingused by the system as a food substitute. Hence, daily enemizing of the bowels is beneficial.” HeadvocatesCelery-KingteaandCarawayseedteaastheprefered“lessdrasticmeansofemptyingthebowels.”I,longago,showedthefallacyofthisnotion,inmyRegenerationofLife.Thereisnoneedfortheenemaorthedrugsduringafast.Thebowelswillalwaysactduringafast,ifthereisrealand

notmeretheoreticalneedforaction.Thereisnothinginfastingtopreventthecolonfromexercisingitsexcretoryfunctionanditdoescontinuetocarryonthisfunction.Itdoesnotperformany“Hindutricks”andbothsecreteandexcreteatthesametime.Weneedhavenofearofintestinalreabsorption.

Since the first edition of this work was issued, Mr. Frederick Hoelzel, of Chicago, published abrochure, Salt,Water andHealth (1934), inwhich, though approving of fasting, he puts forth thecontentionthat italwaysproducesaconditionof“hiddenedema,”a termused todesignateaslightexcessofsaltandwaterinthetissues.Hesays:“Ihavenotknownofanycaseoffasting,evenwhenfor only five days, where some post-fasting edema was not evident. I have also noted edemadeveloping in rats after fasting or protein restriction. A ‘wet diet’ (with plenty of water), in myopinion,onlyseemstoproduceedemamoreeasilyinratsthanadrydietbecauseratseatmorefreelyofawetdiet(madeuplargelyofvegetables)andthusalsoobtainmoresalts,etc.Thereseemstobenoexception to the rule thatedemawill developafter starvationor sufficientprotein restriction inhumansorrats,exceptingthattherenaturallyareexpecteddifferencesintimeanddegreeofedemaproduction”(p.9).

Ihaveseenseveralcasesofedemaofthefeetandanklesfollowingprolongedfasting,butthesearerareoccurrences.However,Mr.Hoelzeldiscusses“hiddenedema”forwhichthereisnoaccuratetestandoftheexistenceofwhichwecannotalwaysbesure.The“pitting test,”wherebytheskinon thelegs over the shin-bone, is depressed by the fingers, can reveal edema only after it is no longerhidden.Theintra-dermalsaltsolution(calledtheMcClure-Aldrichtest),whichconsistsofinjectingalittlesaltwaterintotheskinandnotinghowlongittakesfortheblistertodisappear,isclaimedtobeanimprovementoverthepittingtest,buteventhisfailstorevealslightedema.

HoelzelthinksthatamoreaccurateandmorevaluabletestofhiddenedemathanthepittingtestandMcClure-Aldrichtestisthepresenceofthefollowingsymptoms:“Swollenfeetandenlargedankles;apuffy or bloated face; hypersensitiveness to drafts or to shaving; skin that cuts, chaps or bruiseseasily; a shiny skin, including a shinynose; frequent colds; some types of headache; a continuoussenseof fatigueand lackofambition;mentaldepression;abnormalblushingandshyness;casesofobesityinwhichthefatisnotfirm;andsometroublesassociatedwithmenstruationandpregnancy,”orwhathaveyou?Heasks:“howmanycansaythattheyarenottroubledwithanyofthesecommonailments?Or that their troublesat leastarenotdue to somedegreeof salt-water retention?” (p.7).Hidden edemawould seem to be almost universal without fasting, while the above symptoms areremovedbythefast.

Hefurthersaysthat“fastingisnotevennecessarytopredisposeonetothedevelopmentofedemaasitalsodevelopsaftersimpleproteinrestriction,whenthishasbeensufficientlyprolonged.Moreover,tablesalt is not necessary asmany natural and unsalted foods (some vegetables and some types ofmeat) contain enough natural ormineral salts or unoxidizable crystaloids to produce edema aftersufficient protein restriction. It is now also known that carbohydrates can contribute to edema,apparentlybybeingretainedasglucoseinsteadofbeingchangedtoglycogen”(p.9).Onecertainlydoesnotgetanexcessofsaltsnorofcarbohydrateswhilefasting,norisanexcessofwaterconsumedif thedemandsof instinct, rather thanof theory,areobeyed. It is therule that thesodium-chloride-producededemaiseliminatedduringthefast.Astheproteinrestrictionduringthefastisnogreaterthantherestrictionofothersubstances(exceptwaterandair) thebodysucceeds inestablishingandmaintainingabalance.

Mr.Hoelzel’sexperiencewithfastinghasbeenextremelylimitedandhismethodisnotoneofwhichwecan approve.Hebecamea techof Illinois in 1916, but carriedonmost of his experimentswithfasting in the Department of Physiology in the University of Chicago, where he-was granted thecourtesy of the use of the laboratory from time to time by Prof. A. J. Carlson, to carry on hisindependentexperimentation.HetellsoffastingfifteendaysintheUniversityofChicagoin1917andfollowingthiswithsixdaysoffastingduringwhichtimehetookcottonfibresoakedinlemonjuicetowhich common saltwas added.He used about one-third of an ounce of salt a day.With this as“food”hegainedovertwopoundsadayinweight,storingfifteenpoundsormoreofsaltwaterinthesixdaysoffasting.Hesays:“Istoppedaftersixdaysbecausetheedemahadbecomeobviousinmylegsand Iwasbecoming sluggishgenerally” (p.8).He recounts anothergainof twelvepounds intwenty-four hours after eating two moderate sized meals which contained salt food (ham andcabbage)andaweight increaseof twopoundsdailyafter aninedays fastwhenonly salt (10gms.daily)wastakeninadditiontosufficientwatertosatisfythirst.

This isnot anobjection to fasting,nordoes itprove that fastingproduceshiddenedema. It is anobjectiontosalt-usingandexcesswater-drinking.Theuseofsaltandsaltedfoodsandtheconsequentdrinkingoflotsoffluid,water-logsthetissuesofallwhopracticeit—fastingorfeeding.Iknowofnoone(exceptGandhi)whoadvisestheuseofsaltwhilefasting.Withoutsalt-usingandexcesswater-drinking,nogainsinweight,suchasMr.Hoelzeldescribes,evertakeplace.Excesswaterdrinkingintheabsenceofsaltneverregistersmorethanslighttemporarygains.Therapidpost-fastinggainshedescribesdonotoccurinproperlyfedcases.ThemostrapidgainsIhaveseenhavebeenproducedbythemilkdiet,buthereagainitwasamerewaterloggingofthetissuesfromexcessfluidintake.Casesfedon fruits, vegetables, andmoderatequantitiesof proteins and carbohydratesdonot present thedifficulties he describes nor do their tissues fill with excess water. On the other hand, additionalprotein alone is not always enough to overcomemalnutritional edema. Itmay even aggravate thecondition.Simple fasting,ofwhateverduration, isnotopen to anyof the objections raised byMr.Hoelzel.

Thewriterhascaredformarkedcasesofmalnutritionaledemaandhasusedfastinginthesecaseswiththemostgratifyingresults.Onesuchcasehadafastoffortydayswithresultsthatwereallanyonecouldaskfor.Everygoodthingcanbemisusedandabused.Fastingisasmuchsubjecttoabuseandmisuseasanyotherthingthatmanuses.Justashecanandfrequentlydoesabusediet,exercise,sunshine,sex,etc.,sohecanandoftendoesabusefasting.Indeed,fastingisoftenabusedbythosewhoknowlittleaboutitandbythosewhoknowallaboutitandknowitallwrong.Buttheabuseofathingis no argument against its valid use.One does not cease to drink purewaterwhen thirsty,merelybecausesomebodywasdrownedinthelake.

Ithasbeenobjectedthatthefasterisacannibal—anautophage,infact.Thisisexactlythesameastosaythatawomanonareducingdiet,whoisalsoconsuminghersurpluses,isacannibal.Thefasterdoesnotliveuponhimself,butuponhisstoredreserves.Isthemanacannibalwhenheconvertstheglycogen stored inhis liver into sugaranduses this?Doesnotautophagy belong to the starvationperiodratherthantothefastproper?Certainlytherejuvenatingeffectsoffastingarenotduetoanygnawingatthefaster ’svitals.

Attheriskofsomerepetition,permitmeheretolistafewthingsthatfastingdoesnotdo.

Fastingdoesnotcausethestomachto“shrinkup”—atrophy.

Fastingdoesnotcausethewallsofthestomachtogrowtogether—adhere.

Fastingdoesnotcausethedigestivefluidsofthestomachtoturnuponitanddigestthestomach.

Fastingdoesnotparalyzethebowels.

Fastingdoesnotimpoverishthebloodnorproduceanemia.

Fastingdoesnotproduceacidosis.

Fastingdoesnotcausethehearttoweakennortocollapse.

Fastingdoesnotproducemalnutritionaledema.

Fastingdoesnotcausedeficiencydisease.

Fastingdoesnotproducetuberculosisnorpredisposetoitsdevelopment.

Fastingdoesnotreduceresistanceto“disease.”Fastingdoesnotinjuretheteeth.

Fastingdoesnotinjurethenervoussystem.

Fastingdoesnotweakenthevitalpowers.Fastingdoesnotinjureanyofthevitalorgans.

Fastingdoesnotinjurethebody’sglands.

Fastingdoesnotcauseabnormalpsychism.

XXI.DoesFastingCureDisease?If “disease” is remedial effort does fasting cure “disease?” If there are no cures for “disease,” if“disease”doesnotneedtobecured,isfastingacure?Toustherearenottwentythousand“diseases,”but many local states growing out of a common systemic derangement. We do not seek to cure“disease,”buttoremovethecausesofimpairmentandtoaffordthesickorganismeverynaturalorhygienic advantage that will facilitate its own spontaneous return to biological and physiologicalnormality.

Doesnaturecure vomiting, or does she use vomiting as ameans of ejecting unwantedmaterialsfrom the stomach?Does thebodycurecoughing, or is coughing a vital act bywhich irritants andobstructionsareexpelledfromtherespiratorytract?Doesdiarrheaneedtobecured,orisdiarrheaaprocess by which obnoxious materials are rushed out of the digestive tract? Does nature cureinflammation,orisinflammationareparativeanddefensiveprocessbywhichbrokenbonesareknit,laceratedfleshishealedandforeignbodiesareremovedfromtheflesh?Isthereaneedtocurefever,or is fever part of the body’s own healing activities? Does not coughing automatically andspontaneouslyceasewhen there isno longer anyneed for it?Doesnotdiarrheaceasewhen it hasfreedthedigestivetractofalloffensivematerials?Doesnotinflammationsubsidewhenthebonehasknit or thewound healed?What is there to cure about the various processes of the body that arecollectivelylabeleddisease?

Is itnotobvious that if fastingsuppressedvomiting,diarrhea,coughing, inflammation, fever,andtheothersymptomsthatmakeupdisease,itwouldbeasevilasdrugging?Tocallfasting“thefastingcure,”the“hungercure”orthe“abstinencecure,”asmanyhavedone,istoplaceit inafalselight,unless,ofcourse,weunderstandbycurewhatitoriginallymeant—care.Fastingispartoftherationalcareofthesickbody,itdoesnotcuredisease,asthewordcureisnowcommonlyused.

Wearefrequentlyaccusedofregardingfastingasacure-all,despiteouroftreiteratedstatementthatitisnotacureatall.Usingthetermcureinitspresentlyacceptedsense,wesaythatfastingdoesnotcureanything.Butthechargeagainstuscontinuestobecirculated.Thischargegrowsoutofthefactthatweemploythefastinallformsofimpairedhealth.Ourprinciplethattheforcesandprocessesoflifeaccomplishallhealingwork,afterthecausesofimpairmentanddamagehavebeenremoved,isnotnoticedbyanyofourcritics.Indeed,theyhaveshownasingularincapacityforunderstandingthissimpleprinciple.Theyfastenuponsomeoneofourmostcommonlyusedmethodsofcare,theonetheythinktheycanusewithgreatestadvantageagainstus,andrideitforallitisworth.

Ifweusefastinginnearlyallcases,weemployfoodinexactlyallofthem.Ifweemployfastinginnearlyallcasesweemployexerciseinasmany.Weusesunbathinginnearlyallcases,butweneverregarditasacure,muchlessdoweregarditasacure-all.Physicalandmentalrestareemployedinevery case, but not as a cure as thisword is commonlymisused. Beforewe employ rest, fasting,exercise,diet,sunshine,oranyothermeansofcare,weseekforthecausesofthepatient’s impairedhealth and seek to eradicate these. Removal of the cause is primary. Why can our critics neverunderstandthissimplefact?

Therearemanymeninthevariousschoolsofso-calledhealingwhoadmitthegreatvalueoffastinginavarietyofdiseases,buttheysay:“Theabsurdityofthefastingcareofthesickisitsindiscriminateuse in a great variety of diseases.” The Hygienic answer to this objection is that, if its use is

indiscriminate,undoubtedlythatindiscriminateuseisabsurd.But,weadd,thisobservationisastrueofanyothermodeofcareandtreatment thathasbeenusedandisnowusedbythevarioushealingprofessions.Inthedaysofvenesection,wasnotbleedingusedindiscriminatelyinalmostalldiseases?During the recent world war, was not blood transfusion, in one form or another, employedindiscriminately inawidevarietyofdiseasesand traumaticconditions?Havenot alcohol, quinine,mercury,tobacco,antimonyandanumberofotherdrugsbeenusedindiscriminatelyinawidevarietyofdiseases?Arenotthesulfonamides,penicillin,streptomycin,andtheother“antibiotics”beingusedindiscriminately,inawidevarietyofdiseases?Hasnottheremovalof“fociofinfection”fadbeenasindiscriminatelyappliedtoathousand-and-onediseases?

The hydropaths employed theirwater applications, the chiropractors their spinal adjustments, theosteopathstheirmanipulationstoalmostalldiseasesasindiscriminatelyasanydrugwaseverapplied.Alltheschoolsofso-calledhealinghavebeenandareguiltyoftheveryindiscriminateuseoftheirtherapeuticmeasuresthattheychargeagainsttheuseoffasting.Nophysicianeverpurgedthebowelsofhispatientswithgreaterregularityorwithlessdiscriminationthanthechiropractorshavepunchedthespinalcolumnsoftheirpatients.

When we consider that fasting is not employed to cure disease, as are the various therapeuticmeasures,itswideuselosesitsappearanceofindiscriminateuse.Morethanthis,whenweconsiderthatHygienisisdonotrecognizetheexistenceofagreatnumberofdiseases,itwillbe realized thatthey cannot apply it indiscriminately. Take the following so-called different diseases—pleuritis,enteritis,pericarditis,peritonitis,arachnitis,cystitis,metritis,appendicitis,ovaritis,colitis,proctitis,prostatitis,gastritis,menengitis,tonsilitis,rhinitis,etc.—theyareonlyonedisease—inflammation—in different locations. A different name is imposed on each in order to indicate which organflammationandthereisnodifferenceinitscause.Wehavemanynamesfordisease,accordingtothelocationoftheinflammation,orfunctionalfailure,oratrophy,butwehaveonlyonedisease.Diseaseis a unit—forms or modes of manifestation are many. A so-called disease is a name applied to asymptom-complexandthesymptomcomplexisclusteredabouttheorganmostinvolved.

TheHygienic System is not a systemof treating andcuring “disease” and “disorder.” It does notrecognize theexistenceofhundreds,or thousands,of“diseases,”but regardsallof thesemanyso-called“diseases”asvaryingexpressionsofthesamething.Hygienicmethodsaremethodsofcaringfor the body. By these we seek to place the body under the most favorable conditions for theprosecutionofitsownhealingactivities.Restandsleep,exerciseandcleanliness,waterandsunshine—wealsoemploytheseinallformsof impairedhealth.Butwedonotregardthemascure-allsorcuresatall.Thereareno“diseased”conditionsinwhichfreshairisnothelpful,butitisnocure-all,infact,itisnocureatall.Thereareno“diseased”conditionsinwhichrestisnothelpful,butrestisnopanacea.Why, then,accuseusof regarding fastingasacure-allbecause it (with rest, sunshine,freshair,exercise,sleep,quiet,etc.)isfoundusefulinallso-called“diseases?”

Fastingisprimarilyarestoftheorganism.Thereisnoconditionof“disease”inwhichrestofthevitalorgans isnotofbenefit to thewholeorganism.Restgivesallof theorgansanopportunity torepair their damaged structures. Rest affords to organs that have been lashed into impotency byoverstimulation,anopportunitytorecuperatetheirsubstancesandforces.Fastingisnotaprocessofelimination, but it does permit amarked increase in the elimination of toxins andwaste from thebody,notalone fromthe fluids,butalso fromthe tissuesof thebody. Itdoespermit theorgansofelimination tobring theirworkup todate—tobalance theirbooks, as itwere.There isno stateof

impairedhealthinwhichthisincreasedeliminationisnotofdistinctvalue.Fastingmeansatemporarycessation of the inflowof nutritive substance. This gives the surfeited organism an opportunity toconsumeitssurplus.Theremovalofaburdensomeredundancyalwaysresultsinincreasedvigorandimprovedfunction.

Whenfermentativeandputrefactivetoxinsarepouringinfromthedigestivetract inexcessof thebody’sability toneutralizeandeliminate themand the toxicoverflowhasbeenpartlystored in thelessvitaltissues,fastingspeedilyendstheintakeofdecomposition-toxinsandthusgivestheorganisman opportunity to catch upwith itswork of excretion.Not only are the toxins that circulate in thelymphremoved,but the toxinsdeposited in the tissues are removedandexcreted.Fastingdoesnotremovethetoxins.Thisisdonebytheexcretoryfunctionsofthebody.Fastingonlyaffordsthemtheopportunitytoperfecttheirwork.

Justasfastingcausesthebodytoconsumeitsexcessoffatandusebyautolysis,growths,ortumorsandusethenutritivesubstancesinthesetonourishitsvitaltissues.Inlikemannerdropsicalswellings,edematous swellings, and deposits are absorbed and the usable portions salvaged for use innourishingthevitaltissues.Withholdingfoodfromthebodyforanextendedperiodcreatesanintensenitrogen hunger and a demand for other nutritive elements. Assimilation is rejuvenated so thatfrequentlythechronicallyunderweightmancangainweightafterthefast,who,previoustothefast,couldgain innoway.Thegeneral increase in functionalvigorand thedetoxication that take placeduringthefastcontributegreatlytothisresult.Duetothedisproportionateuseofthebody’sreservesduringafast,toaheavylossofsomeelementsandastoringofothers,fastingresultsinachemicalnormalizationwhichnothingelseoccasions.Cellularandtissuerejuvenationalsooccurduringafast.Therejuvenationeffectedduringafastisofacharacterandextentnoteffectedbyanyothermethodorprocessinexistence.

Fastingdoesnotdoanything.Itreallystopsthedoing.Inthusstoppingcertainactivities,itpermits,evenenforcescertaintissuechangesandchemicalreadjustmentsinthebodywhichresultinincreasedvigorandimprovedhealth.Therearenoconditionsoffunctionalandstructuralimpairmentinwhichthesechangesarenotdesirable.Tosumup, fasting,byaffording theorgansof thebodya rest,bywithholding raw materials and by stopping the inflow of decomposition-poisons from the alvinecanal, permits the repair and recuperation of the organs of the body, the consumption of aburdensomenutritiveexcess, the removalof circulating anddeposited toxins, thenormalizationofbloodchemistry,cellularandtissuerejuvenation,theabsorptionofdeposits,exudates,effusionsandgrowths,andimprovesthebody’spowersofdigestionandassimilation.If thereareany“diseased”conditionsinwhichsomeoralloftheseresultsarenotdesirable,Ihavenotseenthem,norevenanydescription of them. Then, although fasting cures nothing and is no panacea, it is useful in all“diseased”conditions.

Fastingisnotacure;itwillnotcureany“disease.”Rightlyconducted,itisasure,quick,safewaytounloadatoxicoverload,buthealingisaphysiologicalprocessthatsucceedsifthetoxinshavebeeneliminatedandlifehasbeenrighted.Fasting,followedbyrationaleating,hasprovedverysatisfactoryinhelpingthousandstore-establishhealthandstrength,butitisnotacure.“Cureisanevolutioninreverse,” saidDr.Dewey.Aperiodof abstinence, orofvery light eating,with rest in bed, and thegivingupofenervatinghabits,mentalandphysical,will allownature toeliminate theaccumulatedtoxins;afterwhich,ifenervatinghabitsaregivenup,andrationallivinghabitsadopted,goodhealthwillevolveandwillbemaintainedsolongastheindividualcontinuestolivecorrectly.

Therealremedyconsistsofcorrectingtheerrorsoflifethathavebroughtonandperpetuatedthetoxemia.Theseerrorsarenotalldissipations—haveasmuchtodowithproducingsicknessaswrongeating.

When toxemia has been eliminated, or when “disease” is said to be cured, this means that anabnormal physiological state has been restored to normal. But the patientmay have been reduceddowntoadangerouspointandheisnotinanormalphysiologicalstate.Hence,fastingpersedoesnot remedy—itdoesnot restore anormalphysiological state. It is oftennecessary to abstain fromfooduntilone is farbelowanormal state inorder togive theorganismanopportunity to absorbdeposits and correct perverted states. For example, fasting will cause a more rapid absorption ofdropsicalfluid,whichhasaccumulatedinthetissues,thananyotherknownmeasure.Afibroidtumormaybecausedtoceasegrowing,itssizemaybegreatlyreduced,oritmaybecompletelyabsorbedbyafast;whilethefastisinprogresstheorganismcanreadjustitselfandnormalizeitssecretionsandexcretions—bringthesetoastateofequilibrium.Thisdone,thepatientmayconsiderhimselfcured,butheisnot.Hehasonlycommencedtogetwell.

Wedo not claim that fastingcures disease, but simply that it enables the organism to heal itself.What,then,doesfastingdo?

1. Itgivesthevitalorgansacompleterest.2. Itstopstheintakeoffoodsthatdecomposeintheintestinesandfurtherpoisonthebody.3. Itemptiesthedigestivetractanddisposesofputrefactivebacteria.4. Itgivestheorgansofeliminationanopportunitytocatchupwiththeirworkandpromotes

elimination.5. Itre-establishesnormalphysiologicalchemistryandnormalsecretions.6. Itpromotesthebreakingdownandabsorptionofexudates,effusions,deposits,“diseased”

tissues,andabnormalgrowths.7. Itrestoresayouthfulconditionofthecellsandtissuesandrejuvenatesthebody.8. Itpermitstheconservationandre-canalizationofenergy.9. Itincreasesthepowersofdigestionandassimilation.10. Itclearsandstrengthensthemind.11. Itimprovesfunctionthroughoutthebody.

Eachofthesestatementshasbeenfullyprovedinthepagesofthisbook.

Whenwesaythatfastingisneitheracure-allnoracureatall,wedonottherebyintendtolimititsscopeoritsfieldofusefulness.Indeed,themorewelearnaboutthiselementofnature’shygiene,themoreusefulwefind it tobe.As it isusedasa restand isemployedwhere there isgreatneedofaphysiologicalhousecleaning,itiseffectiveinallstatesofdisease,evenindeficiencydiseases,whereitiscommonlythoughtthatmoreofcertainfoodfactorsareessential,thefasthasprovedtobeveryhelpful.Thus,whatmayappear,on thesurface, tobean indiscriminate resort to thefast, turnsout,uponanalysis,tobenomoreindiscriminatethantheemploymentofwaterorfoodorexerciseinthesamegreatvarietyofconditions.Whenweoncegraspthefactthatfastingisnotemployedasacureandthatisisnotsomethingthatisgoodincertainso-calledspecificdiseases,butmaynotbegoodinotherso-calledspecificdiseases,weunderstandthatitsuseinalltheconditionsofimpairedhealthisnotanindiscriminateuse.

XXII.TheRationaleofFastingNature’sPreparationForAFastTheyThatWorkMustEatEliminationCompensation

Weundertakeafastforanultimategoodandwehavearighttodemandthattheendforwhichwefastshalljustifythismeansofachievingit.Themanorwomanfacedwiththedecision—tofastornottofast—hasarighttoask:Whatisthereinitforme?Whatshallbemyreward,mygain, if Idenymyselfthepleasuresofthepalateforaperiod?Beforeweundergoafast,wehavearighttoask:WhyshallIfast?Wehave,also,arighttoaskthat,asapermanentpossession,somethingworthwhileshallcomeoutofit.Thatmanandanimalsdofast,evenforlongperiods,isahighlyinterestingfact,butthisisnot, initself,sufficientreasonforfasting.Fastingisfutile if itshallnotproveproductiveofgreatbenefit.

Inpreviouschaptersfourimportantfactsaboutfastinghavebeenfullyestablished,asfollow:

1. Fasting,asaperiodofphysiologicalrest,affordsthetissuesandorgansofthebodyanopportunitytorepair,renewandreplenishthemselves.Damagedorgansarerepaired,wornoutanddiseasedcellsarediscardedandcastout.

2. Fasting,asaperiodofphysiologicalrest,affordsanopportunityforrecuperationofdepletedenergy.

3. Fasting,becauseitcompelsthebodytorelyuponitsinternalresources,forcesthetearingdown(byautolysis)ofgrowths,effusions,infiltrations,deposits,accumulationsandexcesses.Thesearethoroughlyoverhauled,theirusableconstituentsareemployedinnourishingthevitaltissues,theirunusableportionsareexcreted.

4. Fasting,bytheforegoingandrelatedprocesses,enablesthebodytoregenerateitselftoamarkeddegree.Itbecomesyoungerinphysiologicalcondition.Itsfunctionsareimproved,itsstructuresrepaired,anditsfitnesstoliveincreased.

Two replies may be made to those investigators who stress the ephemerality of the cellularregenerationthatresultswhilefasting.ThefirstofthesewasmadebyDr.ChristopherGian-Cursio.Hesays:“itdoesnottakemorethanatransitoryregenerationtoremoveastructuralabnormalityandto increase functional efficiency. Even where the structural impairment cannot be completelyremoved, there is, nevertheless, great functional betterment through compensation. The activityremovesthetoxicinfluencemaybetransitory,buttheremovalofthattoxinispermanent.”Theotherreplyisthattheseinvestigators,inmakingtheirexperiments,haveguaranteedthetransitorycharacteroftheregenerationthatresults,bythepost-fastingfeedingandothercarethathavebeengiventotheirsubjects.Alwayshavetheysenttheir“washedsows”backto“theirwallowinginthemire.”Nothingshouldbeexpectedtoproducepermanentregenerationif,after theregenerationhasbeenachieved,the renovated organism returns to the habits of living that accounted for the prior degeneration.Unfortunately, biologists who have observed the structure and function of cells during and afterfasting, fail to recognize the part played by unbiological and unphysiological habits of mind andbodyininducingpathologicalchangesinthecellsandtissues.

Fasting may be regarded as a temporary expedient, but it must, at the same time, be seen as a

fundamentalandradicalprocessthat isolder thananyothermodeofcaringfor thesickorganism,for itwasemployedbyanimals longbeforemanwas introducedupon theearth.But it isnot tobethoughtthatfastingshouldbeinstitutedonlyinseriousstatesofillness,thatweshouldcontinuetoeatso longasanydigestivepower remains.On thecontrary,missinga fewmealsat thebeginningoftrouble is often enough to prevent the development of serious trouble. When there is but slightfunctionalimpairment,asindicatedbyacoatedtongue,badbreath,abadtasteinthemouth,headache,dullnessof themind,ageneral feelingofmalaise,andsimilar insignificant symptoms,abrief fastwillenablethebodytoexcretethesystemictoxemiathatisresponsibleforthesesymptomsbeforethemoreformidablestagesofdiseaseevolve.

Using the phrase “hunger cure,” Dr. Walter said that “a large experience” has shown “that amoderatehunger-cureisexceedinglybeneficialinthegreatmajorityofdiseases.Indeed,inmanyofthemthecapacitytoappropriatefoodisentirelydestroyed,theverythoughtofitbecomingrepugnanttotheindividual.”Itwashisviewthatfasting“liberatesvitality(energy)tobeusedintheprocessofpurification,” and that this energy would “otherwise be used in the process of appropriating newmaterials”or,wemightadd,inexcretingmaterialsthatcannotbeused.Thatthisliberationofenergydoes takeplaceseems tobecertain. Inotherwords,energynotemployed in theworkof digestingthreeormoremealsadayisavailableforemploymentinotherand,immediately,moreurgentwork.Thisliberationofenergyoritsrecanalizationisofutmostimportance.

We cannot anddonot claim for the fast anypower tocure disease.We have said repeatedly thatfasting does not do anything, that it is a cessation of doing. It is a longer or shorter period ofphysiologicalrest.Weclaimonlythatthebodycandoforitself,duringthisperiodofrest,whatitisnot able to do in periods of surfeit and full activity. It is not a “hunger cure,” as itwas called byGermanNatureCuristsandbymanyearlyHygienists,foritisnotacure,noristhefasterhungry.Ifhecontinuedhungrythroughouttheperiodofafast,itwouldnotbepossibletogethimtofastverylongandrepetitionsofthefastwouldbeallbutimpossible.

Nature’sPreparationForAFastWriting of a case that passed under his care,Dr. Jennings explains the rationale of fasting, thus:

“Thechildhastakennonutrimentforanumberofdays,andmaytakenoneformanydaystocome,ifitshouldlive;yetthereisnothingtobefearedonthisaccount.Takeahealthychildfromfoodwhileitsvitalmachineryisinfulloperation,anditwilluseupitsownbuildingmaterialandfalltoruinintwo or three weeks; but in this case the system has been prepared for a long suspension of thenutritive function.There isnowbut littleactionof thesystemgenerally,andconsequentlybut littlewearandtearofmachinery;and,likethedormouse,itmightsubsistformonthsonitsown internalresources, if thatwerenecessary,andeverythingelsefavored.Thebowelstoohavebeenquiet foranumberofdays,andtheymightremainastheyareforweeksandmonthstocomewithoutdamage, ifthiswereessentialtotheprolongationoflife....Themusclesofvoluntarymotionareatrestandcostnothing for their maintenance, save a slight expenditure of safe-keeping forces to hold them inreadiness for action at any future time, if their services be needed. So of all other parts anddepartments; themostperfecteconomyiseverywhereexercisedintheappropriationanduseof thevital energies. It is an ‘extreme case’, and calls for extrememeasures; but they are all conductedunderaperfectlaw,whichadaptswiththemostpunctiliousminutenessthemeanstotheend”(1852,pp.159-160;italicsadded).

TheyThatWorkMustEatThebody’sreservestoresaredesignedforuseinjustsuchemergenciesandmaybeutilizedinsuch

circumstances with greater ease and with less tax upon the body than food secured through thelaboriousprocessofdigestion.AsJennings(1852)explained:

There is one particular in relation to the lymphatic system of vessels, that deserves specialnotice and remembrance. In some forms of impaired health, when the nutritive apparatus isdisabled, either from defects in its own structure, that require a suspension of its action forrecuperativepurposes,orbecausetheonlyorganicforcesthatcanbeusedtosustainitsaction,are, for the time, either exhausted or employed more advantageously in other duties, thelymphaticvesselsinterposetheirkindofficestosupplythedeficiencybytakinguptheadiposeand fleshy substanceswherever they can find them,or anymatters that they canworkup intonourishment,andthrowingitintothegeneralcirculationtobedistributedamongthewearyandhungrylaborersaccordingtotheirseveralnecessities,—fortheythatworkmusteat.Indeedthisexpedient is often resorted to in severe cases of illness, particularly in those of protractedgeneraldebility;foritislessexpensivetothevitaleconomytofurnishtherequisitesustenanceinthisway, inemergencies, thantodo itby thenutritivemachinery fromrawmaterial.Thiswiseprovisionforsustaininglifeundercriticalcircumstances,shouldallayallfearsandanxietiesonthescoreofeatingwhenthereisalackofappetite;forwhenthereisademandfornourishnent,and the nutritivemachinery is inworking order, and the necessary forces can be consistentlysparedtooperateit,therealwayswillbeappetitie,andjustinproportiontothenecessitiesofthesystem for nourishment; for real genuine appetite is simply and only nature’s appeal forsomethingwithwhichtosupplyawant,andifshemakesnocall,itiseitherbecausethereisnowant tobe supplied,or she isnot in a condition tomeet it, and in either case itwouldbe . . .worsethanuselesstourgefooduponthestomach,eitherinrepugnancetoobviousindication,orafterhavingprovokedanunnaturalappetite.

In an extreme case, when it is expedient to make dependence on the lymphatic system fornutrimentalaidforalongperiod,untilallthematerialsuitableforsupplythroughthatmediumis exhausted, and starvation becomes the alternative to digestion and assimilation, if it is aremediable case, the nutritive systemwill be clothedwith power sufficient tomake a call forfood,andonitsreception,commenceoperations;itmaybeinaveryslightdegreeforawhile,and at intervals of some hours, just sufficient to sustain the essential organs in workingcondition, and may need extreme care in feeding, in quality and quantity, lest feeble vitalityshouldbesmotheredanddestroyed.But,ifunderthesecircumstances,withpropertreatmentinotherrespects,noeffortisputforthbythenutritiveorganstostaytheutterextinctionoflife,itmayberegardedasinevitablyafatalcase;forneithertheincitementnorpowertoeffortinthisdirectioncanbeincreasedbyartificialmeans(pp.57-59;italicsadded).

TheprocessornourishingthewearyandhungrylaborersofthebodyisnotassimpleasJenningsdescribesit,butitmustbeunderstoodthatnothingwasknownoftheprocessofautolysisatthetimehewrote. Itwill be recalled thatGraham also described the process inmuch the sameway as didJennings.Indeed,asthetwomenwerefriendsandmorethanoncediscussedsuchmatters,itmaybethat they arrived at a common understanding of how the nourishment of the vital tissues wasaccomplishedduringperiodsofabstinence.Initsgeneraloutline,however,Jennings’explanationofthewayinwhichthebodymakesuseoffastinginordertobetterachievecertainendsiscorrect.

SylvesterGrahamexplainedthatwhenmorefoodisusedbythebodythanisdailysupplied,“itisageneral law of the vital economy” that “the decomposing absorbents always first lay hold of and

removethosesubstanceswhichareofleastusetotheeconomy;andhence,allmorbidaccumulations,suchaswens,tumors,abscesses,etc.,arerapidlydiminishedandoftenwhollyremovedundersevereandprotractedabstinenceandfasting.”Fasting,bycreatinganutritionalscarcity,forcesthebodytosurrendersuperfluitiesandtoeliminateencumberances,whichitcannotachieveinastateofsurfeit.The surrender of surplus material is compatible with increasing powers and with processes ofphysiologicaland,even,biologicalreadjustment.

Recording another case, Jennings (1852) declares: “There has been no nutriment taken into thestomachforanumberofdayspast,andnonewillbetakenforanumberofdaystocome;foritwouldbe a waste of power to compel the nutritive apparatus to work up raw material under presentcircumstances,ifthiscouldbedone”(p.166).Thisprincipleissusceptibleofawideapplication.Itsworkingsareparticularlyapparentinthefast.Thefastingbodyisverycarefultohoarditsmaterials,but rapidly absorbs and either eliminates or utilizes the materials contained in growths, deposits,effusions,swellings,etc.

EliminationThe proper management of so-called disease is analogous to the drainage of marshy land in

agriculture.Morewaterisgettingintothegroundthanisflowingoutand, toremedythissituation,drainagemustbeestablishedsothatwaterflowsoutasfastorfasterforatime,thanitisflowingin.Indisease,moretoxinsarefindingtheirwayintothefluidsandtissuesofthebodythanareflowingout.Drainagemustbe increased to theend that the tissuesand fluidsmayagainbecomesweet andclean.Ifwecanchecktheinflowoftoxinsatthesametimethatweincreasetheiroutflow,somuchthebetter.Fortunately,bothofthesethingscanbedone.

Itisinstructivetonotethatthespecificgravityoftheurineduringafast,andparticularlyduringtheearlierstagesofthefast,isfrequentlyashighas1.030insteadofthe1.010thatisconsiderednormal.It is noteworthy that, as the fast progresses, the specific gravity of the urine gradually falls, until,ultimately,itreachesthe1.010level.Doesitmeananythingthatcoincidentwiththedropinspecificgravitythereisalsoalighteningofthecoloroftheurine,which,atfirstmaybealmostinkyblack;aclearingupofthetongue,whichcommonlybecomesheavilycoated;agraduallesseningofthefoultasteinthemouth,until thetastebecomessweetandpleasant;and,inthosecaseswhere therewasatendencyforthetemperaturetodropbelownormal,arisingoftemperature,oftentoitsnormallevel?Coincidentwiththesechanges,thereisareturntonormalofthebody’ssecretions,aclearingupofsymptoms, often a healing of ulcers,wounds, etc., that have long refused to heal, and return of afeelingofwellbeingsuchasthepatienthasnotexperiencedforyearspriortothefast.

Ifthepatientsufferingwithsubnormaltemperaturegoesonafastandthetemperaturerises,inafewinstancesthetemperatureevenrisingabovenormal,certainlysomethinghastakenplace,asaresultoffasting,thatremovesthedetrimenttoheatproduction.If,afterthefastisbrokenandnormaleatinghas been resumed the gain is found to be lasting,wemay be sure that the body has accomplishedsomegoodforitselfduringthisperiodofphysiologicalrestthatitwasunabletodowhileburdenedwithfood.

Burdenedwith food!Thepopular idea thatman is immediately andutterly dependent upon food,whichhesupplieseveryfewhoursandwillstarveifhemissesafewmeals,isfalse.Foodisabasicneedofeverylivingorganism,butfoodmaybecomesoburdensomethataperiodofabstinence isdemanded,andwillprovetobehighlybeneficial.

Insomequartersitisheldthatwhenfoodistakenexcretionissuppressed,thisistosaythatthebodycannotbothdigestandeliminateatthesametime.Thatthereisvalueinthisviewseemscertain,butwemustnottakeitasastatementofabsolutetruth,foritisessentialtolifethatexcretiongoonatalltimes.Itmaybereduced,itcannotbesuspended.Thestatementthat“assimilationarrestselimination”isacatchyone,butnotexactly true.Theenergiesof theorganismareatall timesdividedbetweenassimilation andelimination,but there are times and conditionswhen one demandsmore attentionthantheother:timeswhenexcretionismostimportantandassimilationcanandisreducedtoabareminimum.Herein lies one of the great benefits of the fast.By suspending the intake of food, thuseliminatingtheexpenditureofenergyindigestingandcirculatingandassimilatingtheregular foodsupply,theenergiesoflifemaybedirectedmorecompletelytotheworkofexcretion.

Itcannotbedoubtedthatthereisaconstantefforttomaintainthenormalconditionofthefluidsofthebodybyanunendingeliminationofbodywasteandofallelsethatfindsitswayintothebodyandcannotbeutilizedasfood.Hence,itmustgoon,evenwhiledigestingfood.Itcanbeonlyinaverylimited sense that “assimilation arrests elimination.” In all living bodies, saidGraham, there is aneconomyofdisassimilationandexcretionco-equaltothatofnutrition.

Dr.JoelShew(1854)explainedthat“theprincipleonwhichtheHunger-Cureactsisoneonwhichall physiologists are agreed, and onewhich is readily explained and understood.We know that inanimalbodiesthelawofnatureisfortheeffete,worn-out,andleastvitalizedmatterfirst tobecastoff.Weseethisuponthecuticle,nails,hair,andinthesnakecastingoffhisoldskin.Nowinwastingorfamishingfromthewantoffood,thisprocessofeliminationandpurificationgoesoninamuchmore rapid manner than ordinarily, and the vital force which would otherwise be expended indigesting thefood taken,actsnow inexpelling from thevitaldomainwhatevermorbificmatters itmaycontain.This, then, isabeautiful idea in regard to theHunger-Cure—thatwheneveramealoffoodisomitted,thebodypurifiesitselfthusmuchfromitsdisease,andthisbecomesapparentinthesubsequentamendment,bothasregardsbodilyfeelingandstrength.Itisproved,also,inthefactthatduring the prevalence of epidemics, those who have been obliged to live almost in a state ofstarvation, have gone free from an attack,while thewell fed have been cut off in numbers by themercilessdisease”(p.797).

MacfaddenandOswald(1900)say:“Agermdisease,asvirulentassyphilis,andlongconsideredtoopersistent foranybutpalliativemethodsof treatment (bymercury,etc.),wasradicallycuredby thefastingcures,prescribedintheArabianhospitalsofEgypt,atthetimeofthesmallpox,andDr.RobertBartholow,asticklerforthefaithindrugs,admitsthat‘itiscertainlyaneminentlyrationalexpedienttorelievetheorganismofavirusbyacontinuousandgradualprocessofmoleculardestructionandarenewal of the anatomical elements.’ Such is the hunger-cure of syphilis, an Oriental method oftreating thatdisease.Very satisfactory resultshavebeenattainedby thismeans’ ” (pp.55-56).Thepointhereisthatthebodytearsdownthedefectivepartsandeliminatesthemduringthefast,andthenbuilds anew after the fast.With no digestive drudgery on hand, asDr.Oswald expressed it, natureemploys the long desired leisure for general house cleaning purposes. The accumulations ofsuperfluoustissuesareoverhauledandanalyzed;theavailablecomponentpartsareturnedovertothedepartment of nutrition,while the refuse is thoroughly andpermanently removed.That this is truewillbecomeveryapparentasweprogresswithourstudyoffasting.

“Theorganism,stintedinthesupplyofitsvitalresources,”saysDr.Oswald,“soonbeginstocurtailitscurrentexpenditure.Themovementsoftherespiratoryprocessdecrease;...andbeforelongthe

retrenchments of the assimilative process react on the functions of the intestinal organs; the coloncontracts,andthesmallerintestinesretainallbutthemostirritatingingesta”(1883b,p.201).

CompensationThe principle previously presented, that the energy customarily expended in the digestion and

assimilation of food may, when no food is eaten, be employed through other channels in theincreasedworkofelimination,isacceptedbyMr.CarringtonandMr.MacfaddeninthiscountryandDr.E.Liek andOttoRosenbach inGermany.Dr.Liek says, “By saving the force required for theprocessofdigestion, thebody saves strength andmobilizes forces for other purposes, such as thehealingofwounds,combatingthemicroorganismsofdisease,etc.”Rosenbachhaswrittenmuch intheGermanlanguageuponfasting.

While fastingbars anydirect ormeasurable income to the system fromnourishment, it does notincuranyexpenditureindigestion.Thelargesumofenergythussavedisavailableforusethroughother channels; that is, in carrying on other, and for the moment, more important functions andprocesses.

Disease, especially acute disease, is labor, action, struggle—it is often violent action. It uses upenergy. It often leaves the patient exhausted at the end of his severe effort. It may so completelyexhausthimastoendhislife.Diseasefrequentlymeansamuchgreaterexpenditureofenergy thantheactivitiesofhealth require,hence theurgentneed forconservationofenergy ineverypossibleway.Lossofappetite,cessationofdigestion,suppressionof thedigestivesecretions,suspensionofthemuscularcontractionsofthestomachandoftheperistalticmotionsoftheintestine,inactionofthebowels,skin,liver,kidneys,generaldebility,prostration,etc.,areconservativemeasures.

Energynotexpendedthroughthesechannelsisavailableformoreurgentworkelsewhere.

Theurgentdemandforincreasedeffort,whichthepresenceoftoxinsoccasions, is thereasonforthe increased,evenviolenteffort.Butviolenteffort inonedirectionmeans reducedeffort inotherdirections.Fastingbytheacutelyillisdefinitelyacompensatorymeasureanditsurgencyisindirectproportion to the severityof the symptoms.There is still digestivepower in a cold, inpneumoniathereisnone.Bythisismeantthatthemoreillthepatient,thegreateristheneedforfasting.Curiousasthismayappearatfirstthought,thereturnofhealthandhungercometogether.

“Nothing is remedial,” said Trall, “except conditions which economize the vital expenditures.”Physiological rest (fasting) is thesurestwayofeconomizingvitalexpenditures.Walterpointedoutthat“thepatientoftengrowsstrongerthroughtheprocessoffastingandalwaysbetter.”

SomeyearsagoIlaiddowntheprinciplethat:powercannotbeexpendedwithequalandincreasedintensity in all directions at the same time. I pointedout that increased activities in onepart of thebody require concomittant and coetaneous diminution of activities in other parts. Power savedthroughonechannelisalwaysavailableforusethroughotherchannels.Allformsofpowerobeythisprinciple.Aconvenientexampleisthediminishedforcewithwhichthewaterrunsinyourbathtub,ifsomeoneturnsonthewaterinthekitchen.Cutoffthewaterinthekitchenandtheforceoftheflowisimmediatelyincreasedinthebathtub.

Dr.Jenningsunderstoodthatthewithdrawalofenergyfromthedigestiveorgans,in“disease,”wasforthepurposeofemployingtheenergyordinarilyexpendedthroughthesechannels,intheworkof

eliminationandrepair.Mr.Macfaddensaid:“Wedonotperhapsrealizetowhatextenttheprocessesofmetabolismdrawupon thebody energies. It requires an enormous amount of energy to digest,convert,and push through thirty feet of tubing, several pounds of foodmaterial, and to carry thenormalandexcessassimilatedfoodelementsthrougheverybloodvesselinthebody,overandoveragain.Ifthisenergyisnotutilizedforthatpurpose,itisfreetobeutilizedinotherdirections,andinallcasesofdiseaseitisinthemainactuallyusedforpurposesofcure.Manypeoplekeepthemselvestiredandexhaustedbyusinguptheenergiesofthebodyincontinualdigestiveprocesses.”

There is another and equally important reason why the gross overeating which is so prevalentcausespeopletobetired.Theintestinaltoxemia,resultingfromexcessivefood,poisons the tissuesand cells throughout the whole body. Sluggishness, laziness, and chronic fatigue are some of theresultsofthispoisoning.Thefaggingenergiesofthebodyrevivetoaremarkableextent,wheneatingis discontinued for a fewdays, due to the conservation of energy and to cutting off the source oftoxins.

Dr. Walter also recognizes these facts and says in The Exact Science many indications forrestorationofhealthasdoesfasting.Itisnature’sownprimalprocess,herfirstrequirementinnearlyall cases. As a means of promoting circulation, improving nutrition, facilitating excretion,recuperating vital power, and restoring vital vigor, it has no competitor. . . . In chronic diseasesfastingishardlylessimportantthaninacutecases.Obstructionofthevitalorgans,andespeciallyoftheprocessofnutrition,istherule.Givingresttotheseorgansisofutmostimportance,inordertoimprovenutritionandrestorevigor.Thesecondaryeffectistheexactoppositeoftheprimary.

“Extremes of practice, are, however, to be avoided. Men are always prone to indulge forcingprocesses.A fast for a few days or atmost aweek,will often be comforting and valuable; but tocompel the organism to live for a month without food is an unnecessary violence. But in acutediseases the fastingmay continue forweeks, because nature cannot appropriate the food;we onlyobjecttoarbitraryfastsforlongperiods.Fastingisnotacure-all;itmaydoevilaswellasgood;butitshouldalwaysbeemployedinconnectionwithrestof thegeneralsystem” (pp.209-210).Walter ’sfearofthelongfast,inchronic“disease”neednotengageourattentionatthisplace,beyondsayingthatsuchaprocessisnotessentiallyviolentandthat,whiletheshortfastispreferableinsomecases,thelongfastisaloneproductiveofresultsinothers.

XXIII.TheLengthoftheFastItispossibletocarryafasttoofar.Itispossibletobreakitprematurely.Inthefirstcasethepatientisdamaged,inthesecondhefailstoreceivethelegitimatelyexpectedresults.Acontroversyhas longbeenwagedbetweentheadvocatesoftheshortfastandtheadvocatesofthefasttocompletion.Theadvocatesoftheshortfastdepictwhattheybelievetobeharmresultingfromthelongfast.Whileitistrue that the short fast ismorepopularwithmostpatients, I haveyet to see these fancied damagesresultfromalongfast.

FormanyyearsCarringtondefendedthelongfast.Icandonobetterthanquotehimatthispoint.Hesays:“Imustcontend,andthatstrenuously,thatthebreakingofthefastprematurelyisoneofthemostfoolishanddangerousexperimentsthatcanpossiblybemade.Theprevalentideaisthatafastshouldbeundertakenandpersistedinforacertaindefiniteperiod,whichcanbefixeduponbeforethefastisbegun,andthatthefastcanbebroken,andevenbrokenwithadvantage,attheexpirationofthisperiod...whoistheretodecide?Wereitthuspossibletodetermineapriori,thelengthoftimethefastmightbeprotracted,withoutharmresulting,orwithbenefit to thefastingpatient, thissystemof treatmentwouldbeasblindlyexperimental,andaswhimsical,as theorthodoxmedical treatmentof today—whereas it is nothing of the kind.Naturewould institute no such senseless code, no ‘law inwhichthereisnolaw’...Iwishtoimpressthefollowingstatementuponthemindsofmyreaders,sinceitisoneof themost important facts contained in this entire book; and the failure to appreciate it is, Ibelieve, the cause of almost all themisunderstanding concerning the fasting cure. . . . Naturewillalwaysindicatewhenthefastshouldbebroken”(1908,pp.543-544).

Headdsthat“therecanneverbeanymistakebythosewhoareaccustomedtowatchingfastingcases,astowhentoterminatethefast.Naturewillalwaysindicatewhenthefastshouldbebrokenbyaseriesofsymptomswhichcanneverbemisunderstoodandwhichsheheredisplaysmostobviously—toallthosewhosejudgementisnotpervertedbypreconceivedideas,andwhopossessasoundknowledgeofthephenomenaandphilosophyoffasting”(1908,p.544).Hesaysthat“thereturnofnaturalhungeris thegreatpoint tonote,andthemost important indication that thefast isended,andthesystemisableandwilling todigest andassimilatenutriment, in the formofeither solidor liquid food.Thespontaneous and precisely coincidental ena whichmay be observed toward the termination of the‘finishfast,’allindicatethatNatureandNaturealone,istheauthoritytobeconsideredastowhenthefastshouldbebroken.”

A“finishfast”doesnotalwaysmeanalongfast.Itdoesnotmeanafastuntilallofthebody’sfoodreservesareexhausted.Itisacuriousfactthathungerwillreturninthreedays,evenwherethereareabundantreservesonhand,ifthreedaysareallthatarerequiredforthepatienttogetwell;whereas,itwillnotreturnforfiveweeksorlonger,evenwheretherearefewerreservesonhand,providingthistimeisrequiredforthebodytoeliminateitsaccumulatedtoxins.Fortunately,inmostcasesitwillbeperfectly safe for the patient to fast until hunger returns. I have been repeatedly asked by anxiouspatients:“Areyousurethatmyhungerwillreturn?Doesthisalwaysoccur?”Myansweris:Youneedhavenoworryaboutthismatter.Youmayrestassuredthatyourhungerwillreturnanditwilldosoinallitsyouthfulintensityandzest.

Ihavehadcasesinwhichhungerreturnedbeforethetongueclearedup.Iinterpretthistomeanthatthebody’sreserveshavebeenexhaustedbeforetheworkofeliminationcouldbecompleted.Ihavehadafewcasesinwhichthetongueclearedupbeforethereturnofhunger.Ithinkthatinthesecases

thebodywascleansedbeforethereserveswereexhaustedandthebodydidnotbegintodemandfooduntilthereserveswereexhausted.Bothofthesetypesofcasesareveryrare.

Carringtonsays:“Howeverlongthefastmaycontinue,nodangerwhateverfromstarvationneedbefeared,sincehungerwillalwaysreturnbeforethedangerpointisreached.Thus,solongashungerisabsent,itisaplainindicationthatnofoodisrequired...Icannottoostronglyimpressthispointuponmyreaders—thatnaturalhunger,andthataloneshouldindicatetheterminusofthefast...Thatthissignal is invariablygivenat theproper time, and in theproperway, and that absolutelynodangerfrom starvation need be apprehended until the signal has been given, is absolutely true . . . Theartificialbreakingofthefast;thetakingoffoodintheabsenceofrealhunger,forthereasonthattheignorantattendantthinksthepatienthas‘fastedlongenough,’isanabomination,andanoutrageuponthesystemwhichcannotbetoostronglydepricated”(1908,pp.546-547).

Hisviewisthatthissudden,artificialchecktothehealingandcleansingprocessesthatgoonduringthefast isdetrimental to thevitalmachinery.Dr.Lindlahronce likened thisarbitrarycontrolof theprocessesofhealingtotheworkofrenovatingahouse.Theworkerscomeinandtearallthepaperoffthewallandthrowitoutintothemiddleofthefloor.Theytearawaymuchelseandpileitinthemiddleofthefloor.Theythengoawayandceasetheirwork.Theconditionofthehouseisworsethanbeforetheybegantowork.Whilethisanalogyisnotstrictlytrue,duetothefactthatthebodydoesnotthrowitswasteintothemiddleofthefloor,ithassomerelationtofacts.InmyownexperienceIhaveseenthefollowingdevelopmentswhenfastsnotreadyforthefasttobebroken:

1. Thebodyoftenrefusesfood(byvomiting)beforethereturnofhunger.2. Whenthefastisprematurelyended,thetonguetendstoremaincoated.3. Inmanycasesnodesireforfoodandnorelishoffooddevelopsforprolongedperiods

followingprematurebreakingofthefast.4. Failureofcompleterecoveryfromthestateofimpairedhealththatoccasionedthefastis

common.5. Thepatientoftendoesnotgainweightthereafter.

Carrington points out that there are cases of paralysis and other diseases in which dailyimprovement is seen during the fast, but the moment the fast is broken (prematurely) theimprovementceases,sothattheorganicbenefitcorrespondstotheactualtimefasted.Thus,ifthirtydaysoffastingarerequiredforfullresultsandthepatientfastsbuttwenty,hegetsbuttwo-thirdsofthedesiredresults,forthelastdaysofafastareoftenmostproductiveofresults.

Manypatientsmakethemistakeofbreakingtheirfastprematurely.Theydecide that theyhavebuttwoorthreemoredaystofastandthatthesefewdayswillmakebutlittledifference.Theyreasonthat,sincetheywillderivesolittlebenefitfromtwoorthreemoredaysoffasting,theymayaswellbreakit at once andnot fast the extra fewdays.Yet, these few extra daysmaybe the difference betweensuccess and failure; or, perhaps more accurately, between complete success and a disappointingpartialsuccess.

Thereisapopularbeliefthattheworkofpurificationcanbefinishedwithadietand,inmanycases,thisistrue,providingthepatientiswillingtogreatlyrestricthimselfforasufficientlylongperiodoftime;but it is the rule that thepatientwhowill not carry the fast to completionwill also refuse tocontrol himself and stay with the requisite dietary restrictions sufficiently long to accomplish thedesiredend.Becauseitiseasiertofastthantorestrictone’seating,oneismorelikelytoabandona

restricteddiet.Itshouldbeknownthatthereareno“sevendaycleansingdiets.”

Carringtonsays:“Wehavenowseenthatit isimpossibletotellapriori,when tobreaka fast.Noarbitrarytimelimitcanbeset,nodefinitedatefixeduponbeforehandandassertedthatitwouldbethemostadvantageousforthepatientwerethefastbrokenonthatday.Naturewillalwaysdictatewhenthefastistobebroken,ifwebutinterpretherright.Thereturnofnaturalhungeristhegreatpointtonote, and themost important indication that the fast is ended,and the system is able andwilling todigestandassimilatenourishment,intheformofeithersolidorliquid—food.Thespontaneousandprecisely coincidental cleaning of the tongue, of the breath, and of other lesser phenomenawhichmaybeobservedtowardtheterminationofa‘finishfast,’allindicatethatNatureandNaturealone,istheauthoritybeconsultedastowhenthefastshouldbebroken;andinverselyprovesconclusivelythatfastingisNature’scure”(1908,pp.556-557).IagreefullywithCarringtonthatthereisnomeansofdetermininginadvancehowlonganypatientneedstofast.Noarbitrarylimitshouldbesettothefast,exceptinthoseinstanceswherethepatienthasbutalimitedtimetodevotetofasting.Nodefinitetimecanbefixedinadvancewhenthefastshouldbeterminated.Thebodyitselfwillalwayssignifywhenthefastshouldbeended.Theoretically,thisisallcorrect;butwedealwithalltypesofpatients,withall types of mentalities and of all degrees of economic wellbeing and with many and variedresponsibilities. We are compelled, therefore, to break fasts when in our better judgement, theyshouldnotbebroken,tobreakthemfarinadvanceofthetimenaturewouldindicatetheyshouldbebroken.Levanzinsays:“Itisalwaysinadvisabletobreakafastbeforenaturalhungerappears;andasarule,thereisnoreasonwhyyoushould.”

Afewmorewordsshouldbesaidaboutthereturnofhunger.Wehavemanypatientssayingtheyarehungrywhen they are not. Theymistakemany different sensations, chieflymorbid sensations, forhunger.Afterashortwait,thesupposedhungerpasses,whereas,thegenuinearticlepersistsuntilfoodis taken. It is necessary to differentiate between real hunger and the many sensations that arecommonlymistakenforhunger.

Individualsundergoingafastontheirownandwithoutsupervision,havebeenknowntopushtheirfastsintothestarvationperiod,refusingtoeatafterthereturnofhunger,merelybecausethetonguewasnotclear.Thisisamistakeandhasprovedfatalinmorethanonecase.Wemayalwaysavoidamistake of this nature if we keep always in mind the fact that the return of hunger is the centralindicationthatthefastshouldbebroken.

Mr.Carringtonwritesofaracebetweenthesuccessfuleliminationoftoxinsandtheamountoffleshupon the body, and hunger not returning before the starvation period or even death occurring,because there is not sufficient flesh upon the body to feed the vital organs while the work ofeliminationisbeingcompleted.Ihaveneverseenanythingofthisnature.Ihaveseencasesinwhichhungerhasreturnedandthetonguewasstillheavilycoated.Ihaveseenthetongueclearupdays inadvanceofthereturnofhunger.Ihavesaid,asaresultofsuchexperiences,thatifthetongueisclearandhungerhasnotreturned, itmeans that thebodyhasbeenclearedbefore thereserveshavebeenexhausted;while,ifhungerreturnsandthetongueisstillcoated,itmeansthatthereserveshavebeenexhaustedbefore thebody is fullyclean. Ihave seena fewcases inwhich the tonguenevercoatedthroughout the whole of a long fast. I am sure, also, that if the patient’s reserves are carefullyconservedbymental,physicalandsensoryrest, there ismuchless likelihoodofhisreservesbeingexhaustedinadvanceofthecompletionoftheworkofelimination.

Themanexperienced in theemploymentof the fastdoesnot startout tohavehisclientbreakallrecords in fasting; but he does start the fast with definite objectives in view. Hewishes to reduceweight,reducebloodpressure,relievetheorganismofaccumulatedwasteandoffoodexcess,torestthevitalorgans,andrelievethenervoussystemofirritations.Ifpossible,hewantsthefastalwaystocontinue until these objectives are accomplished. We should not expect a few days of fasting tocompletely reverse pathological processes that have been decades in developing, or to enable thebodytocompletelyremovethepathologicalaccumulationsofyears.Toomanypeoplegoonafastand, from ignorance of their ownor that of their advisors, give up before they have achieved thedesiredresults.Thesepeoplemayoftenbeheardtosay:“Itriedfastinganditdidmenogood.”

Therearepatientswhodonotneedacompletefast,andthosewhoshouldnothaveacompletefast,aswellasthosewhodonotgetwellwithoutacompletefast.Nohardandfastrulecanbesetdowntoguideus here.Each casewill have to be handled according to its ownneeds and according to thegeneral condition of the patient. Ordinarily the fast should continue until the desired results areachieved;yettherearecases,aswillbeseenlater,wherethisisnotfeasible.Inacute“disease,”oneisalwayssafeincontinuingthefastaslongastheacutesymptomscontinueandforaslongthereafterasnaturedoesnotcall for food.But inchronic“disease”onemaynotalways fast tocompletion. Ifachronic sufferer has begun a fast and it is giving him no difficulties there can be no reason fordiscontinuingituntiltheresultsdesiredareobtained,oruntilnatureindicatesthatitshouldbebroken.Butitisnotwisetoarbitrarilysetagoalofthirtydaysormore,asmanyfastershavedone,andmakeastuntofthefast.Wherealongfastisrequired,natureherselfcanbedependedupontoindicatewhenitshouldbebroken.Inmanycasesitisprobablybettertoresorttoaseriesofshortfastswithcarefulfeedingratherthantoattemptalongfast.

Oneschool teaches itsstudents that“Generallyspeaking, theuseofseveral fastsof four to sevendays each is just as effective as one fast. for severalweeks.”While there are caseswherewe arecompelledtoemployaseriesofshortfastsinthisway,ithasnotbeenmyexperiencethataseriesofshortfastsisaseffectiveasonelongfast.Idonotknowofanyonewhohashadlongexperiencewithfastingwhoclaims that suchhasbeenhisorher experience.Dr.Hazzarddoesnot favor this view.NeitherdoesCarrington.TheworksofMacfaddenarefullofcontraryexpressions,asaretheworksofTilden.

Thosewho cater to popular fears and prejudices and thosewithout experience, favor short fasts,oftenaseriesofthem.Thisplanisalsopreferredbythosewhodesiretodragacaseoutaslongaspossibleinordertogetmoremoneyoutofthepatient.Itisnotalwayseasiestandbestforthepatienttotakeaseriesoffasts.Inhisexperimentswithsalamanders,Morgulisfoundthatasingleprotractedfast was less injurious than intermittent fasting—a series of short fasts. With exmen, women andchildren.Itshouldbeknown,also,thatweakandunderweightpatientsoftenstandfastingmuchbetterthanstrongandoverweightpatients.

Thealternatefastingandfeedingprogramisnotassatisfactoryastheonelongfastandtendstobemore difficult for the patient to carry out. He tends to reach a stage where he rebels againstundergoinganotherfast.Hehesitates,hedrawsback,heevendreadsit.Inmanyof thesefasts, theylastjustlongenoughforhisbodytobecomeadjustedtothefastingprocessandthentheyarebroken.Each timehefastshe is forced togo through the sameexperience.Thus,heneverexperiences thecomfortable stages of the fast. It has beenmy experience that in all cases, where the long fast ispossible,onelongfastisfarmoreeffectiveandmoresatisfactorythanaseriesofshortones.Noplan

offeedingbetweenthefastswillaccomplishwhatthefastwilldo,ifcontinued.Thelengthofthefastmustbegovernedbythepatient’sconditionandbytheresultsobtained.

There are those who object to a long fast on the ground that it constitutes such a shock to thenervoussystemandsuchadrainonthevitalresourcesthatlastinginjuryresults.Ihavenotpersonallyobservedanyof theevilsattributed to the longfastanddonotfindsuchresultsdescribedby thosewhoseexperiencewithfastingentitlesthemtospeakonthesubject.Ontheotherhand,Ifindthatwhensomeoftheexamplescited,asshowingthatalongfastinjuresthebody,arecheckedupon,theyarefoundnottoproveanysuchthing,buttheopposite.

In1886thepainter,Merlatti,fastedfiftydaysinParis.Itisassertedthathewasinbadconditionattheendofthefast.Ihavebeenunabletocheckuponthisassertionanddonotknowhowtrueitis.Hisheartactionandbodytemperatureremainednormalthroughoutthefast.Pashutinrecordsthathewaswatchedafterthefast.Thestatementissometimesmadethatafterhisforty-twodaysfastin1877,Dr.Tannerwas in such bad condition he had to be placed undermedical care. This statement is verymisleading.Dr.Tannerhadbeeninverybadhealthforyearsprecedinghisfastandundertookthefastto recover health.Hewas under the observation of a physician through thewhole of the fast andthereafterforsometime.Heactuallyregainedhishealthbyandthroughthefast.Dr.TanneroccupiedaroominthehomeofDr.Moyer,inMinneapolis,Minn.,duringhisfastandwasattendeddailybyDr.Moyer.According to his own testimony he “had given up hopes of ever regainingwhatmight becallednormalhealth”andundertookthefastonlyafterhehad“virtuallycollapsed”and“wasatsuchalowebbphysicallyandmentallythat”he“didnotcarewhether”he“livedordied”and“determined,”ashesays,“that,sincemydrugsgavemenorelief,IwouldstarvemyselftodeathereIagainwouldsufferthephysicalmiserythathadbeenmineformonthspreceding.”

AttheendoftendaysoffastingallsymptomsofhisdisorderdisappearedandDr.Moyerattemptedtoinducehimtodiscontinuethefast.Tannerpersistedtotheendoftheforty-secondday.Hishealthwasdistinctlyimproved.Hismedicalcolleaguesrefusedtobelievethatamancangosolongwithoutfood, so, “in order to relieve myself,” he writes, “of the odium heaped upon me by the medicalenemies”ofhisclaimstohavegonewithoutfood,in1880,heunderwentanotherfastoffortydaysbeginningJune28,andendingatnoonAugust6.Thisfastwaspublicandobservedbymanymedicalmenandthewholestoryflashedtotheworlddailybythenewspapersandtelegraphs.Tanner ’shealthwasnotimpairedbythisfast.

Ingeneral, itmaybesafelyadvised that ifa fast isundertaken it shouldbedonewithsatisfactoryresultsastheendinviewandstaywithituntilresultsareforthcoming.Thousandsofsufferersattempttodowithafastoftwotofourdayswhatcanonlybeaccomplishedbyafastoftwotofourweeksormore.“Itriedfastinganditdidnothelpme,”theysay.Playingaroundwithshortfastsandsemi-fastswillseldomgivesatisfactoryresults.Fastforresultsorforgetit—thisismyadvice.Thebodycannotundo,inthreetofourdaysoffasting,theresultsofyearsofsurfeitingandofun-Hygienicliving.Themost rapid recoveries are seen in acute “diseases” and three to four days of fasting are seldomenoughinthese.Longerfastsarerequiredinchronicforms.

Ifthepathologicalconditionofthepatientdoesnotdemandorpermitofacompletefast,itshouldnotbeinsistedupon.Thepatientmustbecarefullywatchedandifanydangersignalsarise, thefastshouldbebrokendespitethefactthathungerhasnotreturnedandthetongueisstillfoul.Thesearecasesinwhichitisbettertobesafethansorry.Longfastsareseldomorneveradvisableinadvanced

tuberculosis.Shortfastscanaidbutlittleincancer.Catarrhaltroublesareseldomorneverovercomeduringashortfast.Alongfastisusuallyrequiredinrheumatism,arthritis,andgout.Longstandingdigestivecomplaintsusuallyrequirealongfast.DiabetesandBright’s“disease”callforalongfast,asdomostformsofhearttrouble.Ininflammationofthedigestivetract,suchasgastritis,enteritis,peritonitis, dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid fever, typhus, cholera, typhilitis, appendicitis, etc., it isessential that fasting be continued for several days after fever and other symptoms have subsided.Eveninmildacutedisease,itiswellalwaystocontinuethefastforatleasttwenty-fourhoursafterthesymptomshavesubsided.

XXIV.HungerandAppetiteAppetite

Hungeristhegreatsafeguardofalllife.Itimpelstheorganisminneedoffoodtosearchforandprocurefood.Itmaybesafelyinferredthatif thereisnohunger,thereisnoneedfornourishment.Hunger is a normal expression of a physiological need andwhen it is absent,wemay take it forgrantedthatthephysiologicalneedthatgivesrisetoitisalsoabsent.Inproportiontotheneedofthebodyforfoodwillhungerbepresent,andpreciselyinproportiontoitslackofneedforfoodortoitsinability to digest and assimilate foodwill there be an absence of hunger.When hunger is absent,therefore, no food should be taken. It seems vital, therefore, that we learn to distinguish betweenhungerandothercommonsensations—thatwelearntoproperlyinterpretthelanguageofoursenses.

Thesenseofhungerislittleunderstood,perhapsbecauseithasneverreallybeenstudied.Whatlittleattempthasbeenmadebyphysiologists tostudyhungerhasbeenmadeonsickandailingmenandwomen,withtheresultthatallkindsofmorbidsensationshavebeenandcontinuetobemistakenforhunger,notmerelybythe layman,butbytheexpert,whoispresumedtoknow.Science,atpresent,teachesthathungerisexpressedinthestomach,registeredespeciallyintheupperpartofthestomach,andismanifestedbyvariousdiscomforts.That this isafallacywillbecomereadilyapparentwhen,andiftheymaketheirinvestigationsuponreallyhealthysubjects.

PhysiologistshaveacceptedthetheoryadvancedbyCannonthatthecontractionsofthestomachthatareconcomitantwithwhattheycallhungerpangsaretheimmediatecauseofthesensationofhunger.Theysaythatthesecontractionsofthestomacharedefinitelyassociatedwiththesensationofhungerand aremoremarked, themore intense the sensation.Cannon records the results of his studies ofhungerandhisconclusionsfromthesestudiesinhisbook,BodilyChangesinPain,Hunger,FearandRage.Inthisexcellentbookhesays:

Thesensationofhungerisdifficulttodescribe,butalmosteveryonefromchildhoodhasfeltattimesthatdullacheorgnawingpainreferredtothelowermid-chestregionandtheepigastrium,whichmaytakeimperiouscontrolofhumanactions.AsSternberghaspointedout,hungermaybesufficientlyinsistenttoforcethetakingoffoodwhichissodistastefulthatitnotonlyfailstorouseappetite,butmayevenproducenausea.Thehungrybeinggulpshisfoodwitharush.Thepleasuresofappetitearenot forhim—hewantsquantity rather thanquality, andhewants it atonce(1963,p.270).

Hunger may be described as having a central core and certain more or less variableaccessories. The peculiar dull ache of hungriness, referred to the epigastrium, is usually theorganism’sfirststrongdemandforfood;andwhentheinitialorderisnotobeyed,thesensationis likely to grow into a highlyuncomfortable pangor gnawing, less definitely localized as itbecomesmoreintense.Thismayberegardedastheessentialfeatureofhunger.Besidesthedullache, however, lassitude and drowsiness may appear, or faintness, or violent headache, orirritabilityandrestlessnesssuchthatcontinuouseffortinordinaryaffairsbecomesincreasinglydifficult. That these states differ much with individuals—headache in one and faintness inanother, for example—indicates that they do not constitute the central fact of hunger, but aremoreorlessinconstantaccompaniments.The‘feelingofemptiness,’whichhasbeenmentionedas an important element of the experience, is an inference rather than a distinct datum of

consciousness, and can likewise be eliminated from further consideration. The dull pressingsensationisleft,therefore,astheconstantcharacteristic,thecentralfact,tobeexaminedindetail(1963,pp.271-272).

Itwillbewell,beforegoingdeeperintoourstudyofhunger,toviewbrieflywhatthephysiologistshavetosayaboutthesensationofhungeranditscause.Iquote:“itiswellknownthatduringhungercertaingeneralsubjectivesymptomsarelikelytobeexperienced,suchasafeelingofweaknessandasenseofemptiness,withatendencytoheadacheandsometimesevennauseainpersonswhoarepronetoheadacheasaresultoftoxemicconditions.Headacheislikelytobemorepronouncedorperhapspresentonlyinthemorningbeforethereisanyfoodinthestomach”(Macleod,1922,p.509).

Inthissamestandardtext,theauthordiscusseswhathecalls“hungerduringstarvation,”bywhichhemeans hunger during a period of four days of abstinence from food undergone by Carlson andLuckhardt, “who voluntarily subjected themselves to complete starvation, except for the taking ofwater,forfourdays.”Hesays“duringenforcedstarvationforlongperiodsoftime,itisknownthathealthy individualsat firstexperience intensesensationsofhungerandappetitewhich lasthoweveronlyforafewdays,thenbecomelesspronouncedandfinallyalmostdisappear”(p.510).

OfCarlson’sandLuckhardt’sfourdaysofself-imposed“starvation”hesays“sensationsofhungerwerepresentmoreorlessthroughouttheperiod....Onthelastdayofstarvationaburningsensationreferredtotheepigastriumwasaddedtothatofhunger”(p.510).Theyfoundthattheirsensationsofhungerandappetitebothbecameperceptiblydiminishedonthelastdayof“starvation”(theirfourthdaywithout food) the diminution beingmostmarked in the sensation of appetite. They found thatinsteadofaneagernessforfooddeveloping,theredevelopedonthelastdayadistinctrepugnance,orindifferencetofood.Theyalsodescribeadistinctdepressionandafeelingofweaknessperiod.

They also found that after partaking of food, after their prolonged period of four days of“starvation,”their“hunger”andappetitesensationsrapidlydisappeared.Also,practicallyalloftheirmentaldepressionandagreatpartoftheirweaknessdisappeared.Completerecoveryofstrengthdidnotoccuruntilthesecondorthirddayafterresumptionofeating.Fromthattimeon,“bothmenfeltunusuallywell;indeedtheystatethattheirsenseofwell-beingandclearnessofmindandtheirsenseofgoodhealthandvigorwereasgreatlyimprovedastheywouldhavebeenbyamonth’svacationinthemountains”(p.510).

Theseinvestigators“pointoutthat,sinceotherswhohavestarvedforlongerperiodsoftime[thanfourdays]unanimouslyattesttothefactthat,afterthefirstfewdays,thesensationsofhungerbecomelesspronouncedandfinallyalmostdisappear,theymusthaveexperiencedthemostdistressingperiodduringtheirfourdaysofstarvation.Althoughthehungersensationwasstrongenoughtocausesomediscomfort,itcouldbynomeansbecalledmarkedpainorsuffering,andwasatnotimeofsufficientintensity to interfere seriouslywithwork.Mere starvation cannot therefore be designated as acutesuffering”(pp.510-511).

Howell(1940)tellsusthatthesensationsofhungerandthirstareofsuchavaguecharacterthatitisdifficult toanalyzethembymethodsof introspection.Headds that thesensation thatwecommonlydesignateasappetiteorhunger“isreferredorprojectedmoreorlessdefinitelytotheregionofthestomach.Whenthesensationisnotsatisfiedbytheingestionoffood,itincreasesinintensityandtheindividualexperiencesthepangsofhunger”(p.277).Healsorefersto“hungerpain.”Thesensationofhungerisdescribedas“moreorlessdisagreeable”(p.279).

Best andTaylor (1955) point out that in an investigation of hunger and hunger contractions in ahuman fasting subject, extending over a period of five days, the hunger contractions showed nodiminutions. In fact they actually increased in amplitude, yet the “hunger pangs” and the generalsensationof“hunger”lessenedafterthethirdday.

Whatever may be the true relationship of these gastric contractions to the sense of hunger, thephysiologistsfromCannontoCarlson,haveblunderedinthattheyhaveacceptedcertainpathologicalsymptoms as the sense of hunger. The primary error in all of their reasoning is that of acceptingmorbid sensations for hunger. No genuinely healthy subjects have been used as subjects ofexperiment.Anymanof experience, reading the foregoing,will recognize at once that not one ofthesemenhaseverseenahungrymanandhasmistakenthemorbidsensationsofafood-drunkardforthe normal expressions of life. Real hunger, rather than producing “lassitude and drowsiness,” or“faintness,”producesalertnessandactivityinthesearchforfood.

Mr.HoelzeltellsusthatDr.Carlsonchangedhisviewsconsiderablyabouthungerbeforehisdeath.Unfortunatelyhedoesnotseemtohavepublishedhischangedviews.Itmaybethathischangedviewsweremore in linewithwhat thoseofuswhohavehadgreatestexperiencewithfastingregardasatrueindicationoftheneedforfood.

Inattemptingtoarriveatanunderstandingofwhatthesensationofhunger isandisnot, I thinkitwise to give attention to the observations of thosewho have had greatest experiencewith fasting,especiallywithlongfasts, rather than to theexperimentsof thosewhohaveconducteda fewrathershort fasts in their studyofhunger.Amanwhohascarefullyobservedahundredormore fastsoffortyormoredaysdurationwouldseemtobeinabetterpositiontoevaluatethevarious“feelings”thatare thought to representhunger, than is themanwhohasobservedoneor twofastsof four tosevendaysduration.

I also doubt the validity of studies of “hunger” that aremade on subjectswho swallow balloonswhicharesubsequentlyinflatedwithairandleftinthestomach.Nophysiologistwouldadmitthatthebehavior of a stomach, stretched by the presence of an inflated baloon,would be the same as thebehavior of an empty stomach. The balloonswere part of a contrivance designed to register andmeasurethefrequencyandvigorofthecontractionsofthestomach,buttheycouldtellnothingofthesensationofhunger.Anotherelementassociatedwiththeseexperiments thatvitiates theconclusionswas the constant preoccupation with food and thoughts of hunger, even the constant direction ofattentiontothestomach.Thispreoccupationwiththoughtsoffoodandofthestomachconjuredintoexistence sensations that would not otherwise have developed. The very psychological factorinvolvedalsokeptalivethefictionaldesireforfoodthatissocommon.

Letustrytoarriveatanunderstandingofhungerbyseeingwhatitisnot.Headacheisnothunger.Pain in theabdomen isnothunger.Gnawing in the stomach isnothunger.Lassitude isnothunger.Drowsiness is not hunger. Weakness is not hunger. Faintness is not hunger. A “dull pressingsensation” isnothunger.Restlessness isnothunger. In forty-fouryearsofconductingfasts,duringwhichtimeIhaveconductedthousandsoffaststhathaveextendedoverperiodsthathaverangedfromtwentydaystoninetydays,Ihaveyettoseeasingleindividualinwhompain,headache,drowsiness,a“feeling of emptiness,” etc., accompanied the development of genuine hunger. These observationsshould be worth something. They are certainly more dependable than those that are made onindividualsabstainingfromfoodforthreetofivedays.

Dull ache in the epigastrium, violent headache, irritability, restlessness, lassitude, drowsiness,faintnessandadecreasingcapacityforcontinuouseffort—howliketheeffectsthatfollowthemissingoftheaccustomedcigar,pipe,cupofcoffeeortea,glassofwhiskey,ordoseofmorphinearethesesymptoms!HowdidProf.Cannonmisstheirtruesignificance?The“feelingofemptiness,”andthegnawingthathedescribes,arenotaccompanimentsofhunger.Neitheristhe“dullpressingsensation”whichhehasleftasthe“centralfact”ofhunger,anypartofthephysiologicaldemandforfood,whichwecallhunger.Thesearebothmorbidsensations.“Noperson,”saysPage,“feelsfaintuponpassingameal,orhasagnawingstomach,exceptitbeoccasionedbyanirritatedorundulycongestedstateofthat organ. It is a sure proof of dyspepsia (using this term in its popular sense, as implying theconditionofthatorgan).Strictlyspeakingthetermisasynonymofindigestion”(1883a,p.28).

Apangisashort,sharppain.Carlsonsaysthat“ithasbeendefinitelyestablishedthat‘hungerpangs’arecausedbycontractionsoftheemptystomach.”Thiswas“established”byhavingsubjectsswallowballoonswhichregisteredthefrequencyandintensityofthegastriccontractions.Wecannotdoubtthecontractions:wedoubt thevalidityof the interpretations thathavebeenplacedupon them.“Hungerpangs”wouldseem tobecrampsand thesearecertainlyabnormal.Normalmuscular contractions,evenifvigorous,arenotpainful.Onthecontrary,iftheyareregisteredinconsciousnessatall,andgastriccontractionsarenormallynotsoregistered,theytendtobepleasurable.

Thinkofthirst.Isitpain?Isitaheadache?Isitirritability?Isitfaintness?Isitdrowsiness?IsitanyofthesensationsdescribedbyProf.Cannonasbelongingtohunger?Itisnoneofthesethings.Thirstis felt in themouth and throat and there is adistinct andconsciousdesire forwater.One does notmistakeheadacheforthirst.Thesensationofthirstistoowell-known.

The irritation caused by the passage of the tube through the pharynx and oesophagus and thepresenceoftheinflatedballooninthestomacharesuchastooccasionabnormalbehavior.Tothinkof suchbehavior as physiological is absurd; to expect to study thenormal activities of life in thismannerisfoolish.Thebehaviorofastomachfilledwithadistendedballoonanditsbehaviorundernormalconditionsarenotexactlyidentical.Itcontractsunderbothconditions,butitscontractionsarenot likely to follow the same patterns under the two conditions. Certainly its contractions upon aforeignobjectcannotberegardedasmanifestationsofhunger.Ithasbeendemonstratedbymorethanoneexperimenterthat,afterafewdaysoffastingthestomachcontractionstendtoincreaseratherthanto diminish, although the sensations that are commonly mistaken for hunger lessen and ceasealtogether.Thisshouldrevealthatthe“hungercontractions”arenotthatatall,butmerelytheregularperistalticmovementsofthestomach.

Carlsonalsosaysthatthereisa“generalizedweaknessandrestlessness,referredtonospecialpartofthebody”inhunger.Ingenuinehunger,insteadoftheweaknesscommonlyassociatedwithit,thereisalertnessandoften,ifnotalways,adistinctfeelingofwellbeing.Dr.Claunchsaid“ahealthypersonwillgethungrybeforehegetsweakwhileasickpersonwillgetweakbeforehegetshungry.”Thisrulewasbasedoncloseobservationofhundredsof fastingpeople.Asmanyof thesefastswereofconsiderabledurationandwerenotconfinedtothreeorfourdaysofabstinence,hisconclusionistobetrustedabovethatofthescientistswhoarbitrarilyrestrictthemselvestoinadequateexperiments.

Thosewhofeelagnawinginthestomach,astheydescribeit,shouldknowthatthisisnothungerbuta morbid symptom. Instead of eating to palliate the symptom, they should fast until they arecomfortable.Irritationofthestomach,duetoindigestion,isfrequentlymistakenforadesire toeat.

Thateatingaffordsrelieffromthesesymptomsprovesthattheywerehungerinthesamewaythatashotofmorphineprovesthatthepainsoftheaddictaregenuinedemandsformorphine.

Dr. Susanna W. Dodds had quite an extensive experience with fasting and her observations areworthyofconsideration.Shesaysthat“thesenseofall-goneness in thesecases isnot fromlackofnutrientmaterial, but owing to the absence of the habitual stimulus” (1883, p. 87). If an orthodoxwriterwere considering these same symptoms in dealingwith drug addiction, hewould call them“withdrawalsymptoms.”Inthecaseofthesupposedlyhungryperson,theyarecommonlyduetothewithdrawalofsalt,pepperandothercondiments,andirritantsorstimulantsusuallytakenwithfood.Why have physiologists consistently refused to consider the observations of those who have hadgreatest opportunity to observe the sensation and evidences of hunger? Why should headache beconsidered hunger? Why is it ever associated with hunger? It is true that eating will sometimes“relieve”aheadache, justas theaccustomedcupofcoffeewilldothesame.In thesecases, is it thefoodorthedrugthatistakenwiththefoodthat“relieves”theache?Solongaswerefusetoseparateourfoodsfromourdrugs,howcanweknowwhetherwearesufferingthesymptomsof thediseasecalledhungerorthewithdrawalsymptomsofapoisondisease—addiction?Whyshallwecontinuetodefineanormalsensationofthelivingorganismintermsofsymptomsofpathology?

Carringtonreferredtothesesymptomsas“habithunger,”Deweyas“hungerofdisease,”Oswaldas“poisonhunger.”Astheydonotrepresenthungeratall,Iseenoreasontodescribesuchsensationsashungerofanykind.Astheyarealwaysabnormal,justasmuchsoasaretheallegedcravingsof themorphineaddictforhiscustomarynarcotic,andaremostmarkedinthoseindividualswhosestomachhasbeenhabituallysubjectedtotheexcitementandirritationoccasionedbycondiments,spices,etc.,theyshouldberecognizedforwhattheyare—symptomsofdisease.Thestomach,suddenlydeprivedof its regular occasions for excitement, by the fast,manifests the same signs of distress as do thenervesofthetobaccoaddictwhenthesearedeprivedoftheiraccustomednarcotic.

It is true that eating will allay these sensations, just as a shot of morphine will “relieve” themorphine addict, and there is just asmuch sense in taking food in the first instance as there is intakingthemorphine in the last.Page(1883b)says:“Thefact that themealaffords immediate reliefarguesnothingagainst thisposition; it is the the congestion. It forms a poultice, so to say, for thecongestedmucousmembraneofthestomach;butunfortunatelyitcannot,aswhenappliedexternallyuponathrobbingsorethumb,forexample,beremovedwhenitbecomesdry”(p.202).

Whyshouldmorbidappetitesbeindulged?Isthereanymorereasonforindulgingamorbidappetiteforfoodthanthere isfor indulgingamorbidappetite forclayor filth?Ifwerefuse to indulge themorbid“craving” for glass, stones, bullets, pins, earth, etc., why shallwe not restrain themorbidappetiteforbread,beef,candy,fruits,etc.?Inmanyofthesecasesseverallargemealsadayareeatenandstillthepossessorsofsuchappetitesarenotsatisfied.

“False hunger,” “habit hunger,” “poison hunger” and similar phrases are misnomers. The termhungershouldbe reserved for thenormaldemand for foodandotherandmoreappropriate termsshouldbeemployedtodesignatethoseabnormalsensationsthatarecommonlymistakenforhungerandforthosesensationsofdiscomfortanduneasethataremistakenforacallforsomepoisonthatoneisaccustomedtotaking.Itshouldbeknownthatthereisnosuchthingasapoisonhungeroracravingforpoison.

Dr.Cannoniswrongagaininassertingthatthehungrypersongulpshisfood,orthatheseeksfor

quantity rather than quality. Evidently he carried out his researches on a group of neurotics,dyspepticsandfooddrunkards.Heneverpermittedanyofthemtogowithoutfoodlongenoughforfulladjustmenttofollow.Thehungryperson,atthecompletionofalongfast,commonlyfindsthathalfaglassoffruitjuiceisallthathewants.Ifheisgiventhisquantityofjuiceeveryhourduringtheday,hemayfindthatbyaboutfouro’clockintheafternoon,hehashadallthefoodhedesires.Heiscontent towaituntil thenextday to takemore.Dr.Oswaldwrote:“Onlynatural (normal) appetiteshavenatural(normal)limits,”andnowhereisthismoretruethaninthetrulyhungryperson.

Hunger has been said to be selective rather than indiscriminate, frequently demanding a specificfoodoraspecifictypeoffood.This,itseemstome,betterdescribesthecharacteristicofhunger,thanCannon’sdescription.Ontheotherhand,unlikeappetite,hunger isnot finicky,but issatisfiedwithplainfareandreadilyacceptsanotherfoodiftheonedesiredisnotavailable.

Avastexperiencewithfastinghastaughtusthatthemorbidsensationsthataremistakenforhungerarelikelytobemostsevereinthediseased,especiallyinthosewithdiseaseofthestomach.Weknow,also,thatthesesensationssoonsubsideandceasealtogetherwhenonefasts.Afterafewdaysperfectcomfort isexperienced.Thisshouldnotbeso if theywere indicationsofagenuineneed for food.Whenitissaidthathungerceasesafterafewdaysoffasting,itisnothungerthatismeantatall;butthesymptomsofdiseasethataremistakenforhunger.Idoubtthatgenuinehungerwouldceaseuponafast.

Beingravenousisnoindicationthat theeatercandigestwhathedecline inweight.Manyof thesecasesputonweightwhentheyreducetheamountoffoodtheyeat.Howoftendoweseepatientswhoarealwayseatingandwhocomplainthattheyare“alwayshungry.”Theyeatseveraltimesadayandthreeormore timesatnight,but theyneverseemtogetenoughtoeat.Ofcourse, thesepeopleareneverhungry;theyarefooddrunkardswhoemployfoodaspalliation.Eatingtemporarily“relieves”theirgastricandnervousdistress.Theyaremerelyextremecasesofwhatphysiologistsmistakeforhunger. There are wasting “diseases” in which there is an insatiable appetite, the craving beingconstant,nomatterhowmuchfoodthepatienteats.Thesepeopleeatdespitethefactthattheyhavenoabilitytodigestandassimilate thefoodeaten. Indeed, theirconstanteatinghelps toperpetuate theirfunctionalandstructuralimpairmentandaidsinkeepingthememaciated.

Neither the all-gone, faint feeling, nor the sensationof gnawing in the stomach, nor a feeling ofemptiness, nor ofweakness, nor a headache, nor any othermorbid symptom is hunger.These aremorbid sensations representing gastric irritation, a neurosis, gastric ulcer, indigestion, gastricinflammation, reaction fromwithdrawal of stimulation, etc., rather than hunger. That faint sinkingfeeling at the pit of the stomach,with amorbid “craving” for something to eat, is due to chronicinflammationoftheliningmembraneofthestomach.Suchsymptomsofgnawingandfaintnessandall-gonenessareseen in theirheight incasesofacutegastritisaswellas ingastriculcer. Indeed,abowelmovementmayinducethemincasesofcolitis.Thereisnoendtothesemorbidsensationsthataremistakenforhunger,althoughthesurestandspeediestmeansofgettingridofthemistofast.Itissignificantinthisconnectionthattheseabnormalsensationsarestrongestinthoseofgrosshabits,inthosewhohavebeenaccustomedtohighly“stimulating”viands,inthoseofintemperatehabitsandintheobese.Intheneurotic,also,theyarelikelytobesevere.Thehealthyperson,thepersonofmoremoderatehabits,thevegetarian,etc.,isnottroubledwithsuchsensationsanddiscomforts.Ifleftalonethese morbid sensations sooner or later pass away, but if palliated by eating or by taking morecondimentsorbydrink,theyarebuttemporarilysmothered.Assoonasthestomachisagainempty

offood,theyarebackagain,perhapswithrenewedintensity.

Graham(1883)says:“Thispeculiarconditionofthestomach[thefeelingofabnormalhunger]willpassawaymuchsoonerandwithmuchlessuncomfortablenessoffeelinginthepurevegetable-eaterofregularhabits,whentheordinarymealisomitted,thanintheflesheater;andhewhomakesafreeuseofstimulatingcondimentswithhisfood,experiencesstillmoreinconvenienceanddistressatthelossofameal, thanhewhoeats flesh simplyandplainlyprepared.Hence thepurevegetable-eaterlosesamealwithgreatindifference,faststwenty-fourhourswithlittleinconvenienceordiminutionofstrength,andgoeswithoutfoodseveraldaysinsuccessionwithoutsufferingsuffersmuchmorefromfasting,andexperiencesamorerapiddeclineofhismuscularpower;andhewhoseasonshisfoodhighlywithstimulatingcondiments,feelsthelossofasingledayseverely;afastoftwenty-fourhoursalmostunmanshim;andthreeorfourdays’abstinencefromfoodcompletelyprostrateshim,ifheiscutofffromallstimulantsaswellasaliment”(p.559).

There is another theory thathunger isdue to theaccumulationofgastric juice in the stomach. InfaststhatIhaveundergone,Ihaveexperiencedanumberofinstancesinwhichconsiderablequantitiesofhighlyacidgastricjuicehavebeenregurgitatedfromthestomach,butnofeelingofhungerwaspresent.Inafewcasesinpatientstherehasbeenstomachdiscomfortuntiltheeructationsoftheacidgastric contents have brought relief, but no desire for food was complained of. Indeed, pain isincompatiblewithhunger.

Whatever may be the ultimate interpretations placed upon the experimental findings of Cannon,Carlsonandothers,theywillnot,Iamsure,bemistakenfortrueindexestothebody’sneedforfood.Neither gastric acidity nor gastric contractions, but blood and cellular depletion, give rise to thesensationofhunger.

Asmostmen andwomen, including scientists, declare that hunger is always felt in the stomach,therefore,the“stomachhunger”mustbenormal,ithasbeenarguedthattotaketheviewthatnormalhungerismanifestedinthemouthandthroat,wemustbepreparedtotakethepositionthatmostmenandwomenhaveneverexperiencednormalhungersinceinfancy.Thisispreciselywhatwecontend.Mr.Carringtonsays:“mostpersonshaveneverexperiencednormalhunger inall their lives!Theirappetiteand tastearepervertedbyoverfeeding in infancy,andhaveneverhadachance tobecomenormal during the whole course of their lives—owing to the overfeeding being continued eversince.”Deweypointedoutthatwithmanypeoplethe“evilwork”ofinducingdiseasebeganwiththeveryfirstmealwhichwasforceduponthembythemotherornursebeforetheywerereadyforit.Astheforcingprocesswascontinued,hesays“induetimetroublebegan,”and,thereafter,everyoutcryofnaturewasinterpretedasasignalofhunger.”Hesaysthatthemealsoftheinfant“allthroughthefirstyearoflifeareregulatedbythetunesofcrying.”Happily,thesofrequentfeedingofinfantsisnotas common today as when Dr. Dewey wrote these lines, but it is still all too true that gastricimpairmentandgastricdistressarebuiltininfancybywrongfeeding.

Peopledonotknowthesensationofhungerbecausetheyhaveneverexperiencedit.Atleastgenuinehungerisarareexperienceamongpresent-dayAmericans.Eventhepoorcommonlyovereatanddosodayafterday,although theyare likely toeat foods thatdonotadequatelymeet theirneeds.Thepracticesoffeedingbytheclock,startedatbirth,ofstuffingbabiesatallhoursofthedayandnight,offeedingchildrenbetweenmeals,apracticethattendstobekeptupthroughoutlife,guaranteesthatthese young people shall never experience genuine hunger. Appetite? Yes. They have all kinds of

appetites,buthungerisforeigntothem.Theaverageperson,neverhavingexperiencedtruehungerandhavingsufferedmanydiscomfortsintheregionofthestomach,willobjectthathungerisalwaysfelt inthestomach.Butif,frominfancy,thesepeoplehaveneverexperiencedgenuinehunger,howcantheyknowthatwhattheymistakeforhungerhasanyrelationtohungeratall?

Hungeristhelanguageofthebodycallingformaterials—food.Thiscallismadenecessarybythedepletion of the blood ofmaterials. The blood, in circulating through the capillaries, gives up itsmaterials to the tissues, thus depleting it of supplies.Why should this call for food be painful oruncomfortable?Why shouldweattempt todefineordescribehunger in termsof pathology?Evenphysiologistshaveacceptedthepopularnotionthathungerisadisagreeablesensation,onevergingonactualsuffering.

Inmanyquartersthereisfearofhunger.Thereisthebeliefthathungerisanevil.Nothunger,butthe lackofmeansofgratifying itsdemands, is theevil.Hunger isasnormalandas serviceableasthirst,tiredness,sleepinessandallothersensationsbywhichthebodymakesknownitsneeds.Itisoneofthegreatprotectorsofthewelfareofthebody,notoneoflife’senemies.Alackoffoodmayprovetobeanevil,thewayinwhichthebodymakesitsneedforfoodknowniscertainlynotevil.

Contrary to the prevailing view, I must insist that real hunger is a genuinely pleasant, even anexquisitesensation,onethatisworthexperiencingforitsownsake.Howdowedescribesensations?Weknowthathungerisfeltinthemouth,throat,noseandtosomeextentinthewholebody,andthatthere is no pain or suffering associatedwith it.We know, on the contrary, that suffering tends torepress thedesire for foodand tomakedigestion impossible. In realhunger there isadistinctandconsciousdesireforfood.Theconditionisoneofcomfort,notofdiscomfortandsuffering.Thereisa“watering”ofthemouth(flowofsaliva)andoftenadistinctdesireforaparticularfood.Hungerisalocalizedsensationandisnotinthestomach.Thehealthypersonisnotconsciousofanysensationsinoraboutthestomachwhenhungry.

As everyonewho has had an extensive experiencewith fasting knows, true hunger is felt in themouthandthroatandnoseandisrelatedtothesensesoftasteandsmell.Itisindicatedbyawateringof themouth for plain food—even for a crust of dry bread.Also, almost everybody knows frompersonalexperiencethegnawingsensationorothersensationthatiscommonlythoughtofashungerusuallycomesonatmealtime,orwhenthestomachisempty,andsubsidesafteranhourortwo,ifnofood is taken. As we see in thousands of cases of fasting, these morbid sensations subside andcompletelyceaseaftertwoorthreedaysoffasting,nottorecurafterthefastisbroken.

For over a hundred years Shew, Graham, Trall, Page, Dewey, Oswald, Haskell, Macfadden,Carrington,Eales,Tilden,Weger,Claunch,fasting,havebeencallingattentiontothefactthathangerisamouthandthroatsensatonratherthanastomachsensaton,buttheprofessionalphysiologistshavepersistedinignoringtheirworkandtheirtestimonyandhaveacceptedpopularsuperstitionsaboutthesensation of hunger and have “confirmed” these by limited experiments on sickmen andwomen.Cannon,Pavlov,Carlson,etc.,haveallbasedtheirconclusionsoninadequatedataandonexperimentsthataretooshorttobeconclusive.

Certainlyifoneiseverhungry,heissoattheconclusionofalongfast.Fastingexpertsinsistthathungerisinvariablymanifestedattheconclusionofalongfast, likethirst, inthemouthandthroat.Weemploy this factasacompleteandsatisfactory testof thesensationsobservedduringa fast—itrevealswhetherit is truehungerormorbidsensations.Neverunderanycircumstancesfollowinga

fast,ishungerfeltinthestomach.Alwaysitismanifestedinthemouthandthroatandalwaysthereisanentireabsenceofdistressorofmorbidsensationsassociatedwiththestomach.

AppetiteOneofthemostfrequentdieteticerrorsisthatofmistakingappetiteforhunger.Appetiteisnomore

hungerthansexualpassionislove.Grahammadeasharpdistinctionbetweenan“appetite”whichismerely the expression of habit (the habit of eating at certain times) and “that natural and healthyhungerwhichisaphysiologicalmanifestationoftherealalimentarywantsofthebody”andassertedthatit“isoftheutmostimportancethatthisdistinctionshouldeverbekeptinview,”whenconsideringman’sdietaryhabits.Appetite,whichissomuchamatterofhabit,hassometimesbeenreferredtoas“habit-hunger,”butIdonotthinktheinclusionofthewordhungerinthiscompoundtermiscorrect.Ashasbeenpreviouslypointedout,habitmaybemorbid,truehungerneveris.Bulimia,oranox-likeappetite, is seen inanumberof statesofdisease,but ithasnomore relation to truehunger thanaheadachehastotheappreciationofmusic.

Fletcher(1903)saysthatthe“markofdistinction”thatdifferentiatesrealhungerfromappetiteisthe“ ‘wateringof themouth’ for someparticular thing” (p. 107).Appetite is indiscriminate andoftenfinicky.“Naturalhunger isnever inahurry,”declaresCarrington.Appetite isoften inabighurry.Pavlov showed that appetite for food, which cannot be hunger, may be induced by swallowing amouthfulofwine.Hesaysthatatthemomentthewinereachedthestomach,he“perceivedtheonsetofavery strongappetite.”Whathemistook for ademand for foodwas irritationof the stomach.HemadethesamemistakeherethatCannonmadeinmistakingsimilarirritationforhunger.

XXV.Contra-IndicationsofFastingThedangersoffastingaresoslightastobealmostnegligibleorinsignificant.WhenPurinton(1906)declaredthat“anextremeFast—sayfromtwentytofortydays,isjustasapttowreckamanasitistorescuehim.. . .[unless]itbeproperlyconductedandcompleted,”(p.2),heplainlyhad inmind themanymistakesthattheignorantandinexperiencedcanandoftendomake,bothduringthefastandinbreaking the fast. Books on fasting list a number of contra-indications to fasting. These needclarification.Theyfollow:

(1) Fear of the fast on the part of the patient: Fearmay killwhere the fastwould be of distinctbenefit.Iffearofthefastcanbeovercomethereisnoreasonwhyitshouldnotbeinstituted.

(2)Extremeemaciation:Insuchcasesalongfastisimpossible.Ashortfastofonetothreedaysmaybefoundbeneficial,oraseriesofsuchshortfastswithlongerperiodsofproperfeedinginterveningmaybefoundadvisable.

InextremelyemaciatedpatientsIdonotfavorpushingthefasttothereturnofhunger,butfavoraprocessof careful nursingwithoneormore short fasts.Whereas,Carrington points out that suchpatientsmaydie before the return of hunger, I am convinced from experience, thatwith a carefulnursingprogramandbutlimitedfasting,thesepatientsmayberestoredtohealthinmanycasesthatwouldotherwisedie. Ihave repeatedly fastedsuchcases,even forasmuchas twenty-twodaysat atime;alwayswithdistinctbenefit.Indeed,thefastisoftentheonlythingthatwillenablethesecasestoovercometheiremaciation.

(3) Incasesofextremeweaknessorofextremedegeneration:Eveninmanysuchcasesaseriesofshort fasts, asmentioned before,may often be beneficial. In the latter stages of consumption andcancer,thefastcanbeofnovalueexcepttorelievethepatient’ssuffering.Itmayprolonglifeafewdays.Fastingisofdistinctbenefitintheearlierstagesofbothoftheseconditions,however.

Greatweaknessisnotalwaysadangersignal;ratheritmayoftenprovetobea“falsealarm.”Moreoften than otherwise, weakness signifies poisoning or a crisis. It is essential that the weakness beconsideredinunionwithallothersymptomspresent.Indeed,thisistrueofallthedangersignals.Nooneofthem,consideredbyitself,constitutesanevidenceofrealdanger.Carringtonregardsperiodsofgreatweaknessthatareoftenseeninfastingpatientsascrises,orperiodsofgreatphysiologicalchangegoingon in thebody.He says that “the fact that proves conclusively that any such unusualsymptoms,observedduringthisperiod,denoteabeneficialreparativeprocess,andnotanyharmfulordangerousdecreaseoracceleration,due to lackofperfectcontrolby thecardiacnerve.” In thisconnectionImayaddthatIhaveneverseenadeathfrom“heartfailure”duringafast,althoughIhaveseenmanycrippledheartsmakecompleterecoveryduringafast.Prostrationandweaknessarepartoftheprocesswecalldisease,andarenotduetothelackoftwoorthreemeals.Henceitisthat,asthepatientreturnstonormal,strengthreturnsevenwhennofoodhasbeeneatenordigested.Ithasbeenpointedoutintheprecedingpagesthatgreatweaknessisnotnecessarilyabartofasting;thatitisinsuchcasesthatweoftenseethegreatestgainsinstrength.

(4)Incasesofinactivekidneysaccompaniedbyobesity:Insuchcasesitissaidthatthetissuesmaybebrokendownfasterthanthekidneysareabletoeliminatethem.ThisIdoubt.Iknowofnoreasonwhythetissuesofthebodyshouldbeusedupfasteratthistimethanatothertimes.Itistruethatthere

isincreasedeliminationduringthefastbutthisisnotsogreatastoconstituteagreatburdenuponthekidneys.IhaverepeatedlyfastedcasesofBright’s“disease”andcasesofkidneystone,kidneyabscessandpyelitiswithdistinctbenefitinallsuchcases.

(5) In marked “deficiency diseases”: Some advocates of fasting do not advise fasting in theseconditions;buthold that,since theyaredueto fooddeficiencies, thesepatientsneedachangeddietratherthanafast.Itwasshowninpreviouspagesthatfastingisdistinctlybeneficialinrickets,anemiaandotherdeficiencies,andthatafailingappetiteintheseconditionsplainlyindicatestheneedforabrieffast.Itshouldalsonotbeoverlookedthatinalldeficienciestherearetoxicstatesthatmustbeovercomebeforethebestofdietscandoitsperfectwork.Deficiencyisnotalwaysduetofaultydiet.Itmaybeduetoimpairednutritivemachineryandfunctionfromavarietyofcauses.Physiologicalrestisfrequentlythefirstessentialofrecoveryinsuchcases.

(6)DifficultBreathing: This symptom is sometimes seen in two types of cases; namely, nervouscasesandcasesofheart impairment. Innervous cases it constitutesnowarningofdanger. Inheartcases,itshouldcauseacarefulwatchingofheartaction.Shouldthisshowsignsofweakening,thefastshouldbeterminatedatonce.

Ihavefastedmanycases,withnothingbutbenefit,whichwouldnothavebeenplacedonafastbyothers who employ this measure. I have continued fasts in cases where others would havediscontinued theprocess,with no development in any case of any of the troubles or evils againstwhichwearesofrequentlywarned.IhavefastedcasesformorethantwentydayswhowereadvisedbyDr.Hazzardnot to fastmore than fivedays. Ihave fastedcases thatDr.Hazzardhadpreviouslyplacedonlemonjuiceandhoneyratherthanonafast.Fearoflegalconsequences,shouldsomethinggowrong,preventsmanyadvocatesoffastingfromusingittoitsgreatestadvantage.

There are cases inwhich it iswell to proceed cautiously and inwhich the inexperienced personshouid not attempt to conduct a fast; but in general there is seldom any such thing as a contra-indicationtofasting,justasthereisseldomorneveracontra-indicationtoanyotherformofrest.

XXVI.FastinginSpecialPeriodsandConditionsofLifeWhyFastWhenToFastFastingByVegetariansFastingInInfancyAndChildhoodFastingInOldAgeFastingDuringPregnancyFastingDuringLactationFastingByTheEmaciatedFastingInDeficiencies

Specialperiodsoflifeandcertainconditionsofthebodyareoftenregardedasbarstofasting,evenbythosewhoprofessabeliefinthebeneficialefficacyofthepractice.Letusconsiderafewofthem.Butfirstletusconsider:

WhyFastAtemporaryexpedientofthisnaturemustberecognizedasafundamentalandradicalprocessthatis

olderthananyothermodeofcaringforthesickorganism,foritisemployedontheplaneofinstinctandhasbeensoemployedsincelifewasfirstintroducedupontheearth.Itishardlyconceivablethatbothanimalandhumaninstinctwouldleadto thecontinuedadoptionof theprocess throughout theagesifitfailedtomeetsomeurgentneedintheorganismofthesick.Itmaybesaid,withDr.RobertWalter,thatfasting“liberatesvitality(energy)tobeusedintheprocessofpurification”andthatthisenergy,inhealth,would“otherwisebeusedintheprocessofappropriatingfoodmaterials.”Hesaidofthefastthatit“isexceedinglybeneficialinthegreatmajorityofdiseases.Indeed,inmanyofthemthecapacitytoappropriatefoodisentirelydestroyed,theverythoughtofitbecomingrepugnant totheindividual.”

WhenToFastI takethepositionthat thetimetofast iswhenit isneeded. Iamofthedecidedopinion thatdelay

paysnodividends;that,duetothefactthat theprogressivedevelopmentofpathologicalchanges inthe structures of the bodywith the consequent impairment of its functions does not cease until itscausehasbeencompletelyandthoroughlyremoved,puttingoffthetimeforafastonlyinvitesaddedtroublesandmakesalongerfastnecessary,ifindeed,itdoesnotmakethefastfutile.Idonotbelievethatanyconditionofimpairedhealthshouldbetoleratedandpermittedtobecomegreater.Nowisthetimetobegintheworkofrestoringgoodhealth;notnextweek,nextsummer,ornextyear.

There has been much discussion of what time of year is best in which to fast. Purinton (1906)advisesallprospectivefastersto“choosesummerorspringfortheconquestfast”(p.104),butwhileIagreewithhimthatwarmweatheris,onthewhole,thebesttimeforafast,Iadvisethatnosuffererdelayaneeded fastuntil springor summer,but to take itwhenneeded.AsMacfaddenandOswald(1900) say: “Winter is not the worst time for a fast, it may even be the best, to judge from thephenomenaofhibernation”(p.65).LouisKuhnecalledattentiontothefactthatmanyanimalseatfarlessinwinterthaninsummer.Theoretically,at least, lessfoodisrequiredtomaintainbodyheat insummerthaninwinter;butthewinterfasterwhoiskeptwarmmayfastwiththegreatestofease.

IagreewithCarringtonthatitiseasiertofastinsummerthaninwinter.Thesenseofchillinessthat

the faster experiences is greater in winter than it is in the warm months. Although this sense ofchillinessdoesnotcorrespondwiththerealcoldof theoutsideorroomtemperatureand,curiouslyenough, a thermometerwill often show that the temperature of the faster is one ormore degreeshigherthanbeforeheundertookthefast,inspiteofthefactthathehasthefeelingofbeingcold.This,inmyopinion,shouldnotdeterthemanorwomanwhoneedsafastfromtakingoneatanyseasonoftheyear.Afastshouldnotbedelayedbecauseofsomeslightdiscomfort.Ifthefasteriskeptinbed,asheshouldbe,withahotjugtohisfeet,thefeelingofcoldnessiseasilycontrolled.

FastingByVegetariansCertainadvocatesofflesheating,particularlyonewholecturesontheradioandgivesawayhamsas

ameansofsecuringanaudience,cautionsvegetariansagainstfasting.Theytellvegetariansthattheyare the last who should fast. Why? Because fasting is “more likely to cause serious acidosis invegetariansandotherswithlowproteinreserves.Dietshighinproteinofpoorqualitymaybemoreharmfulthanlowproteindietswhichprovidetheessentialaminoacidsingoodproportions.”

Thisobjection to fastingbyvegetarians isnotbasedonexperienceandobservation,but ispurelytheoretical.Thisisoneofthoseinstanceswhere“thefactsofexperiencesilencethevoiceoftheory.”It isnotonly true thatvegetariansstand fastingbetter thanheavyflesheaters, it isequally true thatlightmeateatersstandfastingbetterthanheavyconsumersofflesh.EveryadvocateoffastingfromJennings,GrahamandTralltothepresentisinagreementonthis.

Trall said of his observations in conducting his establishment, “containingmore than a hundredinmatesontheaverage,abouthalfofwhomwereeithervegetarianinprinciple,orwererestrictedtoan exclusivelyvegetable diet by special prescription, that such patients can bear fasting for a timemuch better than the flesh eaters; and they usually suffer but little, in comparisonwith thosewhoenjoyedamixeddiet, fromthecravingsensationof the stomach,on theapproachof thedinnerorsupperhour.TothisruleIhaveneverknownoneexception.”

FastingInInfancyAndChildhoodReplyingtothequestion:maybabiesbesafelytreatedbyfasting,butitisunsafenottotreatthemby

thismeans,whentheybecomeunwell.”Fortunately,fewinfantsrequiremorethantwotothreedaysoffasting.Ihavehadbutfewcasesthatrequiredanextendedfast.Whennaturecutsofftheappetiteoftheinfant,itshouldbepermittedtofastuntilthereisagainademandforfood.Ifthereispain,feverorinflammation,nofoodshouldbegiven.Infantsmayfastfordayswithoutharm.Theyloseweightrapidlyandregainitequallyso.Theyseldomhavetofastaslongasanadult.Ihaveneverhesitatedtopermitasickinfanttofast,andIhaveyettoseeoneharmedbyit.Thesickchildthatisnotfedrestspeacefullyandsleepsmostofthetime.Parentsdonotrealizehowmuchunnecessarysufferingtheycausetheirfeverishchildrenandhowmuchavoidableanxietytheycausethemselvesbyfeedingthemwhensick.

Complicationsresultalmostwhollyfromfeedinganddrugging.Theyalmostneverdevelopincasesthatarenotfedandnotdrugged.Iffastingisinstitutedattheveryoutsetofwhoopingcoughthechildmayneverwhoop.Vomitingdoesnotoccurinwhoopingcoughwhennofoodisgiven.Scarletfeverendsinfourtofivedaysandnocomplicationsdevelop.Measles,pneumonia,diphtheria,small-pox,etc., soon end if no food is given. I have fasted numerous children and babies, in both acute andchronicdiseases(noinfantsinchronicdisease)anditismyobservationthat theybearfastingwell,often making much less fuss about it than adults. It has been noted by all fasting advocates thatchildrenrarelyrequireaslongafastasanadultsufferingwiththesamedisease.Beingyoung,they

havegreaterrecuperativepower,theyarelesstoxic,andtheirorgansarecommonlylessdamaged.

Babiesandchildrenarehabituallyover-fed. Indeed,over-feeding isperhaps, thegreatestcurseofinfantandchildlife.Asover-feedingbuildsdiseaseinbabies,ithelpstoaccountforagreatamountofsicknessamongthemandformanyotherwiseavoidabledeaths.Certainlyourchildrenshouldbeashealthyandvigorousastheyoungofotherspecies,butsuchisnottrue.Ourchildrenarefedmore,ontheassumptionthat,astheyaregrowing,theyneedmuchfoodtosupplythematerialsofgrowth.How absurd are our feeding practices, based on this assumption,may be demonstrated by a littlemathematics.Achildgrowing twelvepoundsayeargrowsbuthalfanounceaday,or less,andhecertainlyneedsbutlittleextrafoodwithwhichtoprovidethisincreaseingrowth.

Whentheoverfedchildhasbecomesicknatureindicatesineverypossiblemannerthatfoodisnotdesired.Thepain,fever,drymouthandtongue,coatedtongue,foulbreath, lackofdesireforfood,nausea,vomiting,andotherevidencesthatdigestionisimpossible,indicateinthestrongestpossiblemanner that no food should be urged upon the baby or child. Infants and children recover morerapidlywhilefastingthandoadultsanddonotrequiretofastsolong.Thereshouldbenohesitancyinwithholdingfooduntiltheyareagainreadytotakeit.Tofeedthemunderconditionsofacutediseaseisnottonourishthem.

“In childhood,” says Dr. Oswald, “chronic dyspepsia is nearly always the effect of chronicmedication. Indigestion is not an hereditary complaint. A dietetic sin per excessum, a quantitativesurfeitwithsweetmeatsandpastry,mayderangethedigestiveprocessforafewhoursorso,butthetroublepassesbywiththeholiday.Lockuptheshort-cakes,administeraglassofcoldwater,and,mylifeforyours,thatonMondaymorningthelittlegluttonwillbereadytoclimbthesteepesthillinthecounty.Butstuffhimwithliver-pills,drenchhimwithcough-syrup,andparegoric,andinamonthortwohewillnotbeabletosatisfythecravingsoftheinnerboywithout‘assistingNature’withapatentstimulant”(1883a,pp.307-308).

Where their troubles are light and there is still somedemand for food theywill not fastwithoutconsiderable fuss. In such cases fruit juices or vegetable juices (raw or broths)may be permittedthem.AtoneperiodIattemptedtousedilutedmolk(50-50)insteadofthesejuices,butitwasneversatisfactory. A short fast when baby is irritable, “out-of-sorts,” or feverish, instead of the usualfeedinganddrugging,willsavemuchsufferingandpreventsmalldiscomfortsfromdevelopingintomoreformidablebonfires.

Ithasbeen fullydemonstrated that repeatedshort fasts,ofone to threedays, ingrowinganimals,whenrecoveryiscompletebetweenfasts,producebettergrowthandgreaterstrength.Childrenarenotharmedbyfasting,butonlybystarvation.

FastingInOldAgeWeoftenmeetwiththeobjectionthatapatientistoooldtofast.Ihaveconductedanumberoffasts

inpatientsfromseventyyearstoovereighty-fiveyearsofageandIhavefoundnoreasontoconsideragedpersonstobeinaclassbythemselves.Adultanimalsofanyspecies,includingHomoSapiens,can fast much longer than the young of the same species. Old people actually stand fasting best.Growingchildrenstand it least, although theystand itwell.Patientsdonotget tooold to fast. Theregeneratingeffectsoffastingareespeciallyapparentintheold.

I have conducted numerous fasts in bothmen andwomenwhose ages ranged from sixty-five to

eighty-five.Many of these patients have had long fasts of from thirty to over forty days. Deweyreportedseveralcasesofelderlypeoplewhofastedunderhiscarewithpositivebenefit.Carringtonsaysthathehasobservedseveralsuchcases.IagreewithCarringtonwhenhesays:“Notwithstanding,Ishouldrecommendfastingwithgreatcaution inpersonsover sixtyyearsofage,”butnot for thesame reasonshe adduces. I donot hesitate toplaceoldpeopleupona fast, but Iwatch themmoreclosely than I do younger people, not because they do not stand fastingwell, but because they areoftenpossessedofhiddenweaknessesthatrenderitinadvisabletocarrythefasttogreatlength.

FastingDuringPregnancyIn another volume we have called attention to the fact that chronic pregnancy. Great changes,

developmental changes akin to those of puberty and adolescence, take place in a woman’s bodyduringpregnancy.Weakhearts,weak lungs,weakkidneys,weaknervoussystemsare strengthened.Glands long dormant awaken to activity. Her whole body undergoes a strengthening, renovatingprocess.

This is the meaning of the nausea, vomiting (“morning sickness”), lack of appetite and othersymptomsthatsomanywomenexperienceduringtheearlyweeksofpregnancy.Nowomaningoodhealth,who is living sensibly, ever has the slightest trace of these symptoms.Nowomanwho hasundergoneathoroughrenovationjustpriortobecomingpregnant,andwholivessensiblyduringthistime,everexperiencesthese“symptomsofpregnancy.”

Theyarenotsymptomsofpregnancy.Theyaresymptomsofrenovation.Theyindicatethatnatureisundertakingahousecleaning,thatthebodyistobeputintoitsbestshapepreparatorytopregnancyandparturition.Iftheyareheededallwillbewell.Iftheyarenotheeded,naturewillusuallysucceedinherworkinspiteofoppositionandinterference.Sometimesshefails.Alwayshersuccessismorecompleteandmoresatisfactoryifwecooperatewithher.

The development of these symptoms is a sure sign that a housecleaning is necessary. Whenanorexia,nauseaandvomitingdevelop,absolutelynofoodbutwatershouldbetakenuntilthesehavedisapappearedandthereisadistinctcallforfood.Thereshouldbenofearsaboutfasting.Youmaybesure that these symptomswill endandnaturewill call for foodas soonasher renovatingwork iscompletedandlongbefore therehasbeenanydamagetomotherorfetus.Afast is justwhatshe iscallingforintheplainestpossiblemanner,andafastsheusuallygetsevenifshehastokeepthrowingthefoodbackintothewoman’sfaceasoftenassheeatsitfordays.Restiscalledforasloudlyasthefastandshouldbetaken.

If thisrenovatingworkispermittedfullswayandthewomanwilleatand livesensiblyafterward,therewillbenonecessityforanotherfastduringpregnancy.Shewillcontinueingoodhealth.Butifshe “eats for two” (six), and lives the conventional, unhygienic life, she will suffer from a sourstomach, gas, dizziness, headaches, constipation and frequentlymore serious difficulties. Shemaydevelopanacute“disease.”Insuchacasethehygieneofthediseaseisthesameasitwouldbewereittodevelopinanyotherperiodoflife.Thepregnantwomanshouldnothesitatetofastforaslongasnatureindicates,ifsheissufferingwithanacuteeliminatingcrisis.Letherbeassuredthattodosowillshortenherperiodofillness,andthatitwillharmneitherhernorherchild.Ontheotherhand,toeatwillnothelpeitherherorthechild.

Theridiculousadvicetopregnantmothersto“eatfortwo,”isbeginningtoloseitsassumedvalidity.Supposeababyweighsninepoundsatbirth (threepounds toomuch); this is an averagegainof a

poundamonthduringtheperiodofpregnancy.Tomeettherequirementsofthebabygrowingatsucha relatively slow rate, themother is urged to eat two, three ormore extra pounds of food a day.Insteadofthisbeinghelpfultoherandtheevolvingbaby,ithelpstomakehersick,providesforafat,henceoversizedbaby,reducesthehealthandelasticityofhertissues,andprovidesforgreatpaininchildbirth.Duringpregnancyshehasnausea,vomiting,sourstomach,swollenankles,varicoseveins,etc.,asaconsequenceofsuchunintelligenteating.

Invomitingduringpregnancy,physiciansareafraidofbothstarvationanddehydration,hencetheykeepthewomanpliedwithfluidsandfoods.Allmannersofcleananduncleanthingsareintroducedintothewoman’sstomach,inadditiontotheinordinatedruggingthatusuallyaccompaniessuchcaseswhencaredforbyregularphysicians.Thereshouldbenowonderthatthevomitingcontinues.

Thereisnodangerofstarvationandwemaybesurethatthevomitingwillceasebeforeanymarkedordangerousdehydrationcanoccur,providingthewomanisnotfed.Indeed,intheabsenceoffood,shewillusuallybeabletotakewater.Nothingsucceedslikefastinginmorningsickness.

Chronic“disease”shouldnotbehandleddifferentlyduringpregnancyfromthemannerinwhichitis handled at other times. The authorwould object to a long fast in chronic “disease” during thisperiod.Therecan,however,benoobjectiontoashortfast,butalongfastinvolveselementsthatoneshouldseektoavoid.

Dr.Hazzardsays:“Whenapregnantwomanfasts,hertissues,evenincludingsuchessentialonesastheheartandbrain,willbeutilizedasmaybenecessarytoproperlynourishthechild.”Thiscanbetrueonlyafter theexhaustionofher internal reserves; for, true to theprinciple that the tissues aresacrificedininverseordertotheirimportance,theessentialorgansarenotdamageduntilitbecomesnecessarytosacrificethemforthechild.Butawomandoesnotwanttoloseherhairornailsorteeth,norshouldshebeaskedtowherethiscanbeavoided.Underthemodernplanoffeeding,mostwomenloseatoothanddevelopafewcavitiesduringpregnancy,anyway.

Ashortfast,whereoneisnecessary,orwillbeofbenefit,shouldbeentereduponwithouthesitancybythepregnantwomansufferingwithachronic“disease,”butalongoneshouldbeavoidedunlessacute“disease”makesitnecessary.Feedinginacute“disease”doesnotfeed,anyway.

FastingDuringLactationIffastingisnecessaryduringlactation,itshouldbedone,butifnotnecessaryitshouldbeavoided,

for thereasonthat itstops thesecretionofmilkandeven thediminutionof thissecretionresultingfromafastofthreeorfourdaysisseldomovercomebyareturntoeating.Ifonlyoneoftheessentialelements of nutrition iswithdrawn from the diet of hens, they immediately cease laying. By thesemeansthegreatamountoffoodlosttothebodythroughtheproductionofeggsisconservedandlifeprolonged. A similar thing is seen in fasting mammals in which milk production ceases. In allanimals,scarcityoffoodlimitsreproduction.

It is usually readily granted that the strong may fast for a certain length of time, perhaps withimpunity, but it is usually objected that theweak should not fast.Here, again,we aremetwith thecontentionthat theseweakindividualsneed tobenourished.Theyrequire tobe“builtup.”Thefactthat these people have grown weak while overeating on “plenty of good, nourishing food” iscompletelyoverlooked.Iffoodbuildsandmaintainsstrength,howdothewell-fedbecomeweak?

Mr.Sinclairsaysthatpeoplewouldwritehimandsaythattheywouldliketotryafastbutthattheywere “tooweak and too far gone to stand it.”Everyonewho employs fastingmeets this objectionquitefrequently.Mr.Sinclair ’sanswertothisobjection,withwhichIfullyconcur,willtherefore,beinteresting. He says: “There is no greater delusion than that a person needs strength to fast. Theweakeryouarefromthedisease,themorecertainitisthatyouneedtofast,themorecertainitisthatyourbodyhasnotstrengthenoughtodigest thefoodyouare taking into it. Ifyoufastunder thesecircumstances,youwillgrownotweaker,butstronger.Infact,myexperienceseemstoindicatethatthepeoplewhohavetheleast troubleonthefastarethepeoplewhoarethemostinneedofit.Thesystemwhichhasbeenexhaustedbytheefforts todigest thefoodsthatarepiledintoit,simplyliesdownwithasighofreliefandgoestosleep.”

There is the foolish notion, fostered by the medical profession and shared all too faithfully bynursesandfondrelativesofthesick, that theweakpatientmustbefed,andthat ifhecannoteat,hemusthavesomemedicine,somedigestantorsometonicto“givehimanappetite,”orelsehemustbecoaxedandcajoled,evenforced,toeat.Itisarguedthatifthepatientdoesnoteat,hisstrengthcannotbesustained;thathemust,therefore,inevitablysinkfromweakness;hemustbefed,evenifhecannotdigestwhatheeats.

Thepatientissoweakinmanycasesthatheisunabletoturnoverinbed,hecanhardlymovehandorfoot,thereislittlemuscularaction,yetitisinsistedthathebefedthreetimesaday.Hisdigestivesystem,thoughequallyprostrated, isexpectedtogoonwithitsregularworkas though there is theregularneed for food.Will suchapatientdieof starvation?Never.Willhe recover if fed?Not sosurelyasifheispermittedtofast.Hemaydieofintestinalintoxicationifheisfed;hemaydieifnotfed,buthecannotbenourishedbyfeeding,nomatterwhatfoodsaregiven.Hemaybesoweakthathewilldieifhegetsmuchweaker,stillheshouldfast.Thesurestwaytomakehimweakeristofeedhim.

It is a fact that has been demonstrated hundreds of times, that many invalids, instead of losingstrengthwhilefasting,gainit.Invalidsthataregrowingweakeronthemanyandvaried“nourishingdiets” prescribed by physicians will frequently grow stronger as soon as fasting is resorted to.Paradoxical as itmay seem, theweakest persons often derive the greatest benefit from a fast. Theweaknessoftheaveragepersonisnotduetolackoffoodbuttotoxinpoisoning.Theeliminationoftheseduringabstinenceoftenregistersagreatincreaseinstrengthwhilethefastisinprogress.Thisistosay,thepatientgrowsstrongerwhileheisstillfastingandcompletesthefaststrongerthanwhenhe began it. No matter how strong the man, if he becomes ill, he is weak. A Hercules may beprostratedinpneumoniaortyphoidfever.Muscularstrengthissuspendedduringsuchperiods.

The notion that themore foodwe can get a sick person to swallow the better for him iswhollywrong and is the source ofmuchmischief. The very reverse represents the truth.When digestionceases,nothingbutmiseryanddangercancomeoutofpouringfoodintothestomach.Thefactisthatitisinthosecasesthataretheweakestthatweoftenseethemostsurprisinggainsinstrength.

Eatingappears togiveanamazingamountofstrengthtocertainchronic invalids.Thesemayfeelweakand exhausted.Theyeat ameal and immediately they are energetic and strong.This ismorelikelytobethecaseiftheyaresufferingfromdiseaseofthestomachthanifthestomachisinnearnormalcondition.This“gainofstrength”isundoubtedlymerestimulation.Experimenialfastshaveshown that after a fast less food is required tomaintainphysical energies, physiological activities,

weightandnitrogenbalance.Fastingproducesamoreefficient“machine.”

FastingByTheEmaciatedShallemaciatedpersonsfast?Byallmeans.Emaciationisrarelyduetoalackoffood,butalmost

always isa resultofsickness.Dewey,Carrington,Macfadden,Rabagliati,Sinclairandmanyothershave pointed out that in numerous instances, the first gains in weight some of these emaciatedindividualsmake,despitemucheffortandmanydifferentkindsofweight-gainingdiets,comeafterafast. I have seen many such cases in my own experience. It is easily possible to exaggerate theimportanceofweightinanyconsiderationoffasting.Someextremelyemaciatedpatientssurpriseusbythelengthoffastingtheycansafelyandprofitablyundergo.

Great emaciation is not a bar to fasting. I have fasted numerous very thin people. One man, anasthmatic,whowasveritably“skinandbones”when reachingmy institution, fasted seventeendaysand became practically free of asthma of nine years’ standing. A subsequent fast completed hisrestoration. This man actually grew stronger during the fast. Indeed, in some cases of wasting“disease,”noamountandkindoffeedingproducesanyimprovementuntilafast,oragreatlyreduceddiet (a starvationdiet),has firstbeenemployed.Page,Rabagliati,Kieth,Nichols andothers recordmanysuchcases.Manydeathsintuberculosisaretheresultofstarvationfromoverfeeding.

SinclairrecordsthecaseofanEpiscopalclergymanwho,“wassoemaciated thathecouldhardlycreeparound”andwascontemplatingsuicide.“Hefastedelevendaysandthengainedthirtypounds.”Eales(1913)says:“IfyouarethinandbelownormalweightafastwillhelpThinpeopleaswellasfleshy people are in an abnormal condition and will derive great benefit from a fast. Numerousinstancesareonrecordofthinpeoplefastingandgainingrapidlyinhealthandfleshafterthefast”(p.200).

Ihadonecasegainthirtypoundsinfourweeks,afterafastofninedays.Thisgainwasmadeonadiet that few people would consider sufficient to meet their needs. This patient had suffered withgastric hyperacidity, gastro-enteritis, colitis, gas, constipation, poor circulation, emaciation andmental depression for seven years before consulting me. The fast, particularly a complete fastremediesbothemaciationandobesity.Afteracompletefastthebodytendstoattainandthenmaintainitsidealweight.Formerlyfatpatientsdonotregaintheirexcessweight;whereas,thosewhowerethinoftengainapoundormoreadayforamonthorlonger.

Prof.AgostinoLevanzin,B.A.,Ph.C.says:“Itiscontendedinmanyquartersthatthinpeopledonotneed fasting; that what they need is ‘building up’ and ‘nourishing’ food. I am convinced, on thecontrary, that many thin persons need fasting more than corpulent persons— for their conditionshowsthattheyhavebeenundernourishedasadirectresultofover-feedingforyears.Thismustbecheckedatonce,andthis isbestdonebyafast,whichwillallowthenutritiveorgans toreturn toaconditioninwhichtheyarecapableofappropriatingthefood.”

Iffoodbuildsflesh,howdothewell-fedbecomeemaciated?Howmanygreatlyemaciatedpeopledowemeeteverydaywhoareeatinglikeharvesthands?Manyofthemareweakandunabletowork.Iffoodgivesstrength,whyaretheysoweakandskinny?Oftenthesepeoplemaketheironlygainsinweightandstrengthafterafast.Carringtonpointsoutthatinhundredsofcasesofemaciation(casesthat are slowly starving while overeating) fasting will enable them to gain weight; thus actuallypreventingstarvation.Inthisconnectionitisworthyofnotethatnaturecutsoffthedesireforfoodindeficiencydiseases—aplain indication thatnomore food shouldbe taken.Thegreat improvement

seen inanemiawhenfasting is resorted to,whileoverfeedingcauses thesepatients togrowworse,shouldconvinceeventhemostskepticalofthesuperiorityofthefast.

Great emaciation is due to impairment of health and the degree of emaciation is commonlyproprotionatetothedegreeofimpairment.Suchcasesfrequentlymakenogainsinweightuntilaftera fast. “Starvation from overfeeding” is a common, but rarely recognized phenomenon. Largenumbersofhabituallyover-fedindividualshavelongsincelosttheirpowerofdigestingfoodatall,or they do it in a very imperfect manner. Oswald said of this: “The overfed organism is under-nourishedtoadegreethatrevealsitselfintherapidemaciationofthepatient”(1883a,p.306).

Theobjection is frequentlymade in thecaseofemaciatedpatients that theyarealreadyweakandunder-nourished and need “building up,” rather than a fast. “Plenty of good, nourishing food” isthoughttobethegreatneedinthesecases.But“plentyofgood,nourishingfood”ispreciselywhatthese emaciated individuals have been taking in themajority of instances. Instead of fasting beingsuicidal and criminal, as the average physician contends in such instances, the results of taking“plentyofgood,nourishingfood”hasprovedtobesuicidal.

Thefactisthat,werarelyseeamanorwomanwhoisemaciatedfromtakingtoolittlefood.Mostofthemareheavyeaters,eveneatingexcessively inaneffort togainweight.Theiremaciation isdue,nottoalackoffoodingested,buttofailuretodigest,absorbandassimilatethefoodeaten.Inorderfortheseindividualstogainweight,theymustbegiven,notmorefood,butaddedcapacitytoutilizefood.This can be acquired only by remedying the functional and structural impairments that havecrippled theirnutritivepowers.Toooften thiscannotbedonewhile thepatient is taking“plentyofgood nourishing food.” It is a curious fact that in great numbers of cases of emaciation,wemustsupplythemwithlessfoodinordertonourishthemmore.

Emaciationmaybesoextremethatonlyashortfastispossible;butweareoftensurprisedathowwelltheemaciatedpersonholdsupunderafastthatgoesmuchbeyondthetimewethinkispossible.Dr.Oswaldonceremarked:“Energyandemaciationseemtogohandinhand.”

FastingInDeficienciesAsknowledgeof thecausesof“disease” increases, itbecomes increasinglyevident that thereare

certainformsof“disease”whichareinpartduetofooddeficiencies—beri-beri,scurvy,rickets,etc.Whatthesecasesneedisbetternutrition,betterfood.Yetonecannotalwaysarbitrarilyruleoutthefastin“deficiencydiseases.”For,sometimestheyareduetoalackofassimilatingpoweronthepartof thebodyand this is remediedby the fast.Dr.Weger,whohashadmuchexperiencewith fastingsays:“Ifthebody,becauseofitscrowdednutrition,cannotassimilatevitamin-bearingfood,itcanbebroughtintotheconditiontodothisbyapurifyingfast.”

Thevalueofthefastinricketsandcertain“diseases”ofchildhoodiswellestablished.Itsvalueinanemiahasbeendiscussedelsewhere.Thereisnoreasonwhyfastingcannotbeemployedindietarydeficiencieswithgreat benefit. Indeed the loss of appetite seen inmen and animals fed on greatlydeficientdietsindicatesstronglythatafastiscalledfor.Theexperiencedpractitionerneednothesitateto place his patients upon a fast although some of themwill require carefulwatching. If he lacksexperience,someofhispatientsmaybehandledwithoutthefast.

XXVII.SymptomatologyoftheFastSubjectiveSymptomsFeelingOfChillinessThePulseAppetiteTHETONGUEANDBREATHTemperature“FamineFever”Sleep

Thesymptomatologyoffastingformsamostinterestingstudy,whichcanbefullyappreciatedonlybythemanorwomanwhostudiesitatfirsthand,bycarefullyobservingfastingindividuals,andbypersonallyfasting.Thefollowingstudiesofthefastingpatientwill,however,givethereaderagoodworkingknowledgeofthisvitalpartofthesubject.

SubjectiveSymptomsUnderhisdiscussionof“subjectiveimpressions”ofthefast,Benedict(1907)says,“Itiscommonly

believedthatthewithdrawaloffoodforoneortwomealsresultsindizziness,afeelingoffaintness,and,attimes,inpainsinandabouttheepigastrium.”(p.335)Thisisnotonlythecommonbelief,itisalso the professional belief. Physicians, even physiologists who should know better, attribute anydiscomfort thatmayfollow themissingof food, to the lackof food.Benedict shows that,while insomecasessomediscomfortwasnoticed,inthemajorityofcases,nosuchsymptomswereobserved.Onthecontrary,unusualvigorandstrengthwereobserved.Hesays:“ThefastofMerlatti,whichwassaid to have continued 50 days, was characterized by extreme discomfort, pain, and sensation ofcoldness.Duringthe30-dayfastofJacquestheonlymarkeddiscomfortnoticedwasaslightattackofgoutwhichappearedonthesixteenthday.InthenumerousfastsofSuccinomarkeddiscomfortwasobserved. In fact during his fast at Florence his cheerfulness and apparent good health were thesubject of much comment. It should be stated, however, that both Jacques and Succi took smallamountsofnarcoticsfromtimetotimethroughouttheirfasts,though,asPrausnitzhaspointedout,thismayhavebeenasmuchtostimulateapopularinterestintheconcoctionsastodullthesensestoanypossiblepain, exceptpossiblyduring the earlydaysof the fast.Cetti experienced considerablediscomfort during the first one and one-half days of his fast, but this suddenly ceased after amovementofthebowels....TherecordsofthesubjectiveimpressionsofJ.A.intheexperimentsintheStockholmLaboratoryshowthatonthefirstdayofthefasthenoticednodizziness.Onthesecondday, while his general condition was good, he observed unusual weakness following a slightmuscularexertion.Onthethirddayhewasinnotalittlediscomfortandwasdizzywhenclimbingonashortladderinsidetherespirationchamber.Onthefourthdaythepaininthestomachdisappearedandnodizzinesswasnoticedintheexperimentontheladder.Onthefifthdaythegeneralconditionwasexcellent, and therewas no pain or discomfort in the stomach.His strength, too,was greateralthoughhenoticedthatifhearosesuddenlyfromthebedthereappearedtobeblackspotsbeforetheeyes. . . . InPrausnitz’sopinion the feelingofdiscomfortattendinghunger is, inmany instances, apurelypsychicalcondition....Itseems,therefore,thatfromtheexperimentsmadeinthislaboratorytheconclusioncanproperlybedrawnthatfasting,perse,producesnomarkedsymptomsofpainorweakness,atleastduringthefirstdaysofinanition”(pp.335-337).

Twofactorsmustbetakenintoaccountinourconsiderationofthisconclusionthatfastingproduces

nomarkedsymptomsofpainorweaknessduringthefirstfewdaysofabstinence.OneoftheseisthatBenedict’stestsweremadeuponcomparativelywellindividualsandthesedonotdeveloppainswhenfasting;theotheristhathesays“fasting,perse,”doesnotproducesymptomsofpainorweaknessinthefirstfewdaysoffasting.Painorweaknessorbothmay,andoftendo,ariseinthebeginningofafastduetoavarietyofcauses,butnottothefast.That theyarenotproducedbythefast isobviousfrom the fact that they ceasewhile the fast is still in progress. Thesewill be accounted for asweproceed.

FeelingOfChillinessAmongthemostcommonsubjectivesymptomsisthatofafeelingofchilliness.Despitethefactthat

theindividualmaintainsnormaltemperatureonafast,orevenhasaslightriseintemperature,thereis commonly a feeling of chilliness in a moderate temperature in which he ordinarily feelscomfortable.Thisfeelingofchillinessmaybeexperienced,evenwhenthebodytemperatureisabovenormal, that is, when there is slight fever.We attribute this feeling of chilliness in individuals ofnormalorabovenormal temperature todecreasedcutaneouscirculation.Letamanstripnude inacold room and remain there until he feels warm. Then let him walk nude into a warm room.Immediately,shiveringresultsandhewillfeelcold.

It is well-known that heavy eaters are always complaining of the heat. They may be said to beconstantly “feverish.”Carrington suggests that the feeling of chillinessmay be, in part, due to theabsenceofthisfeverishness.Hesuggests,also,thatwhatisnowregardedasnormaltemperatureisadegreetoohigh.Thefaster,thepersononafruitdiet,themoderateeater,comfortableinsummer,islikelytofeelcoldtothetouchoftheheavyeater.

Carringtonrecordsthecaseofamanwhosetemperature,bythermometricreading,wasregularly,whileeating,2°F.belownormal,yetheneverfeltchilly;butwhoonthetwenty-thirddayofhisfast,histemperaturehavingrisento97.8°F.(only.8°belownormal),feltcold.Hegivesitashisopinionthat the feeling of chilliness in this instance was due, in part at least, to decreased peripheralcirculation—ananemiaoftheskin.Buthealsothinksthatsharpenedsenseswhich,aswehavekeenerperceptiontochangesinbodytemperature.

Weexperienceasenseofchillinessonlywhenbloodhasbeenwithdrawnfromtheskin;when, inotherwords,thereisanemiaoftheskin,andwemayactuallybesochillyastoshiveronthehottestsummerday.Wemayfeelchillywhilethethermometershowsourbodytemperaturetobenormalorslightlyabovenormal.Geo.S.Keith,M.D.,LL.D.,recordsacaseofapatientinwhich,hesays:“Thegreatpeculiarityinthecase,waschillinesscomingonwhenhetookanythinglikeameal.”—FadsofAnOldPhysician,p.168.This issomewhatareversalof thechillinessseeninfasting,but itshowsthatthesensationofchillinessisnotduetofasting,perse.

Aspointedoutbefore,whatevertheexplanationofthefeelingofchilliness,ithasnothingtodowiththeactualtemperatureofthebody,whichmayreallybeabovenormal.Dodds(1901)saysof it:“Acuriousthinginthiscoldparoxysmisariseintemperature(whichthefeverthermometerwilldetect)sometimebeforethechillingstagebegins”(p.44).

ThePulseThepulsevariesgreatlyduringafast.Itmayrunupto120orevenhigher,oritmaydroptoaslow

as40,perminute.Indeed,Mr.Macfaddenrecordedacaseinhispracticeinwhichthepulsewentdownas lowas20andwas so feeble it could scarcelybe felt. It is theusual thing tohave the pulse rate

increaseat thebeginningof the fastand then,afteradayor two, todrop. Inchroniccases thatareconfinedtobedduringthefast,thepulseusually,afteritstemporaryrise,dropsto48,or40,whereitmayremainforadayortwodaysandthenmountsupagainto60.Afterafewdaysitwillsettleat60and remain thereuntileatingandactivityare resumed. It is,ofcourse,understood that thepulse issubjecttoallthevariations,whilefasting,asatothertimesoflife,andthatwherethereis“disease”oftheheart,ornervoustroubles, itwilloftenvarygreatly fromtheabovestandard.Wherestimulantsareemployedduringafast,theseoccasionmoreheartactivitythaniftakenwhenoneiseating.

Discussingwhat,totheuninitiated,arealarmingheartsymptomswhichmayariseduringafast,Mr.Carringtonsays:“Imayhereremark,however,thatsuchextremevariationsinvariablydenotesomeprofoundphysiologicalchangetakingplaceatthetime—acrisis,infact.Thefactthathithertoweakhearts are actually strengthened and cured by fasting proves conclusively that any such unusualsymptoms,observedduringthisperiod,denoteabeneficialreparativeprocess,andnotanyharmfulordangerousdecreaseoracceleration,duetolackofperfectcontrolbythecardiacnerve”(1908,p.464).

Macfadden (1902) recorded the caseof amanwhoseheart beat fell to twenty andwas so faint itcould scarcely be felt, after three weeks of fasting. It quickly rose after the patient took somenourishment.Abnormallyslowpulseisseeninrarecasesofextremedebility,especiallyinthosewhohaveforweeks,monthsoryearspriortothefast,beeninthehabitoftakingstimulants.Acompletewithdrawalof the stimulants results in agreat slowingupof thehabitually excitedactivitiesof thebody.Mr.Carrington says that someof these cases die, although I havenot seen it.He says: “Thelong-deferredcrisis isathand.Either thepatientwill recover theexpendedpowers,and live;or, ifwasted to such an extent that recovery is impossible, will die, during the fast. This is the mostfrequent, if not the only cause of death that occurs during cases of protracted fasting,when deathoccursbeforethereturnofnaturalhunger.Suchcasesneverdiefromstarvation;itisaphysiologicalimpossibility for them to die during a fast before the return of natural hunger—unless the vitalpowershavepreviouslybeensowastedastorendertheirrecuperationimpossible—<leathbeingduetothisfailure;anditwillthusbeseenthattherealcauseofdeathis,again,previousmal-treatment—deathoccurringinspiteof,andnotonaccountof,thefast.Hadthefastbeeninstigated,insuchcases,atanearlierperiod,thevitalpowersmighthavebeensufficientlystrongtohavewithstoodtheshock—recuperationinsteadoffailurewouldhaveresulted;i.e.,insteadofdeath.”

Avery rapidpulse is seen inexercise,excitement,nervousshock,andgaspressure, etc.Exertionmayincreasethepulseratemoreinthefasterthanintheregulareater.Asthereisnothingessentiallyabnormalaboutthisandthepulseratesoonsettlesbacktoitsregularfastinglevel,thereneedbenoconcernoverit.

Let us not forget, in considering the unusual cases, that the vast majority of patients will notexperienceanyof these inconveniencesduringafast.Abnormallyhighor lowpulseratesduringafastareexceptionsandnottheruleanddonotdenoteanydangerfromthefastinitself.Theyshouldcausenoalarm,sofarasfasting,perse,isconcerned.Asarule,theheartbeatissteady,forcefulandinkeepingwiththeactivitiesofthebody.

Whileinacutediseaseitisusualtohavetemperatureandpulserateriseandfalltogether,infastingandchronicdiseasethisisnotalwaysso.Forexample,inmanycasesofheartdiseaseoringoitre,theheartmaybebeatingatanenormousrateand temperature remainnormalor fallbelownormal. In

fasting,ontheotherhand,thepulseratemayfallverylowandtemperatureremainnormal.Or,ifthefastingpatientbecomesactive, his pulse ratemay rise to 110or 120 aminute andhis temperatureremainnormal.

AppetiteItisdoubtfulifthesickmanorwomanisevertrulyhungry,althoughappetitemaybepresent,even

irresistible,asinbulimia.Thereisamythabroadthathungerceasesonthethirddayofthefast.Thisimplies that hunger has existed during the preceding days. This is commonly not true. Indeed, acommoncomplaintofchronicsufferersisthattheyhave“lostappetite.”Eales(1913)says:“Hungerleftmeonthethirdday,andfromwas”(p.183).Thisistheuniversaltestimonyofallwhofast,butthereseemstobenoreasontodoubtthattheyhavemistakenappetiteforhunger.

Thefastersoonlosesalldesireforfood,ifthereisanydesireattheoutset,andoftendevelopsanactual repugnance to it. But there is no uniformity about the time that is required for the loss ofappetite.Itmaybelostonthefirstday,thesecondday,thethirddayorthefourthday.On theotherhand,somefasterscomplainofhungerafterhavingfastedseveraldays.Whenaskedtodescribetheirhunger, theydescribesymptoms thatarenot related tohunger.Like thephysiologists, theymistakemorbidsymptomsforhunger.

More thanahundredand thirtyyearsofconductingfastshaveconvincedmostHygienists that the“appetite”whichsickpersonsfrequentlyallegetheyhave,andoftenthosewhoarenotsicksaytheyhave,ispurelyinthemind—aspurioushunger,whichingreatnumbersofpeople,istheonlyhungertheyhaveeverknown,sinceoverfeedingandfrequentfeedingbytheclockandbetween-mealseating,wasstartedininfancyandcontinuedthroughouttheirlives.Buttheyaredeceivedbyitandarehonestinbelievingtheyarehungry.

Fromthecessationofappetiteonward,formanydaysthebodyceasestocallforfood,untilatimearriveswhenfoodmustbetaken.Duringthisperiod,weoftenobservethedevelopmentofapositiverepugnance to food, even the sight, odor or thought of food resulting in nausea and sometimesvomiting. If food is eaten under these circumstances it may be vomited. After these preliminaryremarksitmaybewelltoconsidertheexperiencesofothers.

Sinclair (1910) says, “I was very hungry for the first day—the unwholesome, ravening sort ofhunger that all dyspeptics know” (p. 743). Such “hunger” soon ceases and fasting becomes easy.Thereisnodesireforfood.Healsotellsus:

“I recollect reading a diverting account of the fast cure” “in which the victim was portrayed ashauntedbytheghostsofbeefsteaksandturkeys.Butthepersonwhoistakingthefastknowsnothingofthesetroubles,norwouldtherebemuchprofitinfastingifhedid.Thefastisnotanordeal;itisarest;andIhaveknownpeopletoloseinterestinfoodascompletelyasiftheyhadnevertastedanyintheirlives.”

Largenumbersofindividualsgoonafastandneverexperienceanydesireforfoodfromthestart.Indeed,manyofthemhavenodesireforfoodbeforegoingonthefast.Levanzin,whofastedseveraltimesinhislife,saysheneverfelthungryonthefirstdayofhisfasts.Thedemandforfoodduringthefirsttwodaysoffastinghasbeenover-emphasizedbymanywritersonthesubject.Muchofthesupposeddemandfor foodexperiencedduring this time isnot that at all, but the“craving” for theaccustomedstimulants.JohnSmithsays:“Themorestimulatingthefood,thesoonerdoesthedemand

foritreturn.”—FruitsandFarinacea.

Fastingpatientssometimescomplainofbeinghungry,whentheexperiencedpractitionerknowsthatthey are not. Occasionally one complains of hunger through the whole length of the fast. Thesesensationsareduetoirritativeconditionsortothemind.

Dr.Guelpainhisbook,Auto-intoxicationandDis-intoxication,saysthatfoodtakenintothestomachserves toabsorbandneutralize the toxicmaterial in thestomachand intestineand thus relieves thesinking,empty, gnawing, etc., sensationswhich are causedby active autointoxication, butmistakenfor hunger. Major Austin points out that drinking a large glass of saline purge “causes thedisappearance of hunger instead of increasing it” and thinks this is due to the cleansing of thealimentary tract of toxins. Of course, the disappearance of hunger after taking a purge may beaccounted for in another way, but I would remind my readers that these toxic symptoms are nothungersensations.

These“hungersensations”mayberelievedinsuchavarietyofways—lavage,waterdrinking,heatappliedtotheupperpartoftheabdomen,abdominalmassage,etc.—orwillpassawayinashorttimewithoutanythingbeingdonetorelievethem—thatonlytheinexperiencedanduninformedcan thinkof them as representing a physiological demand for food. A patient informsme that hewas veryhungryduring thenightandcouldnotsleep.Uponbeingquestionedhesays thehungerhas passedaway—asureindicationthatitwasnotrealhunger.

Pashutinsays:“Someof theexperimentswhichwewillhaveanopportunity tospeakaboutbelowledtotheconclusionthatthisdesireforfoodandwaterisgreatonlyattheearlieststageofinanition.Manassein,however,mentionedthattheanimalsalsoatthelastperiodofstarvationmanifestedgreatthirst.”Again,quotingfromAlbitzky,hesays,“Atthelaterdaysofstarvation***onlyviolentforcebymeansofacageorchainholdstheanimalundertakingtohuntforsomethingedible.”

Infastingsteers,asinman,theso-called“hungerfeeling”ceasesafterthesecondday.Thisfeelingisbelieved tobecausedby thephysicalcontractionof thealimentary tract inadjusting itself to thediminished bulk of its contents. We do not accept this explanation of hunger. These animalexperiencescoincideexactlywithhumanexperiencesinfasting.Theso-called“hungercontractions”ofthestomachincreaseinvigorinbothmanandanimalsduringafast,butdonotgiverisetohunger.Dr.Trallobservedthatvegetarianscan“bearfastingforatimemuchbetterthantheflesheater;andthey usually suffer but little in comparison with those who enjoy a mixed diet, from cravingsensationsof thestomach,on theapproachof thedinneror supperhour.To this rule Ihaveneverknownanexception.”

Dr.Oswaldsays:“Inmyexperimentsontheoperationofthefastingcure,Ihavenoticedthecuriousfactthatforthefirstdayortwotheclamorsofthestomacharerestrictedtocertainhours,andcanbeinducedtowaiveadisregardedclaim”(1883a,p.316).

Appetiteisoftenaccompaniedwithvariousfeelingsofdiscomfort,evenactualpain.Theremaybeageneralfeelingofweaknessortheremaybementaldepression.Frequentcomplaintsofgnawinginthe stomach, an “all gone” sensation in the stomach, rumblings in the other morbid sensationsaccompanyingappetitearemadebyMr.AverageCitizen.Indeed,Imeetmanywhorefertodistressinthestomachashunger.Thesesymptomsareidenticalwiththoseexperiencedbythedrugaddictwhoisdeprivedofhisaccustomeddrug.Thesymptomsofdrugaddictionareusuallymoreintense.Food

drunkenness (gluttony) produces its symptoms and these symptoms are mistaken for hunger. Thesymptomsaretemporarilyrelievedbyeating,justasacupofcoffeetemporarilyrelievesthecoffee-inducedheadache,andthisleadstotheideathatfoodwasneeded.Suchsymptomspassawayiftheirownerwillrefrainfromeatingforafewdays.Indeed,inmanycases,theywillpassawaywithinanhouraftertheaccustomedmealtimehaspassedifnofoodiseaten.

Truehungerisaccompaniedbynosymptoms.Intruehungeroneisnotawarethathehasastomach.There is no headache, or other discomfort. There is merely a consciousness of a need for food,which, like thirst, registers itself in the mouth and throat. Dr. Claunch thus differentiates betweenappetite andhunger: “Thedifference between true hunger and false cravingmaybe determined asfollows:Whenhungryandcomfortableitistruehunger.When‘hungry’anduncomfortableitisfalsecraving.Whenasickpersonmissesacustomarymeal,hegetsweakbeforehegetshungry.Whenahealthypersonmissesacustomarymealhegetshungrybeforehegetsweak.”

THETONGUEANDBREATHThese are interesting studies during a fast. The tongue becomes heavily coated in almost every

instance(Ihaveseenfiveorsixexceptions)andremainsso throughout thefast,graduallyclearingup,beginningattheedgesandthepoint,until,whenhungerreturns,itisclean.

Thebreathbecomesveryfoulandremainssoduringmostofthefast,graduallybecominglesssoastheworkofpurificationproceeds,until,with the returnofhunger, it is sweetandclean.Themorefoulisaman’sbody,themorefoulwillbehisbreathandthemoreheavilycoatedhistongue.“Thebreathsmellsfaintestwhenthestomachisemptiest”wasamaximthatcouldhavebeenlegitimatelyemployedonlyamongatrulyhealthypeople.

TemperatureWhenwe observe body temperature during a fast,we are presentedwith a paradoxical series of

phenomenawhichproveboth interesting andhighly instructive. For example, temperature tends toremainnormalinmostcasesoffasterssufferingwithchronicdisease,tofallinacutediseaseandtoriseinthosepatientswhohavesub-normaltemperature.Benedictpointsoutthatduringthefast,foraperiodofsevendaysatleast,thereisanoccasionaltendencyforittoincreaseasthefastprogresses.

Temperature does not rise as high in fever patients who are not fed as to normal as the fastprogresses.Indeed,inacute“disease”wherethereishightemperature,thefeversubsidessomewhatassoonaseatingisdiscontinuedandseldomriseshighthereafter.

Inrarecasesofchronicdiseasethereissub-normaltemperature.Thisismostlikelytobeobservedinthemorningbeforethepatienthasbecomeactive.Itisstrikingevidenceofthevalueofthefastthatinthesepatients,asthefastnearsitsnaturaltermination,thetemperaturerisestonormalandremainsthere. In those chronic sufferers whose temperature is habitually below normal, it will surely butslowly rise until it reaches normal by the time the fast naturally ends. “Thus,” says Carrington,“supposingthepatient’stemperaturetobe93.8°atthecommencementofthefast,itwillgraduallyriseuntil about98.4° is reached—though the fastmayhaveextendedover fortyormoredays . .. Timeaftertime,incaseaftercase,Ihavewatchedthisgradualriseinthebodilytemperatureofthepatient,andineverycasethetemperaturehasnotfailedtoriseasthefastprogressed.Atfirst,itistrue, thetemperaturesometimestendstofall,butletthefastbepersistedin,andareturnorrisetonormalwilloccurineverycase.”

Carrington records several cases where temperature was subnormal while eating, but graduallyreturnedtonormalwhilefasting.Insomeofthese,prematureeatingresultedinanimmediatedropintemperature.Onecaseherecordshadatemperaturebelow94°F.beforethefast.Attheendofathirty-four days fast the temperature had nearly reached the normal standard. A. Rabagliati,M.A.,M.D.,F.R.C.S., Edinburgh, made this same discovery, and says of it: “In point of fact, I raised thetemperatureofamanwhowas,besidesthin,emaciated,andattenuatedbyconstantvomiting,lastingforsevenyears,from96°F.to98.4°F.byadvisinghimtofastforthirty-fivedays.Onthe28thdayhistemperaturehadrisentonormal,andremainedso.”—Air,FoodandExercise,p.261.

Low temperature is often the result of toomuch food, or lowered vitality due to habitual over-eating.ThecasejustquotedfromDr.Rabagliatiwas,asheremarks,“dyingontheplanoffrequentfeeding.”-Helost13poundsduringthefastandgainedhealthalthoughhehadbeensickandtakinga“highlynourishingdiet” for sevenyears.Carringtonnoteda few instancesof long fastswhere thetemperaturedroppedadegreeortwoimmediatelyuponresumingeating.

Dr.Hazzardrecordsacaseinwhichbodytemperaturewasconstantlyatninety-fourdegreesatthebeginningofthefast.Nochangeintemperaturewasnoteduntil thetwentiethday,whenit increasednearly a degree, it reached ninety-seven degrees ten days later and remained at this standardthereafter. She also says that in a few subjects the temperature was so low that it could not bedeterminedonaclinicalthermometer,but“invariablynormalindividualaveragewasreachedbeforetheendofthetreatment.”

Experiments upon fasting animals show that the temperature remains normal through the fastingperiodandthenbeginstofallrapidlyfortroubles,forthetemperaturetoremainnormal.Dr.Eales’temperatureremainednormalthroughouthisfast.Dr.Tanner ’stemperaturedroppedattheendofhisfast,althoughhesurvived.Thisdropintemperature,bothinmanandinanimals,undoubtedlymarkstheexhaustionofthebody’sreserveresourcesandthebeginningofactualstarvation.

Ihavehadbutonesuchcaseinmyownexperience,thesuddendropoccuringonthe36thdayofthefast. Ibrokethefast immediatelyandkept thepatientwarmwithheatappliedexternally.Hemadeaquick recovery and suffered no ill effects. Carrington thinks that the fact that temperature falls tonormalwhenaboveitandrisestonormalwhenbelowitandthatitreachesthenormalpoint,ineithercase, justas thefast iscompletedandready tobebroken, is furtherproof that“fasting isanaturalprocess,counselledbynature,with landmarksclearlydefined,andbutwaiting toberecognizedbyman.”This,itseemstome,istheonlylogicalconclusionthatcanbedrawnfromthefacts.

“FamineFever”Infamine“fevers,”oftentyphusdevelops.Asfastingisnotidenticalwithfamine,wedonotseethe

development of typhus or other serious fever in fasters. In many cases, particularly of overfedindividuals,wedohavewhatisfalselycalled“faminefever”whenafastinenteredupon.Itisaslightelevationoftemperaturewhichmaylastfromonetoseveraldays.IagreewithCarringtonthat“itis,asinthecaseofallotherdiseases,acurativecrisis,andshouldberegardedasafavorablesign, inconsequence.”Dr.Rabagliatialsoregardeditasremedialandadded:“Ifwecannotfastwithoutfever,itisbecausewehavebeenpreviouslyimproperlyfed.”

SleepIt is theusual thing for the fastingperson to sleepnomore than three to four hours out of each

twenty-fourhours,andthisfrequentlycausesworry.Threegeneralcausesforthissleeplessnessare

recognized: (1) Itmay be due to general nervous tension. The faster cannot sufficiently relax. (2)Sleeplessness is often due to a deficient circulation. The feet become cold and the faster finds itdifficulttomaintainwarmth.Ahotwaterbottleorjugplacedatthefeetwillusuallyremedythis.(3)ThefastingpersondoesnotrequiretheusualamountofsleepInageneralsense,theamountofsleepone requires is proportioned to thequality andquantity of one’s food. If you are comfortable andrelaxed,youmaybequitecertainthatyouwillsleepasmuchasyourequire.

Inhisnarrative,fromwhichIhavepreviouslyquoted,MarkTwainrecordsthecaseofonemanwhowentwithoutsleepfortwenty-onedaysatastretch,noticingduringthisperiodoffasting,nodesireforsleepandnoilleffectsfromnotsleeping.HoraceFletcherfrequentlypointedoutthatwhenheatelessfoodherequiredlesssleep.Thesleepinessandsluggishnessthatfollowaheavymealarewell-knowntoeveryone.Ifwearetobementallyalert,wemusteatlightlyornotatall.Suchfactswouldseemtoindicatethatthedigestionoflargequantitiesoffoodisanexhaustingprocess.

Thefasterwhodoesnotsleepislikelytofretandfussabouthowlongthenightsare,buthedoesnotfeelthelossofsleep.Itistrue,ofcourse,thatallfasterswhocomplainofnotsleeping,likeallotherpatientswhodeclarethattheyneverclosedtheireyesallnight,sleepmuchmorethantheythinktheydo.Ihavevisitedtheroomsoffasterswhocomplainedofnotsleepingandfound themfastasleep,onlytohavethemtellmethefollowingdaythatthey“neversleptawinkallnight.”

Afewpatientssleepmorewhilefastingthanwheneating.Insomniavictimsareespeciallylikelytodothis.Fastingisperhapsthequickestandmostsatisfactorymeansofremedyinginsomnia,althoughtherearecasesinwhichitrequiressixtotendaystosecurethesleep.Sinclair(1910)says,ofhisfirstfast,“Isleptwellthroughoutthefast”(p.743).

Icaredforoneyoungmanwhosleptsixteenhoursoutoftwenty-fouralmosteverydayofathirtydaysfast.Anotherman,anasthmatic,sleptalmostdayandnight fordaysduringandfollowing thefast.Butasthmacases, like insomnia cases, having lostmuch sleep,usually sleepmuchas soon asfastingbringsrelieffromthedyspneasothattheycansleep.

XXVIII.ProgressoftheFastTheEarlyDaysOfTheFastDisappearanceOfSymptomsIncreaseOfSymptomsCrisesDuringTheFastDangerousComplicationsStrengthAndWeakness

Fasting is not the severe and tryingordeal that theuninitiatedmay think. Itmaybe a very tryingperiodor itmaybe a verypleasant experience; in themajorityof cases it is not at all unpleasant,whileinmanyinstancesthefastingindividualismorecomfortablethanhewaswhileeating.Themanwhosuffersaftereverymeal is likely to find the fast tobeaperiodofwelcomecomfort.Popularfancypicturesthefastersufferingthetorturesof“starvation,”whereas,itisoftentruethatthefasterismuch more comfortable than the individual who imagines that the faster is undergoing severesuffering.

Oneauthorputs it thisway: “Fasting isnot alwaysapleasant experience,but, then,neither is it apleasantexperiencetobesick.”Whilefastingmaybeaperiodofcomfortandpleasure(asoneyoungwomanexpresseditafterherfastwasover.“Itwasthemostthrillingexperienceofmylife.Iwouldnot take anything for the experience and am looking forward to another”); but it is certainly nopleasuretogothroughaperiodofdrugging.Allof this iscontrary towhatmaybe thoughtby theindividualwho has never undergone a fast and has never had opportunity to observe a fast.He islikely to labor under the belief that the fastmay be a very severe and harrowing ordeal. Hemaypicture the faster as suffering the most intense agonies of starvation, his agonies increasing inintensityuntil,finally,thevictimexpiresinthemostexcruciatingpain.Ifthispicturehadanytruthatall in it, itwouldcertainlybe impossible to induceanyperson to entervoluntarilyupona second,muchlessathirdorfourthfast.

Inhis“DiaryofaFaster”(PhysicalCulture,Feb.1914),FredBuschdescribeshis fastof17days,daybyday.Hetellsusthathewasunabletoeateventhesimplestoffoodswithoutdistress.Headds:“sound sleep is unheard of—work is a punishment—life in general a drudge.”He records on themorningoftheseconddayofhisfastthathesleptafulleighthoursthenightbeforeandthathewasfeeling rathergood.He sleptwell everynight throughhis fast. Seventeendaysof comfort, duringwhichhecarriedonhisregularworkinhisoffice,anddidmoreworkthanwhileeating,revealsthatfastingmaybeaverypleasantexperienceinmanyconditionsoflife.

Idonotthinkthatitcanbetoostronglyemphasizedthatthebodilysensationsoffastingare,inmanycases,more pleasant than the bodily sensations of feasting. The patientwho has suffered somuchpreviouslyfrombeingforcedtoeatwhentherewasnodesireforfood,thepatientwhohassufferedsomuchpainafterallfood,islikelytofeelagreatsenseofreliefandsatisfactionfromthetimethefastbegins.Whenamangoesonafast,everyabnormalsensation,every“craving,”everyacheandpainthathemaydevelopimmediatelythereafter,iscreditedtolackoffood.Theyare,inreality,duetotheabsenceofhisaccustomedstimulants—coffee,tobacco,condiments,alcohol,etc.Thattheyalldisappearasthefastprogresses,provesthattheyarenotduetolackoffood.

TheEarlyDaysOfTheFast

Thefirsttwodaysofthefastmaybethehardest,due(1)tothepersistenceofthedemandforfood,and (2) to the suddenwithdrawalof the accustomed stimulation.Headache, dizziness upon arising,spotsbeforetheeyes,nausea,vomitingandgnawingoran“all-gone”sensationinthestomach,arethechiefelementsofdiscomfortduringthefirstfewdaysofthefast.Thesesymptomsarelargelytheresult of thewithdrawal of coffee, tea, tobacco, condiments and stimulating foods. Fat people and“good livers,” suffermost in these respects. As a general rule, it may be set down that themoremarkedthesesymptomsareduringtheearlydaysofthefast,thesoonerthefastwillaccomplishthedesiredresults.

Ifwecomparethediscomfortsofthefasterwiththosesufferedbythealcoholicwhenhegivesuphisalcohol,Ithinkwecanarriveatarationalexplanationofthem.Itmustfirstbeunderstoodthat,justas the non-drinker does not suffer any discomforts as a result of abstaining from alcohol, so thehealthyman does not suffer discomfortswhen he abstains from food.But the alcoholicwho fastsfromalcohol,isgreatlydistressed,notbyhisabstinence,butasaconsequenceofhispriordrinking.Hissufferingisnotduetohisabstinencefromalcoholbuttothefactthatforalongtimepriortheretohe had been in the habit of drinking alcoholic liquors. If, because of his distress, which he maywronglyattributetohisabstinence,hemaycastasidehisgoodresolutionsandreturntodrinking,hisdistresswillvanishasifbymagic,butweknowthatinsodoing,heonlylaysthefoundationformoreandgreaterfuturesufferingandrendersitmoredifficulttoabstainatsomefuturetimewhenhemayagaindecidetogiveuphisalcohol.

If,nowwethinkofthepatientwhogoesonafastandsuffersminordiscomforts,especiallyinthefirst few days of the fast, are we not witnessing phenomena similar to if not identical with thosesufferedbythealcoholicwhoattemptstodiscontinuehisdrinking?Thepersonwhohaspreviouslyhabituallyovereaten,whohaseatenrichfareandtakenalotofspicesandcondimentswithhisfood,whohasindulgedfreelyincoffee, tea,sodafountaindrinks, tobacco,etc.,andisdeprivedofallofthese sources of injury at the same time he is deprived of food, is almost certain to suffer somediscomfort.Nervousness,headaches,gastricdistress,insomnia,weakness,etc.,thatmaydeveloparesimilar to thenervousness,gastricdistress, insomnia,weakness,etc., that thealcoholic experienceswhenhediscontinuesdrinking.

Inthiswayandforthisreasonafastermayfindtheearlypartofafastastryingastheeffortofthealcoholictototallyabstain.But,itwouldbeasunwisetobreakthefastbecauseofsuchdiscomfortsasitwouldbe for the alcoholic to return tohis drinking. If hedoesnot sleep for a fewnights, if heexperiencesadisagreeableachingvoid,ifhehasaheadache,heisveryunwiseifhethrowsthewholethingupandreturnstohisovereating,hiscoffeeandtobacco.

Crisesthatmayandsometimesdodevelopinafast,mostoftenafterthefasthasbeeninprogressfortwotothreeweeksormore,butrarelyintheearlydaysofthefast,areofasomewhatdifferentcharactertotheseearlydiscomfortsthatareexperiencedbyacertainpercentageoffasters.Nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,skineruptionswouldseemtoresultfromamoreorlesssuddenreleaseintothebloodstream,fromthebrokendownfatandotherbrokendowntissues,ofstoredtoxins,sothat thebodyisforcedtoresorttosomemeansofcompensatoryeliminationtofreethebloodofthem.

Shew(1854)saysofthefirstfewdaysoffasting:“Afeverishexcitementofthesystem,togetherwitha feeling of debility, faintness, and depression is generally experienced. The patient becomesdiscouragedandmelancholic,andisveryexcitableandsensitivetosurroundinginfluences.Healso

experiencespainsandsorenessintheloins,feet,andsometimesinthejoints.Hebecomesverytiredof the sitting posture and leans to one side or the other for support. But all these disagreeablesymptoms,whicharenecessaryintheprocess,growbydegreeslessandless,asthemorbidmatteriseliminated from the vital economy. And when the body has at last grown pure, these unpleasantconsequences disappear entirely, and the convalescent gains strength with inconceivable swiftnessthroughtheperiodoftheafter-cure”(p.790).

AswealmostnevermeetwithfasterswhopresentthepictureheredrawnbyDr.Shew,Iamoftheopinionthathisdescriptionisagoodindexofthegrossnessoflivinghabitsofthepeopleofhistime.Whenweconsiderthatthesymptomspresentedbythefasterareinkeepingwiththeunphysiologicalcharacterofhismodeofliving,thisseemstometobeafairconclusion.GreatchangesforthebetterhavetakenplaceinourlivinghabitsduringthehundredyearsthathaveelapsedsinceShewwrotetheforegoinglines.Anyofthesymptomsheenumeratesmaybemetwith,butwealmostneverseealloftheminasinglepatient.Manypatientsneverdevelopanyofthem.

Fastingdoesnotcausefever.Theso-called“faminefever”describedintheearlierworksonfasting,butwhichweseldomseetoday,isconfinedtothosewhoseeatinghabitsaregross.Olderwritersusedtospeakoftheperiodbetweenmealsasfastingandofanincreaseofanhourormorebetweenonemealandthenextasthe“languorofinanitionandthefeverofrepletion,”buttheywhollymistookthenatureofthesensationsthatarisewhenfoodisabstainedfrombeyondtheaccustomedmealtime.Thehealthymandoesnothavefeveruponmissingamealorseveralmeals.Thehabituallyoverfedandwrongly fed person may have a rise of temperature upon missing a meal or two. Fever andfeverishness flow from the previous state of plethora and toxemia. If a person cannot fastwithoutdevelopingfeverhismodeoflivinghasbeenveryimprudent.

Althoughtherearerareexceptionsinwhichthetonguedoesnotcoat, it is therulethatthetonguebecomesheavilycoatedalmostimmediately.Theteethbecomepasty,thebreathisfoul,andthetasteinthemouthisverybad.Thesearesomewhatsimilartotheconditionofthemouthinacutediseaseand are indications of elimination. They are somewhat annoying, but should be welcomed asevidencesoftheefficiencyoftheorganisminfreeingitselfoftoxicmaterials.

DisappearanceOfSymptomsAs the fast progresses, the symptoms grow less and lessmarked until they cease entirely.Many

thingsthatthesickcustomarilydoaremoredisagreeablethanthemostdisagreeablesymptomsthatever developduring a fast. These things are disagreeable always;whereas the fast is so only in aminorityof casesandnot so throughout its length.Theoriginal symptoms, forwhich the fastwasinstituted,alsograduallycease.Sinclair(1910)saysindescribinghisfirstfast,“PrevioustothefastIhad had a headache every day for two or three weeks. It lasted through the first day and thendisappeared—nevertoreturn”(p.743).

ThirtyyearsagoapatientcametomefromNewYork.Allsaveonephysicianwhohadcaredforhimhadinsisteduponanoperationfortumorofthebrain.Formonthshehadsuffereddayandnightasevereheadache that thedrugsofphysicianshad failed to relieve,even temporarily.Twenty-fourhours without food brought complete relief from the pain. The patient described the result as amiracleandwantedtostartimmediatelyforhome.

Anotherremarkableexampleofthegradualdisappearanceofsymptomsduringafastispresentedbytheusuallyrapidclearingupofskineruptions.Oneexamplewillsuffice.Ayoungmanwhohad

sufferedwithacnefortenyearsandtriedmedicalanddruglessmethodstonoavail,wasplaceduponafast.Inninedayshisskinwasasclearoferuptionsasthatofababy.Theremarkablechangesthatoccurintheskinandtheincreasedbrightnessof theeyesaddgreatlytotheyouthfulappearanceofthosewhofast.

IncreaseOfSymptomsIhaveemphasizedthegradualdisappearanceofsymptoms.Imustalsoemphasizethefactthatthere

is sometimes a temporary increase in symptoms during the early days of a fast. Headache maysometimesincreaseatfirstandthendiminish.Thegastricpainsinhyperacidityandgastriculcerarealmost sure to increase during the first three days of the fast. Nervous symptoms are sometimesaggravatedatfirst.Italsooccasionallyhappensthatskineruptionsgrowworse.Catarrhismostlikelytoincreaseattheoutset.Streamsofmucusmaypourfromthenose,sinuses,throat,vaginaandcolon.An amazing quantity of mucus is often excreted through the uterine and vaginal walls. This isespecially instituted. In all cases, however, these increased symptoms are only temporary and thereverseprocesssoonsetsin,resultinginultimaterecovery.

Insomeformsofgastricabnormality,especiallyhyperacidityandcertainnervousstates,ulcer,etc.,painaccompaniesanemptystomachandisrelievedbyfood.Itisknowntoeveryoneofexperiencethattherelieffrompainaffordedbyeatingisonlytemporaryandissoonfollowedbythesamepainandgnawing.Eatingdoesnotremedythecondition,whichmaypersistforyearsofeating.

Whensuchapatientisplaceduponafast,therearetwotothreedaysofsuffering,oftenincreasedsuffering,followedbyrelief.Ifthefastispersistedin,permanentrelieforactualrecoveryfollows.Withthecomingofreliefthepatientexperiencesgreaterhappinessandpeaceofmind.

Averyunusualcasewascared forat theHealthSchoolwhile this revisionwasunderway.Amanwith a largegastriculcer, verynervous and irritable, depressed, emaciated andweak,whose ulcerwas of several years’ standing and who hadmarked hyperacidity of the stomach, experienced norelief fromstomachdistress formore than tenyearsand thenonly intermittently.ForsomereasonwhichIdonotknow,gastricsecretioncontinuedinthismanlongafteritcustomarilyceasesand,afterithadpracticallyceased,itwouldstartupattimesandcauseconsiderablediscomfortwitheructationofgastricjuice.Itneedhardlybeaddedthatthisman’sfastwasfarfromcomfortable.Fortunately,itwassuccessful.

Increaseofsymptomsintheearlydaysofafastorthedevelopmentofnewonesshouldnotcausethefasttobebroken.Thereallyhealthypersonexperiencesnoreactionsfromthefast.Austin(1922)says:“Averygoodtestindeedofaso-calledperfectlyhealthyperson’srealstateofhealthistheeffectproducedonhimorherbymissingoneormoremeals. If the tonguebegins togetcoatedand thebreathfoulandtheindividualfeelsseedyandoutofsorts,itisproofpositivethatthestateofhealthisnotasgoodasitwassupposedtobe”(p.49).Themoreseverethereactionsproducedthegreateristhe real need for the fast. “In exact proportion to the severity of her fasting symptoms,” says Dr.Dewey (ANewEra forWomen), “so isherneed topersevereand for the reason that theyallmeandiseaseincourseofdevelopment.”

CrisesDuringTheFastCrisesdevelopingduringthefastarenotdifferentfromthosedevelopingatothertimesandarenot

tobecaredforanydifferently.Theyareallorthopathicincharacterand,althoughoftendisagreeable,shouldbewelcomed.

Theincreaseinsymptomspreviouslynotedshouldbeconsideredascriticalaction.Fever,dizziness,headache, vomiting, nausea, backache, skin eruptions of various kinds, but particularly urticaria(nettlerash),jaundice,diarrhea,etc.,maydevelop.

Manyofthesymptomsexperiencedbythefasterareduetonervousre-adjustment.Takethecaseofawomanpatientwho“suffered”fromsensoryparalysisinanareaofskinaboutthesizeofthehandatthebaseofthespine,andwho,afterafewdaysoffastingexperiencedseverepaininthispartforabouttwohours,thisfollowedimmediatelybyrestorationofnormalsensibilityinthepart—thepaininthiscasewaspatentlyapartoftheprocessofnervousreadjustment.

Theheadachethatfollowsthegivingupofcoffeeandtheheadachethatoftenfollowsimmediatelyuponthecessationofeatingarebothprocessesofnervousreadjustment.Depressionandirritabilitythat sometimes accompany the early part of the fast are processes of readjustment similar to theirritabilityanddepressionthatfollowthediscontinuanceoftobacco.

Since they are always followed by improved health, it seems certain that these symptoms arenecessarypartsofanessentiallybeneficialprocessthatthefasthasenabledthebodytoinstituteandconsumate.

Notallfastingcasesdevelopanyappreciablecrisesandinthegreatmajorityofcasewherethesedodevelop,theyaremildandofshortdurationandresultinimprovementinthepatient’scondition.Forthe guidance of the reader I will describe some of the more severe crises and crises that are ofrelativelyraredevelopment.Doubtlessimperceptiblecrisesoccurineveryfastinchronic“disease.”Crisesthatmakethemselvesfeltbymarkedoutwardsymptomsdonotalwaysoccur.Whetherevidentornot,thesecrisesalwaysleadtobetterandeverbetterhealth.

Most of the symptoms here considered are of no special significance. Others are of such raredevelopmentthatthepersoncontemplatingafastneednotexpectthemtodevelop.Innocasedoallofthesesymptomsdevelop.Indeed,manyfastersgothroughalongfastwithoutthedevelopmentofanysymptomsatall.Thepurposeofdiscussingthesedevelopmentsisnottoleadthereadertobelievethattheyindicatethatfastingisdangerous,fortheydonot,buttoacquainthimwithpossibilities(theyarehardlyprobabilities inmostcases)and to tellhimhow todealwithsuchcrises if theydodevelop.Theyarenotseriousandtheydonotdevelopinmorethanasmallpercentageofcases.Theyneednotbefeared.

The varied symptoms that are seen in fasting do not represent any “turn for the worse,” in thepatient. On the contrary, they are symptomatic of certain internal vital or functional and organicchanges,whicharealwaysfor thebetter.Unfortunately,mostpeople, includingmostdoctorsofallschools, are still laboring under the old delusion that symptoms are or represent destructiveprocesses,hencethereisnounderstandingoftheactualbeneficialcharacterofthesecrises.

Spitting:Whatmaybedenominateda“spittingcrisis”developsinafewcases.Analmostincessantstreamofmucus ispoured into themouthand throatnecessitatingconstantspitting.Often this lastsforseveraldaysanditmaybesopersistentduringthistimeastopreventsleep.Itissoobviouslyaneliminating process thatwe need not dwell on this part of the phenomenon. Likemost crises it isuncomfortable and annoying while it lasts, and, like all crises, it is succeeded by markedimprovementinthegeneralcondition.

Although there are occasional cases in which the saliva flows as freely during the fast as wheneating,itistherulethatitisgreatlyreducedinamountandtheothersecretionsofthemoutharesoreduced that there is dryness of themouth, lips and throat. In occasional cases the secretion in themouth, chiefly mucus, may be so unpleasant, as to induce vomiting. This unpleasant taste willgraduallylessenandwilldisappearaltogetherbeforethefastistobebroken.Forimmediaterelief,thetonguemaybethoroughlyscrubbedwithabrushandthemouthcleansedwithwater.

NervousCrises:Onecase inmypracticepresentedanervouscrisiswhich I believe tobeunique.Fastingliteraturedoesnotcontainadescriptionofanothersuchcase.Slightpainandsevereburningwouldbeginatthebaseoftheskullandtraveldownthespine,thepartaboveceasingtosufferasthepain passedbelow it.When the pain andburning reached the base of the spine, it “jumped” to theknees,thebacksideofthese,andfromhereitwould“jump”tothebaseoftheskull.Thiswouldlastanhourormore,and then therewouldbeaperiodof intermissionduringwhich thepatientwouldsecurerestandsleepbeforeitwouldsetinagain.Thepatientwasveryweakduringthethreeorfourdaysthecrisispersisted.Assoonasitwasovershewasasstrongasever.

Catarrh:Acoldmaysometimesdevelopnearthebeginningofthefast.Sorenessinthethroatmayalsooccur,thoughrarely.Theeliminationofmucusisalmostalwaysincreasedintheearlypartofthefastinchronic“disease.”

SkinCrises: Skin eruptionsmay cover thewholebody (I havehadbut one such case inmyownpractice)ortheymaybeonlylocal.Theeruptionusuallyitches.Onecaseinmypracticewasthatofawomanwhodeveloped a solidmassof urticarial eruptionsonboth forearms fromhand to elbow.One arm itched intensely, the other itched not at all. Such eruptionsmay last but a few hours butusuallytheypersistforfromthreetofourdays.Theyareprocessesofelimination.

InJune1956Icaredforamanwithanenlargedprostatewhobrokeout,afteraweekoffasting,withageneralizedrashontrunk,armsandlegswhich,exceptfortheabsenceofallacutesymptoms,mighthaveledtoadiagnosisofmeasles.Muchitchingpreventedthepatientfromsleepingforthreenights.Thentherashsubsided.Thisparticulardevelopmentwasuniqueinmyexperience.Ihaveneverseenanythingelse just exactly like it in allmyyearsofpractice.Myopinion is that suchdevelopmentsgrowoutofsepsisinthebodysomewhere.

Headache:Severeheadacheandbackacheareusuallyaccompaniedwith considerable prostration.Sometimesthepatientandfamilybecomefrightened.Thepainsareseverebutthereisnodanger.Noattemptshouldbemadetobreakthefastduringthisstage.Theheadacheandbackachemay last forfrom one to three or four days. They represent nervous readjustment and aremetwith largely innervous patients. Headaches are usually due to the withdrawal of tobacco, tea, coffee, drugs andstimulating foods. Headache commonly develops from the first to the third day. By nomeans allpatientspresentthissymptom.

AchingLimbs:Besidespainsintheback,usuallyinthelowerspine,therefrequentlydevelopintheearly days of the fast, pains in the hips, pains at the base of the skull and aching in the limbs,particularlyinthejoints.Thesepainsandachesareoftenveryannoying,butseldomlastmore thanoneortwodays.Theydevelopchieflyatnightandceaseduringtheday.

Nausea:Thisseemstobeanexpressionofasuddendecreaseofthenormaltensionofthestomach.Itmaybeinducedbyafoulodor,abadtaste,adisgustingsightoranemotionalshock.Severepain,

illness,fatigue,rapiddescentinanelevator,etc.,mayproducenauseabyloweringthetensionofthestomach.Thesethingsbringaboutalossoftensionthroughacomplicated“reflex”mechanism.

Continualemotionaldisturbances,suchasprolongedworries,anguish,griefandrepeatedshocks,mayresultinapersistentlossoftoneinthestomachandproducethe“allgone”sensationsorvaguenauseaoftencomplainedof.Inmanycasesthereisnodoubtthatthesuddenwithdrawingofallfood,as in fasting, results in a temporary lowering of tone or tension in the stomach and this producesnausea.Ontheotherhand,tall,thin,undernourishedpeoplearelikelytosufferwithachroniclackoftensioninthestomachandthisbecomesmorenoticeablewhentheyfast.Thepresenceofbileinthestomachalsocausesnausea.Itspresenceisverylikelytoleadtovomiting.

Vomiting:Thisdevelopsinroughlyaboutfifteenpercentofcases.Thepatientmayvomitbutonceorhemayvomitafewtimesinadayandthisendthecrisis,orhemayvomitfortwo,threeorseveraldays.Thevomitingmayoccuronthefirst,secondorthirddayofthefastoratany time thereafter.Thereseemstobenoruleaboutthetimeofitsoccurrence.Itmaycomeinthemiddleofthefastornear its termination. I had one case to vomit almost continuously for six days and nights and twootherstovomitfrequentlyduringaperiodoftwoweeks.Muchmucusandbilemakeupthecontentsof the vomitus. The case that vomited persistently for six days and nights developed persistenthiccoughingfollowingthevomitingandthislastedforsevendaysbeforeitended.

One elderly lady vomited for four days and nights andmade an excellent recovery.Mr.B„whounderwentathirty-onedaysfastinmyinstitutionin1932,beganvomitingonthetwenty-thirddayofhis fastandvomitedday andnight for sevendays.He excreted largequantitiesofmucus and bile.Like all other cases, he was very weak while vomiting, but became strong again as soon as thevomitingceased. It is thealmost invariable rule that increasedstrength follows thecessationof thevomiting. Indeed, the patient is obviously so much improved in every way and feels it, that theconclusionisinescapablethatthevomitingservedsomeveryimportantofficeinfreeingthebodyofaccumulatedwaste.

Bileisanexcretoryproduct.Theliverseemstoincreaseitsworkofexcretionandtothrowbileintotheintestineingreatquantitiesatshortintervals.Someofthisisregurgitatedintothestomach,whereit occasions nausea and vomiting. I do not regard vomiting as a danger signal but as a cleansingprocess. Carrington says that vomiting spells occurring at the end of a prolonged fast have beenknowntoterminatefatally.Ihaveseennosuchfatalitiesandaminclinedto thinkthatdeath insuchcasesmust have been due either to heroicmeasures to stop the vomiting or to other causes. Theunusualexcretoryactivityofthelivercanhardlybeclassedasacauseofdeath.

But there is a danger associated with prolonged and persistent vomiting.When a patient vomitsfrequently, day andnight, for a numberof days, and, as is usually trueunder these circumstances,takeslittleornowater,dehydrationoccursandthismayreachadangerousstage.Thepatientrefuseswaterforthereasonthatthetasteinthemouthissofoulhefindswaterdistasteful.Healsofindsthatifhedrinkswateritisimmediatelyvomited.Inthoserareinstancesinwhichthepatientbothvomitsandhasadiarrhea, the lossofwater isevenmore rapid.Eitherof thesecrisesmaygreatlyweaken thepatient.Whentheyoccurtogether,theyleavehimveryweakandherecoversslowly.

I had one patient who refusedwater during his fast. Hewas an adherent of a religious sect thatenjoinedfastingandherefusedwateralso.Urgedtotakewater,hewoulddoso,onlytorunhisfingerdownhisthroatandinducevomitingassoonasmybackorthatofthenursewasturned.Herefusedto

breakhisfastwhenIwanteditbroken,butwantedtoawaitinstructionsfromGod.Hewasinducedtotakesomejuice,butinducedvomitingassoonasthenursewasoutoftheroom.Thismandied.Hedidnotdiebecausehisfoodreserveswereexhausted,forhewasstilloverweightatdeath,but,Iamsure,fromdehydration.AfterthisdeathIresolvedtoacceptnomorepatientsforfastingwhowouldnot agree to carry out my instructions. These fanaticallymotivated individuals may hereafter killthemselvesathome,notintheHealthSchool.

Althoughitisoftendifficulttobreakafastwhileapatientisvomitingand,inthegreatmajorityofinstances,thereisnoreasonwhyitshouldbebroken;rather,itshouldbecontinued,Ihavemadeitapractice, for the past several years, to break fasts in these cases before the dehydration reaches adangerous state. In a letter toMr.Carrington,datedMarch26,1903,Dr.Deweywrote: “OnlyGodcouldbreakafastwherethereisasickstomachandthereisnotimetoletnatureperformthe task.Takingfoodinsuchastomachwouldbedeath-dealing.Thereisnothingtodobutmakethebodyandmindascomfortableaspossible,andNaturewillcure,ifthesealofdeathisnotset.”Mr.Macfaddensaysofvomitingduringa fast:“It iscertainly inadvisable tobreaka fastatsucha time. If foodbeadministeredatsuchatime,itmostcertainlywillbeejected,anditmayaggravatethevomitingallthemore.”Deweyrecordsthecaseofamanwhodevelopedvomitingafterfastingfiftydays.Foodwastried, but promptly ejected. He waited for the return of hunger, which came after a last spell ofvomitingonthesixtiethday.

In general I agree that it is unwise to break a fast while vomiting is going on. But I do makeexceptionsandIhavefoundthatitdoesnottakeGodtobreakit.Ifthepatientcanretainwater,whentakeninsmall,perhapsfrequentsips,itisbetterthatthefastbecontinuedinallcases.Butdehydrationmust be avoided. In such cases itmay take two or three days to break the fast. I often have to trydifferentjuicesbeforeIfindonethatwillberetained.IamoftheopinionthatDr.Deweyfailedinhisefforts to break fastswhile the patientwas vomiting because he did not persist in his efforts longenoughorelsehedidnotfindtherightfoodorjuicewithwhichtobreakit.

Muchmucusisoften(usually)expelledinthevomitingprocess.IhaveseennopussoejectedbutCarringtontellsofsuch.Ihaveseenvomitinglastforaslongastwoweeksafterfortyormoredaysoffastingand,while it leaves thepatientveryweak, therehas innocasebeenanydangerofdeath.Sometimes vomiting, headache and eruption will all come together. With a little experience inhandlingcases,onecanjudgefairlyaccuratelyinadvancewhoisandwhoisnotgoingtodevelopaseverecrisis.Longstandingcasesofdigestivetroubles,particularlythoseaccompaniedwithnervousdisorders,aremostpronetodevelopthese.

Cramps:Thesemayoccur in thebowelsofbothsexes,or in thewombof females. In thebowelstheymay be due to gas, to bowel action, or to “pyschic” interferencewith sympathetic control ofperistalsis.Uterinecramps are rare, occurring chiefly in thosepatientswhobleed from theuterus.Morerarelythecrampsresultfromeffortstodisgorgethewombofanaccumulationofmucus.

Gas:Manypatientshaveconsiderableintestinalgaswhilefasting.Thosewhosufferwithdigestivetroubles, visceroptosis, colitis, enteritis, etc., and “nervous” patients aremost likely to be troubledwithgas.Innotafewcasesthereissufficientgastocausedistress,evensleeplessness.Mostofthesecasedexperiencedifficultyinexpellingthegas.

Inmost cases, distress is probably not due to the presence of a large amount of gas, for this isseldompresent in largeamounts. Itseemsrather tobedue to increased internal tension.Aconstant

internaltensionorpressureismaintainedinthedigestivetube.Thisisregulatedbythesympatheticnervous system. Increased tension is felt, reflexly, as pain or discomfort in the muscles of theabdomen.

“Nervousness,”shock,strongemotions,etc.,maycauseincreasedtensioninthetubeandthefasterwillexperiencesomekindofdiscomfort.Subconsciousfearsalsomaycausetheso-calledgaspains.Thosewhohave long sufferedwithdigestivederangements are especially prone to changes in theinternaltensionofthetube.

Functionalirregularitiesinthestomachandintestinemaycausepainbecauseofincreasedperistalticcontractionsthatoftenexistinthese.Markedvisceroptosis,withsharpangulations,mayincreasetheinternaltensionandcausediscomfortorpain.

Increased peristaltic activity of the stomach walls, due to “nervousness,” may also result indiscomfort that ismistakenfor“gaspains”. Increased tensionmayoccur inanysectionof the tubeand thus pain or discomfort may be either general over the abdomen or may be more or lesslocalized.

Fasterswhososuffergenerallycomplainthatthe“gas”makesthemnervousandkeepsthemawakeatnight. Itseemsthat theoppositeof this is the truth—thenervousnesscauses the increasedtensionandresultingdiscomfort.Wherethesepatientsareabletocompletelyrelax,their“gaspains”cease.AlthoughInolongeremployanyofthese:suggestion,abdominalmassage,hotwaterapplicationstothe abdomen, a drinkofwarmwater andothermeasures,will usually relieve this distress, at leasttemporarilywithoutactuallylesseningtheamountofgas.

Gas rumblings in the intestine mean unstable nerve control of this organ. Cathartic drugs willalmostalwaysproducetheserumblings.Thisisduetoexcitementproducedbytheirritatingdrugs.

Thegurglingandrumblingoftenheardintheabdomenisduetothemovementsofgas fromonesection of the intestine to another. Itmay often be due to emotional interferenceswith the normalsympathetic control of the gut. A nervous patient may exhibit such rumbling on the slightestprovocation.Enemas,duetotheexcitementtheyoccasion,oftenproducethesesymptoms.

Diarrhea:Thisisararedevelopment,althoughitismorecommoninfastingthansomeadvocatesoffastingknowabout.Thisisduetothefactthattheiruseoftheenemahidestheactualdevelopment.It comes,when it does, only as a house-cleaning process, and only because there is an imperativeneedforit.

Enlargementoftheparotidgland:(thesalivaryglandthatliesatabouttheangleofthejaws,oneoneachsideofthemouth),rarelyseeninafast,butsometimesdevelopingimmediatelyafterthefastisbroken,hasbeenvariouslyinterpreted.Itisacommondevelopmentinfaminevictimsandissaidtobedueto“semi-starvation”andtodeficientprotein.Undernutritionandmalnutritionfrequentlyresultinthisenlargement,fastingrarely.Studiessofarmadeofthedevelopmentleavemuchtobedesired.It isanevanescentdevelopment, lastingfromtwoor threedays toasmanyweeks,but rarelymorethanafewdays.Ihaveseennomentionofitinfastingliterature,otherthanthatofMr.Hoelzelandhisexperimentalworkoftenlackedmanyelementsofpropercareofthebody.Thiswaspermissibleinexperimenting,butwouldnotbesointhecareofthesick.

Dizziness:This is avery frequent symptomandmanifests chiefly in the early part of the fast, orwhenonearises suddenly. It lastsbuta fewseconds andmaybepreventedby rising slowly. It is acommon development during the fast and arises out of the sudden withdrawal of blood from thebrain.Ifthefasterwill“takeiteasy,”hewillrarelyexperienceanydizziness.

Fainting:Thismayoccurintheearlydaysofafast.Itshouldoccasionnoalarmorapprehension,and the patient should be cared for merely by stretching him, or her out and loosening all tightclothingandadmitingplentyoffreshairtothepatient.

Althoughrelativelyfewfastersfaint,someofthemdoatsometimeorotherduringafast.Oftenthismayoccuronthefirstorseconddayandnotagainthereafter.Carringtonmentionsacaseinwhich“apractical suspension of all consciousness resulted from the ingestion of the first meal, after thebreakingofthefast,andlastedsomehours.”Heemphasizesthefactthatsuchoccurrencesaremerelyrarecuriositiesrather than“pathologicalphenomenalikelytooccur.”Hesaysthat“it isdoubtful ifpreciselythesameeffectswilleveragainbeobservedinfastingpatients—beingdue,ineverycase,toapeculiarcombinationofcauses,allbutimpossibletoduplicateagain.”

When a fasting patient faints he should be cared for precisely as if he faintedwhile eating threesquaremealsaday.Allheneedsisfreshairandtime.Heshouldnotbesetup,butshouldbeleftinaproneposition.Nostimulantsorsmellingsaltsneedbegiven.Lethimaloneandhewillsoonopenhiseyesand lookaround, thengetupandgoabouthisbusiness.Dashingcoldwater inhis face isequallyunnecessary.Rest,notshock,istheneedofthepersonwhohasfainted.

Sorethroat:Althoughsorethroatismostoftenseenfollowingimmediatelyuponbreakingthefast,itoccasionallydevelopsduringthefast.Thesorenessisnevergreat,lastsbutadayortwo,atmost,andneedoccasionnoconcern.

Palpitation:“Painintheheart”andpalpitationofthisorganareduetogasesinthedigestiveorgans.Thesesymptomsareofraredevelopmentandarenotdangerous,althoughtheyareusuallythesourceof much needless apprehension on the part of the patient. Palpitation may be the result of“nervousness,”fearorexertion.

Painfeltintheheartisrarelyactualpainintheheart.Itisusuallypaininthechest.Itmaybeduetogas, itmaybeof “psychic”origin, itmay be of toxic origin.Unless it is accompaniedwith othersymptomsthatindicatehearttrouble,itshouldbeignored.Itisnotseriousandsoonpasses.

Insomnia:This ismostoftendue to lackofneedof sleep.Little sleep is requiredby the averagefasting individual. In a few instances sleeplessness is due to nervous tension or to discomfort.Sleeplessnessshouldcausenoworry.

Whilefewfasterssleepasmuchaswheneating,allofthemsleepmuchmorethantheyrealize.Thisis also trueof all patientswho sufferwith insomnia.Tenhours of sleep seem like fifteenminutesbecause we are not conscious of the passage of time while we are unconscious; an hour ofwakefulnessseems likeawholenight,because timedragssoslowlywhenwearewaiting togo tosleep.

Visual defects:While it is no uncommon thing to see great and lasting improvements in visiondevelop during a fast, particularly during a long fast, there are somewhat rare instances inwhich

there develops temporaryweakness of vision. Carringtonmentionswhat he regards as a “curiousdevelopment”whichhesaysmayneverbeseenagain.Apatientsawdoubleforatimejustpriortobreaking the fast. Two visual imageswere perceived instead of one. I have seen one or two suchdevelopmentsmyselfattheendofaverylongfast.Whatisseenmoreoften,butstillonlyrarely,isweakness of vision, so that the faster can seebut little.He is forced to discontinue reading, or hisvision may become weaker, even, than this would indicate. Much of this seems to be due to atemporary lossofcoordinationbetween the twoeyes,as theydonot focusupon theobjectviewed.Thatnorealinjurytothenervesormechanismofvisionoccursisshownbythefactthattheweaknessanddefectsoondisappearafterthefastisbrokenandvisionissoonbetterthanitwasbeforethefast.Ihad one case inwhich this development occurred, in amanwhohadworn heavy lenses for yearspriortothefast.Afterthefastwasbrokenhewasabletodiscardhisglassesandgotalongwithoutthem.Anothercaseis thatofawomanwhoworeglassesbutwhosawdouble(withoutherglasses)beforethefast,andregainednormalvisionwhilefasting.Shewasabletodiscardherglasseson thesixteenthdayofherfastandcouldseetoread,sew,threadneedles,etc.,withoutherglasses.Shedidnotreturntotheuseofglassesuntilaboutsevenyearslater.

DangerousComplicationsUnder the head of danger signals or complications, works on fasting usually list uncontrollable

vomiting,persistenthiccoughs,apersistent,veryerraticpulse,extremeweakness,fearofstarvation,oranunreasonableandpersistentdeterminationtobreakthefast.Thelastthreeofthese,Ithink,maybeproperlyconsideredassignsofpossibledanger.

GreatWeakness:Thisisnotalwaysadangersignal;butmaybeinsomecases.Althoughitusuallycauses thepractitioner to terminate the fast, this is duemore to fear on his part than to any actualdangertothepatient.Persistentextremeweaknessismorelikelytoproveadangersignal,althoughthisissorarethatIhaveseenbutonesuchcase.

ErraticPulse:Thismaysometimesbeadangersignal,butisnotsoinmostcases.Theheartwillbear carefulwatching in such cases, and the fast may be terminated if the practitioner deems thisadvisable.Anerraticpulseisusuallyofshortduration,andshouldbetakenseriouslyonlywhenitislasting.

Averyrapidpulseoraverylow,feeblepulseisusuallyconsideredadangersign.Thisiscertainlynotalwaysso.Ihavefrequentlycontinuedfastswithaveryrapidpulse,andIhavecontinuedotherswhenthepulsewassolowthatonecouldhardycountit.Allsuchsymtpomsmustbeconsidered inrelationtothegeneralconditionofthepatientandnotinisolation.

Difficult Breathing: Dr. Kritzer lists the following symptoms that should be carefully watchedbecause “they are nature’s warnings to discontinue the fasting:” “palpitation of the heart; dyspnea(difficult breathing); vomiting;hiccoughs, night sweats, a rapid, thin,wirypulse, extremenausea.”Theexperiencedpractitionerknowsthatthesearenotindicationsforbreakingthefast,andthattheyarenotdangersignals.IhavewitnessedthedevelopmentofdifficultbreathingduringafastinbutfewcasesandIhavenotseenitmentionedinanyof the literatureonfasting. Itmustbeanexceedinglyrare occurrence and, if and when it does occur, must be considered in relation to the generalconditionofthepatient.

RetentionofUrine:Thisisaveryrareoccurrence.Ihaveneverseenitdevelop.Authorsattributeittoinsufficientwaterdrinking;butthiscannotbethecause.Hotsitzbathsandhotenemasareadvised

to secure relaxation. I do not favor their use. A catheter may be employed if necessary. Dr.ChristopherGianCursioreportsafewcasesofsuppressionofurine.Inonecasehesecuredaflowofurinebyresort toavaginaldouche.Nocatheterwasused.Hesayshemuchprefers fasters tohaveotherreactionsasthiscreatesagreatamountoffearinthepatientandtheirpanic-stricken“friends.”Carringtonmentionsonecaseinwhichtherewas“prolongedretentionofurinetowardtheendofaprolongedfast.”

Delirium:Thisconditionisofveryrareoccurrence;butmaydevelopinthosewhohavetakenlargequantitiesofnerveparalyzingdrugs,orwhoareverytoxic.Thedeliriumisofshortduration,andbyitselfshouldcausenoapprehension.Shoulditdevelopinconnectionwithsuppressedurine,extremeweakness,rapid,feeblepulseandothersignsofprostration,itshouldbeconsideredasignofdanger.Suchdangersdonotarisefromthefast,butfromothercauses.

Petechiae:Thesearesmallpurplishhemorrhagicspotsintheskinwhicharechieflyassociatedwithseverefevers,suchastyphus,andaresupposedtobeindicativeofgreatprostration.Inallofthetimethat Ihavebeenconducting fasts, Ihaveseenaboutadozenfastersdeveloppetechiae.Only twoofthesefastingpatientshavebeenyoung;theremainderhavebeenwellpastmiddlelife.Theyappearinpatientswhoareinverylowstatesofnutrition.Thisdevelopmenthasnotbeenobservedinanyofthelongest fasts Ihaveconducted,while threeor fourof themhavebeen incomparatively short fasts.The patients have at no timebeen prostrated.Theyprobablymeangreatweakness of the capillarywallssothatthesebreakeasily,permittingthebloodtoflowintotheskin.Ithasbeenmypracticetobreak thefast immediatelyupon theirappearance.Only inone instancewas thefastcarriedseveraldaysbeyondtheirappearance.Inthispatientnoharmresultedfromextendingthefast.

Therearereallyfewdangersignalsthatdevelopduringafastandtheseareextremelyrare.Perhapsinallcasestheseareduetosomethingotherthanthefast.Duetopopularprejudicesagainstfastingandtotheviolentoppositionofthemedicalprofessiontotheprocedure,practitheyarelikelytobeaccusedofstarvinghimtodeathandsentencedformanslaughter.

Ten thousandpatientsmaydieafter swallowingpoisonousdrugsorafterhavingoneormoreoftheir organs removed and no one is held responsible; but let one patient diewhile fasting and anautopsyisatonceorderedtofixresponsibilityfordeath.Thishindered,foralongtime,progressinknowledgeoffastingandpreventedthediscoverythatwhatwerethoughttobedangersignalsoftenwerenot.

StrengthAndWeaknessBenedict(1907)devotesconsiderationtostrengthtestsduringthefast.Hesays:“Thetestsmadeby

LucianionSucciinwhichadynamometerwasusedtomeasurethestrengthoftherightandlefthandsshowedresultsseeminglyatvariancewithpopularimpression.Thus,onthe21stdayofthefast,Succiwasabletoregisteronthedynamometerastrongergripthanwhenthefastbegan.Fromthe20thtothe30thdayofthefast,however,hisstrengthdecreased,beinglessattheendthanatthebeginningofthefast.Indiscussingtheseresults,LucianipointedoutthefactthatSuccibelievedthathegainedinstrengthasthefastprogressed,andhenceprobablydidnotexertthegreatestpoweratthebeginningof the experiment. Considering the question of the influence of inanition on the onset of fatigue,Luciani states that the fatigue curve obtained from Succi on the 29th fast day was similar to thatobtainedwithanindividualundernormalconditions”(p.327).

Levanzinsays:

Many people think that during a long fast you have to sit down on aMorris chair readingnewspapersordozingbecauseyouhavenotsufficientstrengthfordoinganyworkatall.Ifyouweightwohundredpoundsandyournormalweightshouldbeonehundredandthirty-twoyoucanfastforsixtydaysandforeachdayyouincreaseyourstrength,becauseyouarecomingbacktoyournormalpoint.Istartedthisfastfrommynormalweight;Ihavegonethroughthirty-twodaysofcontinuousscientifichardshipsandtortures,butIneverfeltthatIwaslosinganystrengthandtherearethedynamometerteststoshowit.

OnthelastdayIcouldpressuptoonehundredandtwentypoundswithoutanydifficultywithmylefthandandIneverdoanyregularexerciseexceptwalking.Icouldgoupanddownasteepflightofstepstomybalconywithoutsupportorshakingin theknees.Inever laydownexceptduringexperiments.

Iused topass the fewsparehours thatwere atmydisposalwriting long letters and busyingmyselfactively;ontheeveningofthelastdayIwasdancinginthelaboratoryandlaughing.IntheafternoontheeliteofthemedicalandscientificmenofHarvardUniversityandthemedicalcollegescametoseeme.Istoodupfornearlytwohoursandforthewholetime.

Tellingofhisdiscussionwiththereportersattheendofhisexperimentalfasthesays:

Iexplainedtothemtheimpressionsofmyfast,questionswithmyspiritsupandwithoutfeelingthe least exhaustion.Those that feel any lackof strengthduringa fast are tobeclassed in thesamecategorywiththosewhofeelhungry.Theyarenervous,andvery impressionablepeople,andtheirsufferingsareonlythebanefuleffectoftheirtoovividimagination.

Ifyousuggesttoyourselfthatyouarestrongandthatyoucanwalktwomilesonthethirtiethdayofyourfast,believeme,youcandoitwithoutgreatdifficulty,butifyoufixinyourweakmindthatyouaregoingtofaintandworryandpersisttoworryaboutit,besurethatnotaverylongtimewillelapsebeforeyoufaintreally,avictimofyourwrongauto-suggestion.

Whatmay,atfirst,seemparadoxicalisthefactthatwhenapatientbecomesveryweakinfasting,ifhepersists in the fast, theweaknessceasesandhegrows stronger. Indeed Ihave seenpatientswhowereonedaysoweaktheycouldhardlyraisetheirheadsfromthepillowand,nextday,stillfasting,weresostrongtheywantedtogetoutanddothings.Greatweakness,borderingonprostrationmaybeseen in certain crises, especially in vomiting, so long as the crisis lasts.As soon as the crisis hasended,strengthreturnswitharush.

XXIX.HygieneoftheFastWhereToFastConservationRestMentalInfluencesFearMaintainPoiseFreshAirWarmthExerciseWorkingDuringTheFastBathingSunBathingForTheBadTasteGumChewingWaterDrinkingDuringTheFastSeasoningsForTheWaterColdWaterFeedingIntervalsTheEnemaDuringTheFastTheGastricLavageDuringTheFastFalseTeethForcingMeasures

Fastingisnotatoytobeplayedwithbytheignorantnorshoulditbelookeduponasastunt.Therehave been stunt fasters, but we do not advise one to undertake stunt fasts. Nor do we adviseindiscriminatefastingofanykindbyanyone.Anyoneundertakinganextendedfastshouldeitherbefullyacquaintedwithallthedetailsoffasting,orheshouldbedirectlyandimmediatelysupervisedbyonewho has hadmuch experience in conducting fasts. As elsewhere, but “a little knowledge is adangerousthing.”Thefastissuchanunusualexperiencefortheaverageperson,andhisfeelingsandsensations,whileundergoing it,aresoentirelydifferent fromhispreviousexperiences,hismentalconditionisoftensoperturbed,duetounfoundedanxiety, that thedevelopmentofany insignificantsymptom, such as palpitation of the heart, faintness, gastric discomfort, vomiting, etc., may causealarm.Itisherethat theexperiencedmancanoffer thefaster thesupportandreassurance that issohelpfulunderthecircumstances.

Carrington (1908) has emphasized the fact that fasting is a great deal more complicated than iscommonly supposed, or than is involved in the mere idea of “going without food.” “There is ascienceoffasting,”hesays,“whichwearejustnowbeginningtorealize.”Whileexpressingtheviewthatthedangersoffastingaresoslightastobeinsignificant,anditsbenefits,whenrightlyapplied,far-reaching and immeasurable, he says: “fasting should be applied by skilled hands; or rather,practicedonlyundertheclosesupervisionandobservationofoneskilledin”conductingthefast.Hesays: “the averagephysician isnomorequalified to undertake the supervision of a protracted fastthanisanyothermanwhohasagoodworkingknowledgeofphysiology.”HeadvisesthatthefastbeundertakenunderthesupervisionofagoodreputableHygienist.

When one undertakes to fast, one reasonably desires to obtain the greatest possible good in theshortestpossibletime.Toaccomplishthisrequiresthatthefastbeconductedinstrictaccordancewithafewsimpleandeasilyunderstoodprinciples.Thesefewprinciplesmustbeknownandobservedinabstainingfromfood,byeitherthewellorthesick.Tildensays:“Fastingasaremedyrequiresgreatknowledgeandexperience,andshouldnotbeassumedbylaymen,norbyprofessionalmenwhohavegiven the subjectno thought froma fundamentalpointofview.”Fastingmustbe fullyunderstood,rightlyapplied,itmustbeconductedwithskilledhands, iffullresultsaretobeexpected.Therearemanyfactors thatmustbeconsideredwhile thepatient isabstainingfromfood. If thesickperson’scondition representsyearsofabusebybadhabits and treatment,great skill is required to takehimthroughafasttoperfecthealth.Manyoftheevilsascribedtofastinghaveresultedfromtheattemptsofunskilledandinexperiencedmentoconductfasts.

NogreatertruthwaseverutteredthanthatcontainedinOswald’sstatementthat,“Fastingisagreatsystem-renovator.Tenfast-daysayearwillpurifythebloodanderadicatethepoisondiathesismoreeffectivelythanahundredbottlesofexpurgativebitters.”Buttoachieveidealresultsthefastmustbeproperlyconducted.TheHygieneofthefastdoesnotdifferfromthehygieneof“disease.”Indeed,wemust learn to regard fasting as a Hygienic, not as a therapeutic measure. I do not like the terms“fastingcure”and“therapeuticfasting,”or“curativefasting.”

WhereToFastAclosestudentoffastingonceremarked:“Thetroublewithfastingis,there’snoplacetodoitin.”

Hemeantthatthesurroundingsaresoimportant,thepossibilitiesandtheliabilitiesaresogreat,thatweneedtohaveaproperplaceforthefast.Oneofthebiggestobstaclesinthewayofthemanwhoattemptstofastathomeisthefactthathisfamily,hisrelatives,hisfriendsandneighborswillnotlethim alone.They constantly urge him to eat, tell him that he is going to starve to death, that he islookingbad,thathewillbesuretoinjurehimself,etc.,etc.Membersofthefamilymaybecomeveryangry with him and quarrel with him, thus exemplifying the truth of the old adage that a man’senemiesareofhisownhousehold.Theycallinaphysicianwhotellshimthatheisinjuringhimself;sometimesthepolicearecalledandathreatismadetohavehimcommitted.Foodisbroughttohimandofferedhim;tastytidbitsaremadeforthepurposeoftemptinghim.Theymakeanightmareofhisfast.Result:hethrowsinthespongeandresumeseating.

Homeshouldbeanidealplacetofast,butowingtotheprevailingignoranceofandoppositiontoit,thisisrarelythecase.Homeisalsocommonlylocatedamidthenoiseandfumesofacitywherethewaterisdruggeduntilitisasunfittodrinkastheairisunfittobreathe.Thefastshouldbeundergoneamidquiet,peacefulsurroundings,wheretheair ispure,purewater isavailableandthepeoplearecongenial. As it should be also properly supervised, the best place to fast is in an institution,preferablyaHygienic institution, located in thecountry. InWinter, this shouldbe in theSouth.Thenewschool,theHygienic,requiressupervisionbymenandwomenwhoareperfectlyfamiliarwithallofthesymptoms,changesinflesh,andinmentalchangeswhichfastingmakespossible.TheHealthSchoolorHygieianHomeforthereconstructionofthepatient,willnotbeinthehandsofagroupofsleek,fat,indulgentmenandwomenwhoreveal,bytheirownconditionandtheirownwaysoflife,thattheydonotknowthelawsoflife,andwhohaveneverdisciplinedthemselves,butinthehandsofhealthy,healththeyarehelpingtobuildintheirpatients.

ConservationAllofourcareofthefastershouldbedesignedtoconserveineverypossiblemanner,hisenergies

and reserves. Every method of care and every influence in the environment of the patient that

occasionsadissipationofthepatient’senergiesandreservesshouldbecarefullyavoided.Muchharmresults from the use of drugs and measures of treatment that are not conservative and there iseverywhere,intheranksofthosewhoopposefasting,atendencytocreditthisharmtothefast,ratherthantotheenervatingmeasuresemployedinmis-caringforthepatient.Letconservation,ratherthandissipation,beourwatchword.Theinstructionsthatfollow,ifcarriedoutconscientiously,willproveconservative;hence, theywilldefinitelyshortentheperiodof time thepatientwillhave to fast,andwillleavehiminbetterphysicalconditionattheendofhisfast.

RestIntheclosingyearsofthelastcenturyandtheearlyyearsofthis,manyfastersseemtohavetriedto

ascertain how much work they could get out of their bodies while fasting. They were proud ofwinningfootraces,oftheamountofweighttheycouldlift,ofthegreateramountofmentalworktheycoulddo,of the longerhours they spent inwork, of the late hours inwhich they engaged, andofsimilar feats of activity.Tanner ’s racewith a reporter,Sinclair ’s greatermental output, theweightliftingofMacfaddenandLow,allwhilefasting,areexamplesofthisnature.Allsuchexamplesoftheabilityof the faster toperformmentalandphysicalwork,all examplesofmentalacutenessand ofphysicalendurancearevaluableinrevealingthestrengthofthefasterandtheresourcesandcapacitiesat thecommandof thebodyabstainingfromfood,but theyarenotexamples tobeemulatedbythesickpersonwho fasts for thepurposeof improvinghis health.Conservationof his resourceswillprovide far better results. Let him rest—mentally, sensorially and physically, while he is restingphysiologically.

Thehibernatinganimalpossessessufficientreservestomaintainaminimumofphysiologicalandlittleornophysicalactivitythroughoutaprolongedperiodofabstinence,butinthecaseofafastingman, there is no hibernation and there is no reduction of phsiological activity to such low levels.Rarely,even,doeshediscontinueallphysicalactivity,evenforshortperiods, to thesameextentasdoes thehibernatinganimal.Usually,also, there isconsiderablementalandsensorialactivity.Prof.Morgulis describes the winter sleep of Russian peasants in trying years of famine, when entirefamiliesare“massedcloselytogether,”ontopofawidestove.“Deprivedpracticallyofeverymeansofsubsistence,”but“well-protectedagainstlossofheatbyclosecontactaswellasbytheirfurcoats,”hesays“membersoftheentirehouseholdandfrequentlyofentirevillagesremainedwithoccasionalinterruptions,inastateofwintersleep,preservingtheirenergybylimitingitsdissipation.”

Naturedoesthesamethingwhensheprostratesthepatientandsuspendsalldigestiveactivities.Shepreserves energy by limiting its dissipation. The energy thus saved is available for use in thetemporarilymore importantworkofhealing. Ifwearewisewewill takeourcue fromnature andalsoconserveourenergies,whilefasting,bycurbingtheirexpenditures. I favor theplanofputtingthefastingindividualtobed.Iamsurethatbetterandquickerresultsarethusobtained.Natureputsherhibernating animal to bed and to sleep. Seals and salmon are, of course, very active during theirmonthsoffasting,buttheyareexhaustedat theend.Thesalmonusuallydieand thesealssleepforweeks.

ObservationsmadeduringthefastsofSucciandothersshowthatthebodywasteslessrapidlywhenthepatientiskeptwarmandatrest.Restconservesthebody’senergiesandsubstancesandhastenstheprocessofhealing.IagreewithPurinton,whosaysinhisPhilosophyofFasting:“Notanounceofenergyshallbedissipatedduringtheextremefast.Thismeansloafing,resting,lazyingalongandnotcaring.”Thebestplaceforthefasterisinbed.Talking,laughing,listeningtotheradioandviewing

andlisteningtotelevisionpreventgenuinerest.Theyarenoisy,disturbing,andemotionallyupsetting.Anewspaperoranovelmaybedisturbing,excitingordepressing.Iwentintotheroomofoneofmyyoungwomenpatients and foundher crying. I askedwhy shewas crying. “She died,” she sobbed.“Whodied?”Iasked.“Thewomaninthepicture,”washerreply.Shehadbeenviewingamovieontelevisionandtheheroinehaddiedattheendofthepicture.Thepatienthadbecomesoemotionallyinvolvedwiththeheroinethatherdeathseemedreal.Emotionalinvolvementswiththecharactersinthe soapoperas and other picture can be very enervating.Wisdomadmonishes that such things beavoidedwhilefasting.

In hibernation, due to the extremely low degree of metabolic activity, the nutritive reserves areconsumedveryslowly,butfastingmaybeassociatedwithvigorousphysicalactivity—witnessthefursealbullandmalesalmonduringtheirmatingseasons.Itisquiteobviousthat,giventhesameamountofnutritivereserve,theactiveindividualwillconsumehisinternalfoodstoressoonerthantherestingindividual.For this reason, if for no other, the fasting patientwho restswhile fastingwill emergefromthefastinbetterconditionthanthefasterwhoisactiveduringthisperiod.Atthesametime,ifaprolongedfastisessential,restwillenablethepatienttoconservehisreservestotheutmostandthuslengthentheperiodoverwhichhecansafelyfast.Thenutritivematerialsstoredinthetissuessupplytheminimumamountof sustenance indispensable to keepup thenecessary activities of life until amorefavorableconditionoflifeisproduced.Thelessphysicallyactiveorganismexpendslessofitsreserves,notaloneduetoreducedphysicalwork,but,also,duetodecreasedphysiologicalactivity.

Thegreatvalueofrestinallpathologicalconditionsiswellestablished.Beyondacertainminimumof physical activity (and even this is profitably dispensed with in most acute and a few chronicconditions)themorerestthesickorganismreceives,themorerapidlyisgoodhealthrestored.Thisprinciple does not cease to be true when the sick organism is fasting. Rest (physical, mental andphysiological) is equally important and beneficial during a fast. By physiological rest in thisparticularconnection,Ihavereferencetofreedomfromstimulation—excitation.

Ininsectstheconditionofperfectquiescenceisaccompaniedbythemostwonderfulchanges.Theworm-likecaterpillarbecomes,within itscocoon, thebutterflywith locomotivepowers immenselygreaterandwitha totallynewanddifferentorganism.Growthandrepairaremostefficient inmanwhenhe rests and sleepsmost.The nearer the faster can approach the quiescence of the pupa, thegreaterwillbetheconservationofhisenergiesandthemorerapidandefficientwillbetherepairofhis damaged structures.Even reading,writing, talking, listening to the radio and similar forms ofactivityshouldbeavoidedasmuchaspossible.Thenoisyradiowithitsjazzmusic,itsemotionallyexcitingsoapoperas,excitingordepressingnewscasts,etc.,isespeciallybad.

MentalInfluencesTheBiblesaysthat“aman’sfoesshallbetheyofhisownhousehold”(Matthew10:36).Howtrue

thisismaybediscoveredbyanyonewhoundertakesafastathome.Evenmissingonemealisoftenenoughtocauseafamilyalarmthatresultsinanear-panic.Everyformofpressurewillbebroughttobearuponthefastertopersuadeoreventocoercehimtoreturntoeating.Well-meaningthoughthesemembersofthefaster ’sfamilymaybe,theyareactuallytheenemiesinhisownhousehold.Itiswise,therefore,togetawayfromfamilyandfriendswhenundertakingafast.

Fastingisanunusualexperienceformostpatients.Thefirstfast,inparticular,islikelytobefilledwith unfounded anxiety, uncertainty,mental perturbation, and even fear. The fasterwill experiencenew and formerly unknown feelings and sensations and these will disturb him. Nausea, faintness,

pain, vomiting, headache, and other symptoms that occasionally arise may give rise to panic andresultininjurioustreatmentorinaprematureandhurtfulbreakingofthefast.Thefasterneedstobeunderthecareandconstantsupervisionofonewhounderstandsthesedevelopmentsandwhocangivehimencouragementandexplanation.Heisevenhelpedbybeingwithotherfasters,asthesesupporthimbytheirownexperiences.

Levanzinsaysthatatthestartofthefast,ifthepatientconcentrateshisthinkinguponhisprivationfromhisaccustomedpleasures,hesuffersmentally.Headvisesthatthepatienttrytofindadiversionso that he may have his mind on something else. He advises drinking a glass of water when theaccustomedmealtimearrives,butIdonotadvisethisunlessthereisactualthirst.Ifthepatientwillnotworryabouthis“deprivation”hewillbelesslikelytoexperienceanydiscomfortatall.TheBibleadvises: “When thou fastest, anoint thine head andwash thy face that thou appear not untomen tofast.”

Fearofthefast,broodinessandotherphasesofmentaldepressionareespeciallytobecombatted.While fasting, as at other times, one’s thoughts and emotions profoundly affect the organs andfunctionsof thebody.A cheerful attitude is especially important at this time.Literally,millions ofpeoplehave fastedandmany thousandshave fasted for longperiods,andweknow that there isnodanger associated with prolonged abstinence from food. Disabuse the mind of all fear andapprehension.Donotimaginethatyouaregoingtogrowweakorstarvetodeath.Fearinparticularisdangerous.

Prof.Morgulissays:“Thepracticalvalueofinanition(emptiness)willneverbefullyutilizeduntilbothlaymenandthemedicalprofessionlosetheirinstinctivefearoffasting.”Idonotbelievethefearoffastingisatallinstinctive,butthatitisduetomisinformationandfalsetraining.Aninstinctivefearoffasting, itseemstome,would,ofitself,beastrongreasonfor rejecting themeasurealtogether.Morgulis adds that “the experiences of recent years which through themedium of the press havereachedalargeaudiencewillincourseoftime,alleviatetheentirelyunjustifiablefearofabstentionfromfoodforlongerperiods.”

The hunger strikes and a few similar experiences which have been published are as nothingcompared to themany thousandswhohave fasted for long periods under the care of thosewhomMorgulisreferstoas“amateurs”and“enthusiasts.”Norhasthedailypress,incarryingsuchstories,doneahundredthpartasmuchinbreakingdownthis“entirelyunjustifiablefear”offastingashavethe “enthusiasts,” through their lectures, writings and successes in fasting the sick. For sectarianreasons,Morgulis,whobelongstotheself-styled“regular”medicalprofession,wouldminimizetheworkofthesemenandreferstothemas“crankreformerswhoseeininanitionapanaceaforallillsoftheflesh.”

FearSinclair(1910)says:‘Therearetwodangerstobefearedinfasting.Thefirstisthatoffear.Idonot

saythisasajest.”Thefaster“shouldnothaveabouthimterrifiedauntsandcousinswhowilltellhimthathe looks likeacorpse, thathispulse isbelow forty, and thathisheartmaystopbeating in thenight.ItookafastofthreedaysoutinCalifornia;onthethirddayIwalkedfifteenmiles,offandon,and,exceptthatIwasrestless,Ineverfeltbetter.AndthenintheeveningIcamehomeandreadabouttheMessinaearthquake,andhowthereliefshipsarrived,andthewretchedsurvivorscrowdeddowntothewater ’sedgeandtoreeachotherlikewildbeastsintheirrageofhunger.Thepapersetforth,inhorrifiedlanguage,thatsomeofthemhadbeenseventy-twohourswithoutfood.I,asIread,hadalso

been seventy-two hours without food, and the difference was simply that they thought they werestarving.And if at some crisis during a long fast,when you feel nervous andweak and doubting,somepeoplewithstrongerwillsthanyourownareabletoarouseinyoutheterrorsoftheearthquakesurvivors,theycancausetheirmostdirefulanticipationstoberealized”(pp.745-746).

The fast shouldnot be continued if thepatient is in dreadof it— living in fear. Fearmay kill. Itcertainly inhibits elimination. Scientific works on the mind and emotions are replete with wellauthenticated cases of death resulting from fear, anger, grief, shock, etc. Instantaneous death hasresultedmorethanoncefromthereadingofatelegram.Inothercases,grieforfearhassentpeopletothegraveinafewdays.Onlyrecentlyinthiscity,griefoverthedeathofhisfatherresultedinthedeathofayoungboyinthreemonth’stime.

MaintainPoisePhysicalandemotionalactivitiescausearapidexpenditureofthestoredreserves.Thefastingman

ismoreorlessactive—physically,mentally,emotionally,sensorially—andthisactivityconsumeshisreserves at a much more rapid rate than the reserves of the hibernating bat, for example, areconsumed.This results in amore rapid exhaustionof reserves. For,whileman’smetabolic rate isgreatlyreduced,itisnotloweredtothesameextentasthatofthehibernatingorestivatinganimal.

FreshAirTheefforttokeepwarmshouldnotcauseonetoexcludefreshairfromtheroom.Freshairiseven

moreimperativeduringthefastthanatothertimes.Seethattheroomiswellventilatedbothdayandnight.

WarmthHibernating animals manage to live despite the low temperature of their bodies, but man and,

perhaps,most other non-hibernating animalswould freeze to death if subjected to such prolongedlowtemperatureswithoutfood.Resistancetocoldisgreatlyreducedbythelowmetabolicrateofthefaster,sothathefeelscoldatwhatmaybe,underordinarycircumstances,acomfortabletemperature.Thiscausesamorerapidusingupofhisreserves.Therefore,thefastershouldbekeptwarminorderthathisreservesmaybeconservedtothegreatestextent.

Chillingcausesdiscomfort,preventsrestandsleep,andcheckselimination.Itmay,insomecases,causenausea,vomitingandpain.Warmthpromotescomfortandelimination.Thepatientwhoiskeptwarm recoversmore rapidly.Ahot jug to the feetwillusuallybe sufficient to insure comfort andpreventchilling.Thefastershouldnotbeoverburdenedwithbedclothing.Fastingpatientsshouldnotbepermittedtoremaincold.Theyareinclinedtochilleasilyandifnurseordoctoriscareless,suchpatientscanfreezetodeatheveninJulyorAugust;andtheycertainlywillfreezetodeathinthewinterunlesstheyarecarefullyattendedto.Itistherulethatthosepersonswhosufferconstantlywithcoldhandsandfeetlosethiscomplaintasaresultoffasting.Duringthefast,however,thefeetparticularly,arelikelytofeelcoldmuchofthetime.

Fastersmustbekeptwarm.Itrequiresnerveforcetowarmthebody,andthepatientshouldnotbepermittedtowastehisnervousenergyinkeepingwarm,butshouldbekeptwarmbyartificialheat.Thefastingpatientwhothrowsoffthecoversandkickshisfeetandlegsout,declaringheistoohot,yet who has cold extremities, as revealed by feeling his feet, must be carefully warmed and keptwarm. Such patients are actually in danger. Tilden says of such: “unless that patient is carefullywarmedandkeptwarm,deathwillensuewithintwenty-fourtofortyeighthours.Andifthecasehas

advanced very far before receiving this attention, death will certainly take place.” Again: “Afterfasting has gone beyond a certain point—after the patient has reached a point where the rectaltemperaturegoesoneortwodegreesbelownormal—therewillbegreatdifficultyinresuscitation.”Wheresuchaconditionasheheredescribeshasbeenpermittedtodevelop,anditshouldbeknownthatitsdevelopmentisduetoignoranceorcarelessness,artificialheatandmuchofitmustbeappliedto thefaster.Foodwillhave tobegiven inverysmallquantitiesandat frequent intervals.Restandquietareveryimportantinsuchacondition.

ExerciseForanumberofyearsIcontinuedexercisethroughthefastofmostchronicsufferers.Myrulewas:

“Chronic sufferers, unless otherwise contra-indicated, should have daily exercise while fasting.” Iinsisted that the exercise should be mild and carefully adapted to the strength of the patient andpreferredthoseformsofexercisethatcouldbetakenwhile lying inbed. Iemployed thecorrectiveexercisesthatmayhavebeenneededinmostcasesduringthefast.Myrulewasthatfatigueshouldbeavoided.

Ibecameconvincedthatthiswasnotgoodpracticeinmostcases.Itisnowmypracticetorequireallsick fasters to rest.Only those vigorous individualswho are undergoing a fast of ten days to twoweeksas aSpringhouse-cleaning, and fat individualswho are fasting for reductionofweight arenowgivenexercisewhilefasting.Whilethefastisinprogress,theemphasisisplacedonrest.Aftereatingisresumed,exerciseisgiven.

WorkingDuringTheFastOngeneralprinciplesworkingduringalongfastistobeseverelycondemned.Ithasbeendone.It

canoftenbedone.Butitshouldnotbedone.Perhapsthefirstfastofanylengthinwhichthefasterworkedwasthetwenty-eightdaysfastundergonebyMr.MiltonRathburn,awealthygraindealer,in1899.Mr.Rathburn,whowasaveryfatman,tookthisfasttoreduce,upontheadviceofDr.Dewey,andcontinuedhisdailyworkthroughouttheentirelengththereof.AccordingtotheNewYorkPress,ofJune6,1899,“heworkedandworkedhard.Hecamedownearliertohisofficeandwentawaylaterthanusual.Hemadenoefforttosavehimself.Onthecontrary,heseemeddeterminedtomakehistaskashardaspossible.”

Othershavedonethissamethingandsomeofthemwereevenmoreremarkable.In1925,aweaverinJerseyCity,N.J., fastedfortydaysandworkedasaweaver throughout the time.OnJanuary18,1926,GeorgeHasslerJohnson,ofNewYorkCity,afriendandco-workeroftheauthor,beganafastwhichlastedthirtydays,duringwhichtimehewasunusuallyactive.Mr.Johnsonunderwentthisfast,undermysupervision,purelyasapublicitystuntandnotbecausehewasinneedofafast.Hewasanathleteofnomeanabilityandwasinexcellentphysicalconditionatthebeginningandattheendofthefast.

During the entire periodof the fast,Mr. Johnson arose eachmorning at 5 o’clock andwent to aradiobroadcastingstation,wherehebroadcastedthreeclassesinexercises,eachclasslastingfifteenminutes.Fromhereheusuallywalkedadistanceoftwenty-fiveblockstotheofficeoftheMacfaddenPublications,whereheentereduponhiseditorialduties.At11:30A.M.eachdayhevisitedoneortheotherofthethreePhysicalCultureRestaurantsinNewYork,whereheremaineduntil2P.M.,meetingthepeopleandansweringtheirquestionsandgivingadviceuponfasting,dietandexercise.Fromtherestaurant hewould return to the office where, at 3 P.M., he conducted two classes, composed ofMacfaddenemployees,incalisthenics.Afterthisheresumedhiseditorialduties,remainingathisdesk

until5P.M.Duringmostofthefasthewouldwalkhomeintheevening,adistanceof72blocks,andspenthisevenings atMadisonSquareGarden,watching theboxingandwrestlingbouts. Itwas notuntiltheendofthefirstweekofthefastthathegaveuphistrainingatadown-towngymnasiumandhistrackwork—running.

ThisfastendedontheeveningofTuesday,Feb.16,just30daysafterithadbegun.OnJune2,justthreeandone-halfmonths thereafter,Mr. Johnson started fromChicago, inaneffort towalk fromthere toNewYorkwithout food.This stunt, Iwarnedhim against, but hemade a brave effort andendeditJune20thatBedford,Pa.,havingcoveredadistanceof577.8milesinthe20days.

Thiswalkcarriedhimoverhillsandvalleys,throughwind,rain,andthesummer’sheatandthroughcrowds that flockedalong theway.Handshaking, interviews, posing forpictures andmaking shorthealthtalksconsumedalmostasmuchofhisenergyasthewalking.Theseoftendelayedhimsothathiswalkingonseveraldaysbeganlateintheforenoon,althoughitoftenextendedfarintothenight.IwarnedMr.Johnsonbeforehelefttoconservehisenergiesandpredictedthathewouldgo20daysandno longer.Hewouldhavecoveredmoremiles in the same timehewalkedhadhe donemorewalkingandlessoftheotherthings,buthewouldstillhaveendedonthe20thday.

This thing can be done, but it is damaging, even dangerous, and should never be undertaken.Gandhi, theHinduNationalist leader,whohasprobablyfastedmore thananyotherman inmoderntimes,learnedthenecessityofconservinghisenergieswhilefasting.Apainfulmistake,whichalmostlefthimaninvalidforlife,taughthimthislesson.ItwaswhileinSouthAfricathathetookhissecondlongfast,lastingfourteendays,thathefoolishlyimaginedhecoulddoasmuchworkaswhileeating.Ontheseconddayafterbreakingthefasthebeganstrenuouswalking.Thiscausedexcruciatingpainin the lower limbs, but he did the same the next day and for several days thereafter. The painsincreased.Hishealthwasgravelyinjuredbythisandhewasyearsinfullyrecoveringfromit.Ofthishesaid:“FromthisverycostlyexperimentIlearnedthatperfectphysicalrestduringthefastandforatimeproportionatetothelengthofthefast,afterthebreakingofit,isanecessity,andifthissimplerulecanbeobservednoevileffectsoffastingneedbefeared.Indeed,itismyconvictionthatthebodygainsbyawellregulatedfast,forduringfastingthebodygetsridofmanyofitsimpurities.”

Thiswarningagainstworkingthroughoutalongfastdoesnotapplytoashortfast.Ihaveonseveraloccasionsworkedbothathardphysicallaborandatprolongedandexactingmentalworkforthreeorfourdayswithoutfood,andIhavehadhundredsofpatientstodothesameuptoashighasninedays.ButIdonot thinkthisshouldbeprolongedbeyondthe tenthday,andwhere it ispossible toabsentoneselffromwork,itisbestthatallthetimebespentinrest.

The practice pursued by many, of spending the whole day in activity, retards recovery from“disease.”Conservationofenergyshouldbetheguidingprinciple.Dr.Ealesworkedthroughouthisfast devoting eleven to twelve hours a day to the labors of his profession.Hewas very energeticduring the whole time. Regular and frequent strength tests were made. The tests on the eleventh,sixteenth,twenty-first,twenty-third,twenty-fifth,twenty-ninthandthirty-firstdaysofhisfastshowedhis strength to be as great as at the beginning of the fast. The doctor reports that he could havecompetedinathleticworkonthethirtiethday.

BathingThefasterinparticularshouldavoidextremesoftemperatureinthebath.Washthebodyquicklyand

donotstayinthetuborundertheshowerforaprolongedperiod.Aspongebathshouldbeusedifthe

patientistooweaktotakehisorherownbath.Objectionshavebeenraisedtotubandshowerbathswhilefastingonthegroundsthat thebathwashesawaysubstancesfromtheskin thatmustbemadegoodbydrawinguponthebody’sfoodreservesand that thebath isenervating.Thespongebath isadvocated instead, although this alsowashes aways substances from the skin.A toohotbath, a toocoldbath,atooprolongedbathmayproveenervating,butabathnearbodytemperatureand that isnotprolongedwillnotprovemoreexpensive to thebody’snerveenergy thanaspongebath. If thepatientistooweaktotakeashoweroratubbath,thespongebathshouldcertainlybeemployed.Inextremelyweakcases,thefrequencyofthebathmayprofitablybereduced.

SunBathingSunbathing is beneficial during the fast, but must be indulged with greater caution. Certain

precautions are essential. As the fast progresses the sunbathmay be increased up to a point, afterwhich it should be decreased. The faster should always avoid the heat of the day and the sunbathshouldbeofshortduration.Nervouspatients,heartpatients,asthmaticsandsuffererswithpulmonarytuberculosisshouldbemorecarefulinsunbathingthanotherpatients.

Objectionshavebeenraisedtothesunbathduringthefast.Itisassertedthattheanabolicprocessesare at a standstill during this period; that the sunbath causes corrugations in the finger nails; thatsunbathingacceleratescalciummetabolismandinsomeway,thisissupposedtobeundesirable;thatthesunbathisenervating.Noneoftheseobjectionsappeartobevalid.Ihavepreviouslyshownthatthereisanintenseanabolismduringthefast.Whatharmcancomefromanaccelerationofcalciummetabolismisnotapparent.Thesunbathdoesnotcausecorrugationsofthefingernails.Itmayproveveryenervatingifitistooprolongedorifitistakeninthehottestpartoftheday.

Patients should not be permitted to remain in the sun until they are depressed. If the patient isirritableornervousafterasunbath,ithasbeentooprolongedorhasbeentakenwhenitistoohot.Alittle intelligent supervision of the sunbathing of the faster will prevent the enervating effect.Enervation is the result of excess, not of sunning within the capacity of the organism to makeconstructiveuseofthesun.Myruleistostartthesunningwithfiveminutesofexposureonthefrontsurfaceofthebodyandfiveminutesexposureonthebacksurfaceforthefirstdayandtoincreasetheexposure time oneminute on each side each day until the twentieth day, afterwhich I decrease it.Thereareindividualsinwhomthisrateofincreaseisnotinsisteduponandafewwhoarenotgivensunbathswhile fasting. I do not think that such inflexible rules of care as are insisted on in somequarterscanbemadetofitallpatient’sneeds.

ForTheBadTasteThroughmostof thefast, thefasting individual isannoyedbyaverybad taste in themouth.This

maybealleviatedsomewhatbyadailyscrubbingofthetonguewithatoothbrush.Thisshouldnotbedone, however, until after the tongue has been examinedby the doctorwho is conducting the fast.Mouthwashes, lemonjuice,etc.,arenot toberecommended.Gargling the throat iscertainlyofnovalue.Asthefastprogressesandthetongueclearsup,thetastebecomeslessandlessoffensive,until,whenthefastshouldbebroken,thetasteinthemouthisverypleasant.

GumChewingIthasbeendeterminedexperimentally, that thechewingofgumoccasionsan inhibitionofgastric

secretion. This, instead of enhancing digestion, as gum chewing is popularly and professionallysupposed to do, actually retards the digestion of protein foods.As there is no digestion going onduring a fast, it may seem unimportant if the faster chews gum, but this is far from true. I have

permittedfasters tochewgumand Ihavenoteda tendency tochew it in largequantities, the fasterchewingthreeorfourpackagesofgumaday.1aminclinedtothinkthathechewsituntilheextractsallthesugarfromit,thentakesfreshgum,doingthesamewiththis.

Gumchewingservesnousefulpurpose.Itisanevidenceofweakness,thefoundationforwhichislaidininfancyandearlychildhood.Mothersgivetheirbabiesbottles,nipples,crackersorcookiestokeep them quiet. Later in life these perpetual sucklings trade their nipples or their cookies forchewinggumorthecigarette.Gumchewingisamentalhabitthatisneedlessandfoolish,aswellasawasteful practice under any and all circumstances. It is not the innocent practice it is commonlyregarded.Therecanbenodoubtthatitexhauststhesalivaryglands.Itdoesnotseemprobablethatanyuselesshabitcanberegularlyindulgedbyanybodywithimpunity.Gumchewingiscertainlywastefulofthepatient’senergyandtheenergywastedinthisuselesspracticemaybe,atleastinverylowstatesofhealth,justenoughtomeanthedifferencebetweenrecoveryanddeath.Itisparticularlyessentialinall serious states of disease, and in fasting, that all nerve-leaks and all sources of enervation bediscontinued.Energymust be conserved in every possibleway.The faster should certainly refrainfromchewinggum.

WaterDrinkingDuringTheFastMost fasting advocates advisedrinkingmuchwaterwhile fasting.This is doneon the theory that

wateraidsineliminatingtoxinsfromthebody.Levanzinexpressesthistheoryasfollows:“asarule,itiscertainlyadvisabletodoagooddealofwaterdrinkingduringafast—sincethisservestoflushoutthewholesystemandwashthroughtheaccumulatedimpurities.”Healsostatesthatwater“carriesalongwith itmany impurities from theblood.”BothCarringtonandMacfaddenadvocatedrinkingmorewaterthanthirstcallsforwhilefasting.Mr.Carringtonadvocatesdrinkingwaterasameansofrelieving morbid sensations in the stomach that may arise during the early part of a fast.Waterdrinking for this purpose is theuseofwater as a palliative andnot to serve anyneedof thebody.Watertakeninexcessofneedmustbethrownoutspeedilylesttheexcessresultinharm,anditdoesnotoccasionanyincreaseintheeliminationoftoxins.

This is amistake that the early Hygienists—Graham, Jennings, Trall, Alcott, etc.—did notmake.Theyfrowneduponmuchwaterdrinking.Thefactisthatthereisneitherneedforsomuchwater,norbenefitfromtakingit.Drinkingwaterasamerematterofroutineisnotadvisable.Onemayrelyupontheinstinctofthirsttotellhimwhenheshoulddrinkandhowmuch.Drinkwhenthirsty.Donotdrinkwhennotthirsty.

Prof.Levanzinseemstohavebeenabitconfusedonthismatterofwater-drinkingduringafast.Hesays that generally the faster desires “very limited quantities ofwater.”He tells us that in 1911 hefastedfivedayswithouttakinganywater;thathesufferednodiscomfort,andthathebusiedhimselfwithhisusualoccupations throughout thisperiod.Healso tellsus thatduringhisexperimental fastundergoneinCarnegieInstitutehewascompelledtotakeaquartofwateraday,whichwastoomuchforhim.Inspiteofallthisheadvocatesmuchwaterdrinkingbyfasters.

In this connection the following bit of information given by Prof. Richet is both interesting andinstructive: “Falck’s dogwent 61dayswithout drinking or eating. Starving dogs usually drink butlittle,asifwarnedbyinstinctnottodrinkmorethantheyhaveto.Water,infact,expeditesthewastingof the tissuesandaccelerates thedrainof thesalts in theorganism.Hence,bydrinking,weexcretemore chloride of sodium, phosphates, urea, etc., so that, although in general animals deprived ofwaterdonotliveaslongasthosewhichcandrink,thereissomedifferencebetweenthosewhichcan

drinkalittleandthosewhichdrinkagreatdeal.Thelastdiesooner”(1890,pp.540-541).

Anyincreasedexcretionofureaandsodiumchloridethatmightresultfromthedrinkingofwatershouldprovedistinctlybeneficial.Ifphosphorusandothermineralsarelostingreateramountswhenmuchwateristaken,thisshouldprovetobedetrimental.Ifitistrue,asheasserts,thatfastinganimalsthat drink large quantities of water die sooner than those that drink small amounts of water, thisshould be regarded as confirming our objection to drinking large quantities of water during thisperiod.That dogs that are given nowaterwhile they fast die sooner than thosewho getmoderateamountsofwater,shouldcomeasnosurprise.Althoughhibernatinganimals,activatinganimals,andthe fasting fur seal bull do not drink while abstaining from food, most animals, fasting underordinary conditions, do drink. Inman thirst is present in andwater is neededwhile fasting. If thefasterdoesnottakewater,hetendstobecomeseriously,evendangerouslyorfatallydehydrated.

Dewey,ontheotherhand,tookadecidedstandagainstwaterintheabsenceofthirst.Thirst,hesaid,shouldbetheonlyguidetotheamountofwatertodrink.Heinsistedondrinkingonlyasmuchwaterasdemandedbythirstandwasconvincedthatmuchwaterdrinking,exceptwhenindicatedbythirst,isdefinitelyharmful.Duringthefirstfourteendaysofhissecondfast(takeninNewYorkCity)Tannertooknowaterandsufferednoinconvenience.Hebecamestrongerwhenhetookwaterandwonaracewithayoungreporterwhorefusedtobelievethatonecouldmaintainone’sstrengthwhilenoteating.Hetellsusthataftertakingthewaterhe“ranup-stairslikeaboy.”

Fastinganimalstakebutlittlewaterandsomeofthemnoneatall.Forexample,theAlaskanfur-sealbulltakesnowaterthroughoutthewholeofhisthreeorfourmonthsfast.Hibernatingandestivatinganimalsdonotdrinkwaterduring theirperiodofdormancy. It is therule that sickanimals (this isespecially true of acutely sick and seriously wounded animals) will not drinkmuch water. I haverepeatedlyseensickanimals takenowateratall fordaysata time,or takebut a fewsipsonceortwiceaday.Forthemostpart,theyrefusetodrinklargeamountsofwater.

Thirstisseldomgreatduringafast.Ihavewatchedfastersgofortwoandthreedaysatatimeandtake no water, simply because there was no demand for water, and they have not suffered as aconsequence.Otherstakebutlittlewater;sometimesnotmorethanhalfaglassaday.Then,therearethosewhodrinkmuchwater.Insomeofthesetheremaybethirst;inothersitappearstobenothingmorethanaresultofadesiretogetsomethingintothestomach.Othersdrinkbecausetheyhavebeentaughtthattheymust.Inoccasionalfasters,therewillariseagreatthirstthatmaylastadayortwoorthreedays,duringwhichtimetheywilldrinksomuchwaterthattheirtissuesbecomewater-loggedandtheygaininweightasaresult.Thethirstsubsidesandtheydonotdrinksomuchthereafter.Largequantitiesofwatershouldbetakenwhenthirstcallsformuchwater,asitsometimesdoes;otherwise,there should be no effort made to take large amounts of water. Excesses of water are simplyeliminated without increasing the elimination of waste—perhaps, on the contrary, with an actualdecreasedeliminationofwaste.

Afrequentdevelopmentwhilefastingisadislikeforwater.Thisisparticularlytrueifthewateris“hard”. “Hardwater” that,while one is eating, tastes pleasant enough, is rejected by the sharpenedsenseoftaste.Insuchcaseswefindtheuseofdistilledwater,tobesatisfactory.The lossofweightwhennowateristakenisaboutthreetimesasrapidaswhenwateristaken—thelossaveragingaboutthreepoundsadayinsteadoftheusualpoundaday.Thisisespeciallyhelpfulindropsicalcasesandgreatly shortens thedurationof the fast in fat individualswho are fastingmerely for reduction of

weight.Tanner found thathe lostbutoneandahalfpoundsadaywhileabstaining fromwater.Hetookwaterafterthefourteenthdayandlostalittlelessthanhalfapoundaday.

WritinginThisWeek’sMagazine,whichisaSundaysupplementoftheNewYorkTribune,underthetitle “TheyNeverHave toDrink,” Roy ChapmanAndrews, Director of the AmericanMuseum ofNaturalHistory, tellsus that“manydesertanimals,particularly rodents,”neverdrinkafter theyareweaned.Hementionsthe“desert-livingmice,rats,hares,andgroundsquirrels,”that“notonlydonotdrink but few, if any, perspire.” He tells of installing a group of live desert pocket mice in themuseumthat“liveamongthevastdunesofnearlywhitegypsuminNewMexico”andtellsofthese,that they were “fed a diet of thoroughly dried seeds. They thrived on this unappetizing food andwouldnevertouchwater.”Eachtimeliquidwasofferedtheyfilledthedisheswithsand.Headds:“IntheGobiDesertwefoundthateventhewildassrarely,ifever,drinks.OnonevaststretchoftheGobiwhere therewasnowater for hundredsofmiles, except for a few deepMongolwells, therewereliterallythousandsofwildassandgazelle.”

HerecountssomeexperiencesoftheCentralAsiaticExpedition,broughtinayounggazellewhichtheynursedonabottleforatime,afterwhichitwasadoptedbyashe-goat.Hetellsusthat“WhenoldNannyfinallyweanedSkippy(thegazelle),he livedoncamelsageand the leavesof thornybushesscatteredinclumpsover thedesert. Iwasparticularly interestedtoseewhetherSkippywoulddrinkwater.Duringthesixmonthshewaswithushenevertouchedadrop.Hewouldsniffatthepanfromwhich the goatwas drinking and then turn awaywithout evenmoistening his lips.” Then, as if hemighthavebeenthinkingofthecreedofthephysiciansanddairymen,thatwearenevertobeweaned,headds:“WeneverofferedhimmilkafterhewasweanedbutI feelsure thatno liquidwouldhavetemptedhim.”

Mr.Andrewsthinksthat“thisisoneofthemarvelousadaptationsofnature.”Headds:“Theabilitytoexistwithoutwater appears to be peculiar to rodents and other herbivorousmammals.As far as Iknow,allflesheatersmustdrink.”Itis,ofcourse,truethatallanimalsmusthavewater.Thesedesertanimalsobtainlargequantitiesofcarbohydratesfromtheirvegetablefareandwhenthesearebrokendownin theprocessofdigestion, theyyieldenoughwater to supply theirbodilyneeds, and, in thecaseofthenursingmammal,tosupplyenoughextrawaterformilkproduction.

Whilemandissipatesconsiderablewater insweating,hecertainlydoesnothaveanyneed for thelargequantitiesofwateradvisedinmanyquartersforbothfastersandthosewhoareeating.Nordoestheconsumptionoflargequantitiesofwaterproduceallthebeneficialeffectscommonlyclaimedforthe practice. Certainly nothing is to be gained from forced drinking or the practice of routinedrinking.Thetakingofwaterforwhichthereisnophysiologicaldemand,asexpressedinthirst,isofnovalue.Thepracticemayprovedecidedlyharmful.

Prof.Carlsonsaysthat“anadultmanfastingcanlivefifteentotwentydayswithoutwater.Iffoodistaken, death from water deprivation comes quicker. If there is body fever or great external heatleadingtosweating,deathfromwaterdeprivationishastened.Foodsrequirewaterforeliminationofwaste products.” It is not definitely known how long a fastingmanmay livewithoutwater.A fewcriminalshavediedinafewdaystoseventeendayswhentheydeniedthemselvesbothfoodandwater.Buttherewereemotionalandnervousfactorsinallsuchcasesthathasteneddeath.

Our aim is not, of course, to determine how long a patient can gowithoutwater. The aim is toprovide for the patient the best possible conditions under which to carry forward the healing

processesandtocompletetheseinasshorttimeaspossible.ThedeathofawomanfromdehydrationinNewYorkstateintheearlypartof1950attheendofathirtydaysfast,asaconsequenceofhavinggone for thewhole periodwithoutwater, is not only a lesson about the need forwater, but also awarning to thosewho attempt a long fastwithout proper supervision.Had thiswoman been underexperiencedexpertsupervision,shewouldnothavebeenpermittedtomakethisgravemistake.Whenfood is not taken the need for water is lessened and there is a corresponding lessening of thirst.Althoughitisassertedbymanyfastingadvocatesthatdrinkinglargequantitiesofwater,despitelackofdesireforit,increaseselimination,Ihaveseennoproofofthis,while,myownexperiencefailstosubstantiatetheassertion.

SeasoningsForTheWaterDuetothebadtasteinthemouthwhileoneisfasting,thewaterislikelytoappeartotastebadly.At

othertimespatientscomplainofthewaterbeingtoosweet.Theyfrequentlyrequestpermissiontoaddsaltorlemonjuiceorothersubstancestothewatertoflavorit.Theevilsofsaltusingwerediscussedin thechapterdevoted to“Objections to theFast.”Theuseof lemon juicemeans that thepatient istakingfood,andalthoughhetakesbutminutequantitiesofthejuice,itisenoughtointerferewiththefastingprocessandisoftenenoughtocauseareturnofhungerandthusmakesthefastmuchmoredifficult,orcompelsitsprematurebreaking.Itisneverwisetoaddanythingtothewater.Forthebadtaste in themouth one needs only cleanliness. The teeth, tongue andmouthmust be cleansed. Thetongueshouldnotbebrushedbeforeithasbeenexaminedeachday.

ColdWaterInthesummertimepatientsarelikelytodemandice-watertodrink.Drinkingverycoldwaterisnot

agoodpracticeunderanycircumstance; it is especiallyharmfulduringa fast. Indeed,givingverycoldwatertofastersseemstoalmoststoptheirprogress.Therecanbenoobjectiontogivingthemcoolwatertodrink.

FeedingIntervalsTildensays:

Afastmustnotbecontinuedwhenthepatient issufferinggreatly, itmattersnot inwhatway.***

Somepatientswill startwithout foodandwithin aweek they arevery sick—sick because ofgreat enervation. They have been overstimulated so long that when the stimulating food isremoved they soon evolve a severe prostration.Most intelligent people know howmuch theinebriatesufferswhenheiscompelledtogothroughdeliriumtremens.Deliriumtremensistheacme of prostration. People who are tremendously prostrated or enervated, from years ofoverstimulationfromfood,donotsufferjustthesameastheinebriatebuttheysuffer,manyofthem, just as greatly. A good many will become very sick at the stomach and vomit almostunceasingly. This must be avoided. When such a patient starts on a fast, the physician mustrecognizethecomingsymptoms,andbreakthefastbygivingasmallamountoffruit.Assoonas the symptoms of irritation have subsided, the fast will be resumed, until other symptomsindicate that thesystemissuffering toogreatly fromtheeffectofgoingwithout food,whenalittle fruitmay be given for two or three days, and patient begins to show the appearance ofsuffering,andthehaggardstatebeginstodevelop,feedingmustberesumed.

Hesaysthat“littlebylittle,suchcasescanbepilotedintoperfecthealth.”IgiveDr.Tilden’splanfor

whatitisworth.Itismyownplannottobreakafastwhilethereisvomiting.Ihavebrokenfastswhenthere is great prostration and resumed the fast after strength has been recovered. The remedy fordeliriumtremensisnotmorewhiskey.Justsotheremedyforthegreatprostrationcausedbylong-continued food drunkenness is not more food. If we would not give a dose of morphine to themorphineaddictwhosufferswhendeprivedofhismorphine,orthecoffeeaddictacupofcoffeeto“relieve”herheadache,whyshouldwegive thefooddrunkardmorefoodtorelievehissuffering?Withalldue respect toDr.Tilden,whoseexperiencewith fastingwasverygreat, Idonot find thisplanessentialorhelpful,exceptinaveryfewcases.

Tildenalsourgesdailyenemasandlavages.Hesays:“thebowelsshouldbelookedafterfromthedaythefastisstarteduntilitisended.Aretentionofexcretionswillpoisonandmakethepatientverysick,andthereisapossibilityofhisbecomingsoprostratedfromtheeffectofthepoisonabsorbedthathewilldie.Nauseaandvomitingfollowingfastingareaverygood indication that there is toomuchabsorptiontakingplace.Thenthebowelsmustbemovedbyenemas,orwhateverispropertodo,until theyare thoroughlycleanedout.”Myexperiencedoesnotbear thisout. Ihaveseenmorevomitingandnauseaincasesthatreceiveddailyenemasthaninthosewhohavereceivednoenemasatall.NorhaveIseenprostrationanddeathasaresultofabsorptionofretainedexcretions.Indeed,itseemscleartomethatabsorptiondoesnotoccur.Tildenalsosays:“Butfastingmustnotbecontinuedif thepatientbegins topresent ahaggardappearanceor ifnauseaandefforts at vomiting develop.Whenapatientunderafastbeginstoshowadepressedstateandhaggardlookandthetissuesbegintodroopdown,andadecideddiscomfortbeginstomanifest,feedingmustberesumedandthepatientmustbebroughtbacktoareasonablestateofcomfort.Thenfastingcanberesumed;or if it isnotthoughtbesttogowithoutfoodentirely,thenthepatientmaybeputonasmallamountoffruitforaweekormore.Itrequiresagreatdealofskilltoassistnaturebacktoanormalstatewhenthehealthhasbeenoutragedalmosttothepointofdissolution.Fastingisnotaremedythatshouldbetrustedinthehandsoflaymen,norinthehandsofignorantprofessionalmen.Puttingsucharemedyasfastingintothehandsoflaymen,tobeappliedtosickpeople,isequivalenttoputtinganinsanemantoworkinabarbershop,especiallyifthebarber ’shallucinationsareontheorderofhomicidalmania.”Wearenot convinced that laymen cannotmake excellent use of fasting inminor troubles and the lessadvancedpathologies;butwearesure thatTilden’swarningshouldbeheededby thosewhosufferwithadvancedstagesofpathology.

TheEnemaDuringTheFastDr. Hazzard,Mr. Carrington,Mr. Sinclair and others, regard the enema as almost indispensable

duringthefast.Thisarisesoutofadistrustofthebody’spowersofself-adjustment.Thereisnomoreneedfor,norbenefittobederivedfromtheenemaduringthefastthanatothertimes.Whatismore,ifno enema is used, normal bowel action will be establishedmuch sooner after the fast than if theenemaisemployed.Levanzin,whooftenadvocatedthefrequentuseoftheenemaduringthefast,saysthat he uses the enema onlywhen he desires to get faster results. If the enema really gives fasterresults,therewouldseemtobenoreason,atleastinthegreatmajorityofcases,whyitshouldnotbeused in every fast. But Hygienists dispute that it gives faster results. We are convinced, on thecontrary,thatitretardsrecoveryandimpairsbowelfunction.Mr.Carringtonvoicesthesameviewinthese words: “we can readily see that frequent flushing of the bowels—say once a day—willmaterially assist a return tohealth, and effectively shorten the fast. It is amost important hygienicauxiliarytothemaintreatment;and,thoughsoessential,Dr.Deweyhardlymentionstheenemainanyofhisbooks;butitsomissionseemstomeaverygreatfault,sincewecanseethatitsusewillbothshortenandlightentheperiodoffasting.”Thisisanaprioriconclusionthatisnotborneoutbyactual

testandexperience.It isbasedonthemistakenassumptionthatbowelactioniselimination,andtheaddedassumption thatpoisonsareabsorbed from thecolon.Dr.Hazzard,who should have knownbetter,wassopossessedwithherfearofauto-intoxicationfromthere-absorptionofwastefromthecolonthatsheconjuredupsuchsymptomsresultingtherefromasmilddelirium,stupor,hiccoughs,etc.Thefact is,asallmayknowwhohavegivenbothplansa thorough test, that theenemaneithershortensthefastnormakesitmorecomfortable.

WhileconnectedwiththeMacfaddenPublications,Ioncehadacontroversywithamemberof thestaffofPhysicalCultureoverastatementinanarticleofminedealingwithfasting,totheeffectthatnoenemashouldbeusedafterthefast,butthatonemaysafelywaitaweekormoreforaspontaneousmovement.Hesaid:“Surely stepsmust be taken tomove thebowels at least once adayunder anycircumstances. If themovement is held up for several days or aweek, or fourteen days, somuchpoisonisproducedintheorganismthattheadvantageofthefastiscounteractedandallitsbenefitslost....Itseemstomethatthefailureofthebowelstomoveforaweekormorewouldbealmostfatal.Itcertainlywouldleadtoallsortsofcomplicationsdangeroustohealth.”Thesewordsvoicetheprevailingviewofthematter,yetthisviewiswhollyfalse.Thefactthatpatientshavegoneforoverthirtydayswithoutabowelmovementandhavedevelopednocomplications,buthavegrownsteadilybetterduringtheseperiods,provespositivelythat“failureofthebowelstomoveforaweekormore”isnot“almostfatal.”Onedoesnotlosetheslightestbitofthebenefitsoffastingnordoesonedevelop“all sortsofcomplicathebowelsafter the fast isbroken.Theenemashouldnotbeemployedwheneatingisresumed.

Dr.Hazzardclaimedthedubiouscreditofhavingintroducedtheenemapracticeintotheprocedureoffasting.Deweyrejectedtheenemaupto the timeofhisdeath.Dr.Tanneralsorejectedit.SodidJenningsandPage.Dr.Claunchdidnotemploy it. Ihavenotemployed it fordecadesand find thismore satisfactory than its use. Page (1883b) observed: “Tanner had nomovement during his fast;Griscomb’sexperiencewassimilar,andConnolly,theconsumptive,whofastedforforty-threedays,had no movement for three weeks, and then the temporary looseness was occasioned by profusewaterdrinking,whichinhiscaseprovedcurative”(p.112).

Itisrarethatthecoloneverfullyemptiesitselfofthewateringested.Carringtonsaysoftheretainedwater,that,sinceitisperfectlyharmless,andwillbeabsorbedandeliminatedbythesysteminexactlythesamemanneraswaterthatisdrunkiseliminated,noalarmshouldbefeltoveritsretention.Butone case I observed that retained water for twenty-four hours did not absorb it and eliminate itthrough the skinand kidneys.On the other hand, if the fear of toxic absorption from the colon isbasedonfact,suchabsorptionofwaterwouldcertainlyresultinfargreaterabsorptionoftoxinsthancould ever occur without the water. Carrington mentions cases in which there was considerabledifficulty in expelling the water (enema) and says that “retention beyond even a few minutes isimpossible.”Inthisconnection,heismistaken.Retentionforconsiderableperiods,eventwenty-fourhours,ispossible,andweseeifoften.

Prof.Levanzinsaysthatwhenenemasarenotusedduringthefast,a“plugofhardfecesisformedinthe rectum, and another one at the duodenum (upper part of the bowels) is formed by the newlyingested food. The intestines are empty and full of air.” To avoid the rectal plug, he advises theenema.Therectalplugisamyth.Werethereanupper-bowelplug,theenemawouldneverreachit.

Althoughastrongadvocateof theuseof theenema in the fast,Mr.Macfadden says: “enemasare

somewhatenervating,andwhenthepatientisalreadyweak,hemayfinditadrainuponhisvitalitytotakethese”—EncyclopediaofPhysicalCulture,Vol.III,p.1374.Itdoesnotseemtomenecessarytoresort toenervatingpractices inourconductof thefast.Theenemaisatall timesadrainupon thepatient’spowersanditsuseduringthefastnotonlyweakensthepatientandthusprolongshisillness,butitimpairshiscolonandheisoftenweeksandmonthsgettingovertheeffects.Theemploymentoflaxatives,asadvocatedandpracticedbysome,hasthesameweakeninganddebilitatingeffectsuponthecolonandtheyexerttheirirritatinginfluenceuponthestomachandsmallintestine,also.

Austin(1922)conductedanexperimentuponhimselftodeterminetherelativevaluesoftheenemaandpurgationduringthefast.Hefastedforsixteendaystakingnothingbutwaterandhalf-an-ouncetoanounceofepsomsaltseverymorning.Hewasenergeticandcarriedouthisordinaryduties,evenengaginginandwinningawalkingmatchoftwomiles,mostofthedistanceuphill,onthesixteenthday.Hefeltalittlefaintandgiddyinthemorningsuponarisingandhadthesamesensationsattimesduringthedayuponarisingafterhehadbeensittingforsometime.Somemonthsafter thisfastheunderwentasecondfastof tendays, takingnothingbutwaterandemployinga three-pintenemaofwatereachmorninginsteadofthesalinepurge.Heagaincarriedouthisregularduties,asbefore,buthad less energy, his tongue was more heavily coated and he did not sleep as well as during thepreviousfast.

Someweekslaterhe tooka thirdfast, thisonealso tendays long.Heagainused thesalinepurgeeachmorninginsteadoftheenema.Hisexperienceduringthethirdfastwasthesameasthatduringthefirst.Hesays:“ThusIprovedtomyownsatisfactionthattheuseofsalinepurgativesduringafastmakestheordealaverymuchlesstryingonethanisthecasewhenonlyanenemaisused”(p.47).Headvocatesasdoothers(Dr.Wm.H.Hay,forexample,inthiscountry),theuseofboththeenemaandthepurgeandalsoadvocatesdrinkinglargequantitiesofwater.

Irealizethattheforegoingexperimentisnotsufficientto.establishMajorAustin’scontention;thattheexperimentwouldhavetoberepeatedmanytimesonmanypatientswithuniformresults,toprovewhatheclaimstohaveproven.Ihaverepeatedlyseenthesameexcellentresults,thatherecordsforhis fast duringwhich the purgewas employed, in patientswho received neither purge nor enema.Patientswhohavepreviously fastedunder thecareofothersandwhowerepurgedduring the fast,havedescribedtometheirexperiencesduringthistimeandoftentheyhavehadmorediscomfortandweakness thanMajor Austin had during his second fast when he employed the enema. Individualactionsvarysomuchduring thefastandin thesameindividualatdifferent times, that theapparent“effects” of purging and the use of the enema in one case cannot prove anything. Let those whoperformtheseexperimentsnowconductanextensiveseriesofexperimentswithouttheuseofeitherenemaorpurge.Iknowtheevilsoftheenemaaswellasthoseofthepurge.Iknowthattheenemadoesnotreachthesmallintestine,asthepurgedoes.Ifwegranttheneedforeither,thepurgemaybepreferable,butIdonotgranttheirneed.

Major Austin says: “I may here explain that during a fast waste products and toxins are beingcontinuallydepositedinthestomachandintestines,andunlessthesearewashedawaybylargedrinksofwaterandenemataorsalinepurges,someofthemorbidmaterialisreabsorbed:thiscausesauto-intoxicationanditsattendantdiscomforts,weakness,headacheandsoforth”(p.47).Ithasneverbeenexplainedhow the re-absorptionofa smallamountof the largeamountsof toxins thrownoutwillcausesymptomsthat thewholeamountof thetoxinsfailed toproducebefore theywereeliminated.Re-absorptionisassumedandsymptomsarearbitrarilyreferredtothis.Iagreethatifre-absorption

occurs, it would occur in the intestine and not in the colon and the waste matter could easily bereachedbyapurgeandnotbytheenema.Butdoesre-absorptionactuallyoccur?Ifso,whydoesitoccur?

Isuggestthatthepracticeofdrinkinglargequantitiesofwater,to“washaway”toxinsto“flushthesystem,”maycausere-absorptionoftoxins.Thewaterisabsorbed.Itdoesnotpassoutthroughthecolon;butthroughthelungs,skinandkidneys.Itwill“pickup”andholdinsolution, thewasteandtoxicmatterinthestomachandintestine(itdoesnotreachthecolon)anditdoubtlesscarriessomeofthisintothebodywithitwhenitisabsorbed.Drinkingonlywhennaturedemandswaterandonlysomuchasshedemandswillreducethisabsorptiontoaminimum.Untilmyplanisthoroughlytestedallargumenttothecontraryiswastedwords.

Major Austin advises cold abdominal packs and cold sitz-baths to “tone up and improve theconditionofthecolon,whichisleftinamoreorlessflabbystateafterthewarm-waterwash-outs.”

Reverseperistalsis,startinginthemiddleportionofthetransversecolonandpassingbackwardtothececum, firstnotedbyProf.Cannonandnowknown tobe constant inbothmanandanimals, isnormallyconfinedtothecolon;butinconstipation,particularlyincolitis,withspasticcontractionofthe descending colon, these reverse peristaltic movements are greatly exaggerated and when theileocecalvalveisincompetent,thesereversemovementspushthecontentsofthececumintothesmallintestine. Water, feces, toxins, waste matter—the whole foul collection—may be forced into theintestineandfromherebeabsorbedandpoisonthebody.

The daily enemas and the purges and laxatives employed by many during the fast, undoubtedlycontributetothenervousdepletionagainstwhichtheyoftenwarnus.Thefastcertainlydoesnot.Theclaimismadethatfastingpatientsrecovermorequicklyfromtheirailmentsiftheyaregivenenemasthan if their bowels are left to their own resources. This claim is not made by those who havethoroughlytestedbothmethods.ForfiveyearsIemployedtheenemainallfastingcases,givingfromonetotwoandoccasionallythreeenemasaday.Ifanything,patientswhodonothavetheenemamakethequickestrecoveriesanditiscertainthattheirbowelfunctionisahundredpercentmoreefficientafterthefast,ifthecolonhasbeenpermittedtoattendtoitsownfunctioninitsownway.

Pearson(1921),whothinks“enemascompriseabout60percentofthetreatmentinfasting”(p.86)andwho,himself,tookasmanyasthreetofourenemasadayduringhisownfasts,says:“Thelargequantityofwaterintroducedintothebowelwillcausearapidinfusionofthetoxicpoisonsfromthebowels to the surrounding tissues, thus inducing headaches” and that “it is advisable to use anantiseptic in thewater to reduce thesepoisonous substancesas far aspossible” (p. 84).HeSayshe“tookprobablytwotofourteaspoonfulsaday”ofbakingsoda,“foraboutfiveyearsinenemas”(p.84).WithPearson,aswithHazzardandSinclair,theenemaisafetish.Dr.Hazzard,Mr.Pearsonandothersadvisetheuseoftwo,orthreeandmoreenemasaday.Fastinganimalsdonotemployenemasnoranythingthatmayberegardedasservingthesamepurpose.Fastingsealsandsalmon,hibernatingbearsandsnakes,fastingsickandwoundedanimals,regardlessofthelengthsoftheirfasts,employnomeasures to forcebowel action. Since this thing has been tried out on the plane of instinct forunnumbered thousandsofyears,andhasbeenapprovedbynature,weneedhavenofearof fastingwithouttheemploymentofenemas.

TheGastricLavageDuringTheFastCertainadvocatesoffastingemploythelavageasaroutinepractice.Dr.Tildenformerlyemployed

itasadailymeasure.Thisprovedtobetoogreatataxuponhispatientssohereduceditsusetothreetimesaweek.Frommyownexperiencewiththemeasure,Iconsidereventhistoogreatataxupontheenergiesofthepatient.Othersemploythelavageonlywhenthereisactualnauseaandgastricdistress.They wash out the stomach to relieve the faster of discomfort. This measure often bringsconsiderable relief,butatabigprice.The insertionof the stomach tube is a severeenough taxonmost patients. Pouring a gallon or more of water, with or without soda or other drug, into thestomach,alsotaxesthem.Theretchingandvomitingoccasionedbythisprocedureleavesthepatientweakandnervous forhours.The relief affordedby the lavage is short-livedand the cost innerveforceistoogreattojustifyit.

Manywhoemploythefasthavethepatientdrinklargequantitiesofwaterandtheninducevomiting,wherevomitingdoesnotoccurfromtheuseofwateralone.Idonotemployanddonotapproveofforcingmeasures.Vomitingcananddoesoccurwhena realneed for it existswithout resorting toforcingmeasures.Nauseaandgastricdistressaremostoftenduetoloweredgastrictoneandthereis,insuchcases,nothingtobeexpelled.

FalseTeethFasters who have false teeth should keep their teeth in during the fast and should bite on them

sufficiently often to keep the gums tough. The gumswill shrink somewhat in the general loss ofweightso that theplateswillnot fit after the fast,until thegumshave filledout again.Thismakeschewing,especiallyofuncookedfoods,ratherdifficult,unlessthegumshavebeenkepttough.

ForcingMeasuresThelingeringfaithinforcingmeasuresisahold-overfromthetimewestillhadfaithinthedrugs

ofthephysician.Whenwelostourfaithinhispoisons,weadoptedaheterogeneousarrayofdruglessmeasuresthatareintendedtoforcethebodytodowhatwe,inouralmostinfalliblewisdom,thinkitshould do under the circumstances. Hence, we find many advocates of fasting employing inconjunctionwithit,manymeasuresthatareintendedtoforcethebodytodisgorge.

Theonegreat “need” that is so frequently stressed is that of increased elimination.For example,Prof. Levanzin says that “it is important to remember that all avenues of elimination should beconstantlyopenduringalongfast—thatthesystemmayhaveachancetocleanseandinvigorateitselfby throwing out a mass of impurities. Enemas, deep breathing exercises, frequent baths, properwaterdrinking,etc.—alltheseareessentialandgreatlyassistinthecleansingoftheorganismandtheshorteningofthefast.”HeadvocatedtheuseoftheTurkishbathwhilefastingbecauseofthemistakenassumptionthatsweating,thusinduced,constitutesaneliminatingprocess.

Dr.Hazzardhadthethoughtthatin“organicdiseaseofmorethanordinarydegree,”itis“virtuallycertainthattheavenuesofeliminationwillproveinadequatetoexacteddemands”inalongfast.Thethoughtisinherentinthisstatementthatfastingoverburdenstheeliminatingorgans,iftheyareweak.Yetshesaysthat“autointoxicationtakesplacemoreoftenwhenfeedingthanwhenfasting.”Thechieffault I find withMr. Carrington’s monumental work on fasting is the fact that he strongly urgesforcing measures—enemas, sweatings, excessive water-drinking, exercise, hydrotherapy, etc. Hethinks that by the use of these forcing measures the fast may be shortened and recovery may beeffectedincasesinwhichitmayotherwisebeimpossible.Hisinsistenceuponexercisewhilefastingisbasedon the thought thatexercise stimulates theexcretoryorgans.He thinks that thosewho takemoreexercisewhilefastingwillbeabletototallyeliminatebodilyimpuritiesmorerapidly.ThiswasalsoMacfadden’sview.Carringtonsaidthatthosewhoexercisemostwillterminatetheirfastsoonest.

Iwouldsaythattheywillbeforcedtoterminatetheirfastsoonest,andoftenprematurely,becauseofthemorerapidexhaustionoftheirreserves.

Alloftheseforcingmeasuresarenotonlyunnecessaryandfutile,buttheyconstituteaheavydrainupontheenergiesandsubstancesofthefastingorganism.Allformsofstimulationareenervatingandthemoretheyareusedthemoreenervationtheyproduce.Theactivitiesoftheorgansofeliminationare inkeepingwith theamountoffunctionalenergywithwhichtheyaresuppliedandallefforts tokeep them“constantly active” in spite of a lackof energy, only renders them less able to act. For,everything thatweappear togain in the increasedactivityoccasionedby the forcingmeasures,welose in the inevitable reaction. Every new source of enervation becomes an actual check toelimination.Oureffortsshouldallbedirectedtotheendofconservingtheenergiesandreservesofthepatientineverypossibleway,andnottodissipatingthemasrapidlyaspossible.Rest,quiet,poise,warmth—thesearefarmoreimportantthananymethodoftreatmenteverdevised.

Mr. Carrington, himself, in dealingwith drug stimulants, urged the necessity of refraining fromthemandpointedout that theweaker theorganism, thegreater thenecessityofdoingnothing. It isstrangethatheshouldabandon thisprinciple indealingwith thedruglessstimulants.Thesevariousdruglessstimulantsmaybeaswastefulofthebody’senergiesasdrugs.Thesweatbath,thehotbath,thecoldbath,thealternatehotandcoldbath,thesaltrub,massage,etc.,areallverywastefulofthepatient’spreciousenergies.Thesameistrueoftheenemaandthegastriclavage.Thereaderiswellaware that Ido not approve of the chaoticmass of nonsense that is called druglessmedicine. Themethodsoftreatmentemployedbydruglesspractitionersareespeciallytobeavoidedduringthefast.IcouldhardlydobetteratthisplacethantoquotethefollowingfromPurinton(1906):“TheConquestFastdoesn’tharmonizewiththeKneippWaterCure,ortheMacfaddenSchoolofPhysicalCulture,oranyotherregimethatdemandslargeexpenditureofenergyandvitality.Thesemethodsmaybeeversogood—theyarenottimely.

“Iknewamanthathadchronicrheumatism.HeconsultedaFasting-specialist;—andstoppedeating.Began to feel better, wondered if he couldn’t be improving faster. Consulted a Turkish Bath-specialist;—andbeganbathing.Presentlyhedied.Theneachspecialistdeclaredtheotherkilled thepatient”(p.108).Thefastingindividualshouldconservehisorherenergiesandnotpermitthemtobedissipated by depleting—stimulating and depressing—treatments. Too often fasting has been heldresponsiblefortheresultsoftheblitzguss,frequentmassage,spinalmanipulationandotherformsofdruglesshocuspocus.Theactionsof thebody in relation todrugsaremorepromptandvigorouswhen fasting than when eating. Due to this fact, fasting usually compels one to abandon hisaccustomeddrughabits.Thenervous system of the faster becomesmore acute and also relativelylargerthanwheneating.Forthesereasonstheresistancetodrugsismorepromptandvigorous.Itisalwaysmoredangeroustousedrugswhenfastingthanatothertimes.Drugsarebadatalltimes;thefasterespeciallyshouldavoidthem.

XXX.BreakingtheFastWhenToBreakTheFastHowToBreakAFastFallaciesAboutBreakingFastsHungerAfterTheFastOvereatingAfterTheFastFoodAfterTheFast

Animportantfactthatneedsemphasisisthatfastingisaverymuchmorecomplicatedprocessthanis commonly supposed, even by its advocates. There is much more involved in the process thanmerelygoingwithoutfood.Thereisanartoffasting,but,ifthisartistobeproperlyexecuted,itmustbebasedonthescienceoffasting.Itsusesseem,attimes,tobealmostunlimited,itsinconveniencesare not great, its dangers are few and rarely seen, but for themost satisfactory results, itmust beconducted by one skilled in its application. It is too vital and too important to be carried outindifferently. It is not a process that should be left to the guidance of thosewho have but limitedknowledgeofitsproperconductandwhohavehadnoexperienceinconductingfasts.Breakingthefastisoneofthemostimportantelementsofthefast.

Itispossibletobreakafastonanyfoodthatisavailable—bread,flesh,eggs,nuts,etc.—providingafew simpleprecautions are observed.Animals follownoneof our routines in breaking their fasts.Theyeatwhateverisathandanddonotregularlystintthemselvesattheirfirstmeal.Fromthis,itmaybethoughtthatweareundulycautious,butIdonotthinkso.Notonlyaretheredifferencesbetweenwhattheanimaldoesandwhattheaveragepatienttendstodo,ifturnedloose,butthereseemstobegreat differences in digestive power, in favor of the animal. There is also the possibility that theanimalwouldpreservemoreofthebenefitsofthefastifitbrokethefastmorecarefully.

Wedonotemploythefoodspreviouslymentionedinbreakingafastforthereasonthatbettermeansofbreakingthefastareavailabletous.Attheendofalongfastdigestivesecretionsarenotabundantand smallmealsor small amountsof foodare advisable.Theamountof food fed to thepatient isincreasedassecretionbecomesmoreabundant.Whenthisruleisobserved,thereislittledifficultyinbreakingafastandnodangerindoingso.

Theproperconductof thefast isvitally important.Therearereallyveryfewpractitionersofanyschoolwhoknowhowtoconductafastorhowtoproperlybreakone.AnaturopathinNewYorkCitybroke the fasts of a mother and a daughter, who had been fasting sixteen and thirteen daysrespectively,onchocolatecandy.Thegastricand intestinal acidity resulting from this causedgreatdistressthroughoutthebody.Iwascalledinonthesecases,anditrequiredfourtofivedaysoffastingtoget themback into a comfortable condition.Thismethod of breaking a fast is nothing short ofcriminal.

A friend of my wife describes to me how she fasted seventeen days under the direction of achiropractorinCaliforniaandworkedhardduringthefast.Sheworkedforthechiropractorandhewouldnotpermitherleavefromworkwhilefasting.Hebrokeherfastwithtoastandacidfruit.Thiswomanimmediatelydevelopedacaseofmalnutritionaledema.This isoneof thefewcasesof thiskindIhaveeverknowntofollowafast.

This case should thoroughly emphasize the necessity of placing one’s self under the care of acompetentandexperiencedman,ifoneistotakealongfast.Achiropractorwhoknowsnothingofeither fastingordietetics, and fewof themknowanythingofeitherof these, andwho experimentswith patients in this manner, cannot be too strongly condemned. If chiropractors want to practiceHygienic methods let them qualify themselves for this by proper training. This goes also forosteopathsandmedicalmen.Iwouldnotattemptasurgicaloperationwithoutfirstqualifyingmyselfforthework,andIamcertainthatnochiropractor,osteopathormedicalmanshouldattemptalongfast,orattempttoemployanyotherHygienicmethod,withoutfirstequippinghimself for thework.Chiropractorswhogo to school and learn to punch spines and then, finding spine punching to beinefficacious,attempttoprescribediet,etc.,afterreadingabookortwoonthesemethods,areinthesamepositionaswouldbethemedicalmanwhoattemptedto“adjust”spinesafterreadingabookonchiropractic.Heisreallydishonestanduntrustworthy.

Dr.Wm.F.Harvardrecordsthefollowingcases:“Ayoungmantwenty-fouryearsofagewhohadsufferedfromchronicconstipationandindigestion,fastedtwenty-sevendaysafterreadinganarticleinapopularhealthpublication.Onthetwenty-eighthdayheateamealofbeefsteak,potatoes,breadand butter and coffee. He was seized with violent vomiting spells and could not tolerate even ateaspoonfulofwateronthestomach.WhencalledonthecaseIdiscoveredanintensesorenessoftheentireabdomenandeveryindicationofacutegastritis.”“Ayoungmanaboutthirtywhohadfastedonhisowninitiativeforforty-twodaysattemptedtobreakthefastoncoarsebreadwith theresult thatvomiting occurred and the stomach became so irritable that nothing could be retained. Therewasmarkedemaciationandextremeweaknessandeveryindicationforimmediatenourishment.”

AnAssociatedPressdispatchdatedAug.28,(1929)recountsthedeathofChris.Solberg,40yearoldart model, following a 31 days fast, which he broke by “consuming several sandwiches.” Thesandwiches,alaterreportsaid,containedbeef.Ignoranceandlackofself-controlkilledthisman.Thedispatchtellsusthat“hisfast(of31days)hadreducedhimfrom160to85pounds,”oranaveragelossofmorethantwopoundsaday.ThislossIbelievetobeimpossible.Theaveragelossesforafastofsuchlengthvarybetweentwenty-fivepoundsandthirty-sixpounds.

Ehret (1926) tellsofseeing twocaseskilledby injudiciousbreakingof thefast.Hesays:“Aone-sidedmeat-eater,sufferingfromdiabetesbrokehisfastwhichlastedaboutaweekbyeatingdatesanddiedfromthe effects.Amanofover60yearsof age fasted twenty-eightdays (too long); his firstmealofvegetarianfoodsconsistingmainlyofboiledpotatoes”(p.45).

Ignoring theabsurdexplanation for thesedeaths,givenby the“professor,”wewouldsay that thediabetic patient threw too much sugar (from the dates) into his body and died as a result ofhyperglycemia.Heprobablypassedoutinadiabeticcoma.Heexplainsthatthesecondpatientfastedtoolongforamanofhisage,andthatan“operationshowedthatthepotatoeswerekeptincontractedintestinesbythick,stickymucussostrongthatapiecehadtobecutoffandthepatientdiedshortlyaftertheoperation.”“Professor”Ehretwassofondofmucushecouldneverseeanythingelse.Thisfastwasbadlybrokenbutthepatient,inalllikelihood,wouldhavelivedhadhenotbeenoperatedon.Thefastwasnottoolongforamanofthatage.“Prof.”Ehretreallyknewbutlittleofeitherfastingordietetics.

Thesecaseshelptoinfluencemanyagainstfastingandyettheyaretheresultsoftheworsttypeofignoranceandinexperience.Whobutanignoramuswouldfeedadiabeticcaseamealofdatesaftera

week of fasting? Surely fasting cannot be blamed for this result. Before we talk of the evils anddangersoffastingletusbesurethatthesereallybelongtofastingandnottosomethingelse.

Sinclairsays:“Iknowanothermanwhobrokehisfastonahamburgersteak,andthisisalsonottoberecommended.”Ihadonepatienttobreakafastofovertwentydaysbyeatingapoundandahalfofnuts the firstday.Althoughnoharm,notevenslightdiscomfort, came from it in thisparticularcase,thismethodofbreakingafastiscertainlynottoberecommendedgenerally.

In some cases of fasting where efforts are made to feed the patient towards the latter end of aprolonged fast, but before hunger has returned, there has been noted a failure of the stomach tofunction.Dr.Deweymentionssuchcases,whowereinducedbyfriendsorphysicianstoeat,andwhowere absolutely unable to digest food, but vomited everything eaten. Fasting was resumed andcontinueduntilthereturnofnaturalhunger,withtheresultthatdigestionproceedednicely.

WhenToBreakTheFastEarlyHygienists said:Whenyour tongue is clean, your rest peaceful, your skin clear, your eyes

bright, there is nomore pain, and you are very sharply hungry youmay select from the store ofwholesome articles of food described in works of Hygiene, that which pleases you, and eat withmoderation.Thatissoundadvice,buthardlydetailedenough.Theusualindicationsforbreakingthefast(thesehelptodeterminethedividinglinebetweenfastingandstarving),areasfollow:

Hungerinvariablyreturns.

TheBreath,whichduringallormostofthefasthasbeenoffensive,becomessweetandclean.

The Tongue becomes clean. The thick coatingwhich remained on it throughoutmost of the fastvanishes.

TheTemperature,whichmay have been sub-normal or above normal, returns to exactly normal,whereitremains.

ThePulsebecomesnormalintimeandrhythm.

TheSkinreactionsandotherreactionsbecomenormal.

TheBadTasteinthemouthceases.

SalivarySecretionbecomesnormal.

TheEyesbecomebrightandeyesightimproves.

TheExcretalosesitsodor.TheUrinebecomeslight.

Besides theusualsigns that it is time tobreak thefast,Prof.Levanzin listsa feelingofcheerandelationasamanifestationthatthetimehasarrivedfortheterminationofthefast.Icannotdobetterthan quoteCarrington’s (1908) description of the feelings of the patient at this stage.He says: “Asuddenandcompleterejuvenation;afeelingoflightness,andgoodhealthstealsoverthepatientinanirresistablewave;bringingcontentmentandageneralfeelingofwell-being,andofthepossessionofasuperabundanceofanimalspirits”(p.544).Circulationimproves,as isseenbytheresumptionof

thenormalpinknessunder the fingernails.The increased rapiditywithwhich theblood flowsbackinto the skin,when this has been forced out by pressure, is another indication of the rejuvenatingeffectofthefinishfast.

Theprimaryindicationthatthefastistobebrokenisthereturnofhunger;alltheotherindicationswhichIhaveenumeratedaresecondary.Oftenoneormoreofthesesecondarysignsareabsentwhenhunger returns, but one should not refrain from breaking the fast when there is an unmistakabledemandforfood,merelybecausethetongue,forexample,isnotclean.Inasmuchasallthesignsdonotinvariablyappearineachcase,donothesitatetobreakthefastwhenhungerreturns.IngeneralIagreewithCarrington that “natural hunger, and that alone should indicate the terminusof the fast;whenthefastisreadytobebroken.. . .Theartificialbreakingofthefast;thetakingoffoodintheabsenceof realhunger, for thereason that the ignorantattendant thinks thepatienthas ‘fasted longenough,’ is an abomination, and an outrage upon the system which cannot be too stronglydeprecated.”Mostfastsarebrokentoosoon;thatis,beforetheworkofrenovationiscompleted.

HowToBreakAFastThecarethatmustbeexercisedinbreakingafastisinproportiontothelengthofthefastandtothe

generalconditionofthefastingusingforthispurposefruitjuiceortomatojuiceorwatermelonjuiceorvegetablebroths.Fruitjuice—usuallyorangejuice—isusedmostoften.

Orange juice, grapefruit juice or fresh tomato juice are excellent with which to break a fast.Watermelon juiceor the juiceof thefreshpineappleorof freshgrapesmayalsobeused.Ahalfaglassmaybegivenat thestart.Afteranhour,anotherhalfglassmaybegiven.Juicemaybegiveneveryhourthefirstday.Theseconddayawholeglassofjuiceeverytwohoursmaybeemployed.Onthethirdandfourthdaysgivethewholeorangeorgrapefruitandonthefifthdayotherfoodsmaybeadded.Largemealsshouldnotbeattemptedinlessthanaweek.Theseinstructionsareforthelongfast.Ashort fast requires less care inbreaking. Inbreaking a short fast I commonlygive awholeglassofjuiceeverytwohoursthefirstdayandthreefruitmealsthesecondday.IwouldemphasizethattheroutinesIemployarenotsacred.Otherroutineswillproveequallysatisfactory.Dr.Lindlahrusedtobreakfastswithahandfulofpopcorn.

Almostanyfoodmaybeemployedinbicakingafast,althoughgreatercaremustbeexercisediftheconcentrated types of food are employed for this purpose. There are individual factors that mustreceiveattention.Sinclair tellsofbreakinga fastona large, thoroughly ripe Japanesepersimmon,and says that “it doubled me up with the most alarming cramps.” A friend of his had the sameexperience from the juice of an orange; “but he was a man with whom acid fruits had alwaysdisagreed.” The tendency of the long fast is to remove these digestive shortcomings, but it is notalways completely successful, and this is especially so where the fast has not been carried tocompletion.

FallaciesAboutBreakingFastsAfewfallaciesaboutbreakingafastdeserveattention.Dr.Kritzersays:“Inbreakingalongfastitis

wise to consult the patient’s wishes as to the particular food desired for the first meal. Any foodwishedforshouldbegranted—evenifitismeat,icecream,chocolateoranyotherfoodoutsideofthefruitandvegetablekingdom.

“In this instance the patient’s appetite is fully reliable and the food thus craved may supply anessentialneed.Shouldsucharequestbedenied,thepatient’simprovementmayberetarded.”

It is true thata long fast tends to restore tasteand fooddesires toamorehealthful conditionandrenderthemmorereliable;butmanypatientscravethefoodstheyhavepreviouslybeeninthehabitofconsuming. These reversions to the old habit-cravings are distinctly not to be respected on anyspeciousnotionthatthefoods“craved”supplysomeessentialneed.Itisacommonexperiencetoseeafastercrave,attheendofafast,thefoodshehasalwayseaten.Feddifferentlyandgivenasecondfast,hecravesattheendofthesecondfast,thefoodshehadfollowingthefirstfast.

Therearenofoodelementsinchocolatethatcannotbesuppliedbytohisdiseasebuildingdiet.Isawtwo fastsbrokenonchocolateand Idon’t care to see it done again; neitherdo I care to see a fastbrokenonicecream.

Ifweassumethatthe“patient’sappetiteisfullyreliableafteralongfast,”thereisnoreasonwhyweshouldlimitthesatisfactionofhisdesirestothefirstmeal.Wemaypermithimtofollowtheleadofhisappetiteateverymealandhaveall thechocolateand icecreamhedesires.Notonly shouldwepermithimtohavethefoodhisappetitecallsfor,but,weshouldalsopermithimtohaveasmuchashisappetitecallsfor.Yetweallknowthatthiscannotbedone.Amanbreaksalongfastonbreadandmeatsandwichesandisdeadintwenty-fourhours.Hisappetitesimplywasnotreliable.

Inbreakingafastitisalwayswisertoplaysafeandusetriedandtestedmethodsandfollowthisupwithanadequatedietandnotgooffafterwildtheoriesandfunnynotions.

Dr.Kritzeralsosays:“Itisbesttobreakafastatfiveo’clockintheafternoon,thusthepatienthasanopportunityof thoroughlydigestinghismealbefore retiring. It alsoaffords thedigestiveorgansaconsiderablerestbetweenthefirstandsecondmeals.”

Thereisnotimeofdaythatisbestforbreakingafast.Thereisnoreasonwhythemealshouldbethoroughlydigestedbeforeretiring.Ifthefastisproperlybroken,therewillbenoneedfortwelvetofourteenhoursofrestforthestomach,betweenthefirstmealandthesecondmeal.Thesecondglassoforangejuicemaybegivenonehourafter thefirst, insteadofaday later. Iwouldnothesitate tobreakafastatmidnightoratanytimeuponthereturnofhunger.Ifthefastisbrokenbeforethereturnofhunger,itmaybebrokenatanyhourduringtheday.Ritualisticfeedingfollowingthefast, isnomorenecessarythanatothertimes.Letusemployourintelligence.

HungerAfterTheFastMy experience agrees well with that of Carrington, who says that after a long fast the faster is

ravenousand“eatingmustbekeptundercontrolatallcostsforthefewdaysduringwhichitlasts.”Headds that after the first fewdays, if controlled, “the extreme”voraciousnesswill disappear and“willnot return.”Herefers to thisperiodas the“dangerperiod,”andsays that,once ithaspassed,thereisnolongerthedesire“forthegreatbulkoffoodwhichpreviouslyexisted.”Hepointsoutthatthereisalsotheabsenceofthepre-fasting“craving”for“hot,orspicy,orstimulatingviands.”

Thisagreeswellwithmyownexperiencesandobservations.Theperiodofhunger that followsalongfastlaststwoweeksandmore.Thepatientcontinuallycomplainsthatheisnotgettingenoughtoeat.Hewillgaininstrengthandweight,hewillfeelgoodingeneral,buttherewillbethatpersistentdemandformorefood. It isnotwise to try to satisfy thisdemand; todosowill invariably lead toovereatingand often to trouble. The demand for foodwill be satisfied bymoderate no longer betroubledbythepersistenthunger.Patientswhorefusetocontrol theireatingduring thisperiod,butwhoeatontheslyandfilluptotheirbelly’scontent,commonlyputonweightveryrapidly,theface

andotherpartsof thebodybecomingpuffy, indicatingawater-loggedcondition,and, inall cases,theyundomuchofthebenefitstheyderivedfromtheperiodofabstinence.

Thesecretof thepastpopularityof themilkdietseemsto liehere.Patientsweregivena fastandthenputonamilkdiet.Theyweregivenmilkathalfhourintervalsallthroughthedayand,whilethisover-feedingonmilkdestroyedmuchofthebenefitsofthefast,itsatisfiedthehungerofthepersonwhohadjustendedalongfast.Thepatientsputonweightinahurry,althoughitwasmorewaterthanfleshtheyaccumulated,andtheweightwouldnotholdupunderworkingconditions.Thedietwasapsychologicalsuccessandcausedthedoctorswhoemployeditlesstroublethantheyexperiencedintryingtofeedtheirpatientsrationally.

Chittenden (1904) confirms theview that the fast destroys the “craving” for abnormal substancesandlargequantitiesoffoods.Hesays:“[In]thelatterpartofSeptember,1903,Dr.Underhillattemptedtoreturntohisoriginalmodeofliving,butfounddifficultyinconsumingthedailyquantitiesoffoodhehadformerlybeeninthehabitoftaking”(p.78).Dr.Underhillhadnotbeenonafast,buthadbeenonacontrolleddietforaprolongedperiod.

Dr.Chas.E.Pagesays:“Accustomedtodistentionfromthebulkycharacteroftheolddiet,ifonlyaphysiological ration of the pure and more nutritious food be swallowed, the stomach misses thestimulus of distention; timewill be required (in some cases) for the stomach to remodel itself asregards size—unless a largeproportionof fruit is used in conjunctionwith the cereals.”After thepreliminary period of persistent hunger has been successfully passed, the stomach seems to restcontentwithlessfood.Ifthepatientwillcontrolhimselfduringthisperiod,allwillbewellthereafter.

OvereatingAfterTheFastThepersistentandunusualhungerthatimmediatelysucceedsafastofconsiderabledurationoftenif

notguardedagainst results insupplyingagreaterabundanceof food thannecessity requires. If theunselfdisciplinedindividualisturnedlooseafterafastandnotcontrolled,heissuretoundomuchorallofthebenefitshegainedfromthefast.Atthisstageheisinurgentneedoffirmsupervision.

Themost difficult patients to handle after the fast are thosewho are anxious to gainweight in ahurry.Gainingweightoftenbecomesanobsessionwiththesepatients.Theydemandgreatquantitiesoffood,worrybecausetheyarenotgainingfaster,rapidlydevelopintogluttons,anddefeattheirownendsbytheirover-eating,worryandtension.Thereisatendencyonthepartofthefastertoovereat,notalonebecauseheishungry,butalsobecauseheisdesirousofregaininghisweight.Hisfriendsalsourgehimtoeat.Sinclairtrulysays:“Apersonattheendofa(long)fastisanagitatingsighttohisneighbors,andtheironeimpulseistogeta‘squaremeal’intohimasquicklyaspossible.”

FoodAfterTheFastWhenthefastisbrokenandeatingisresumed,thereisnotonlytheneedtomeetthedailyneedsfor

nutriment,butalsotheneedtoreplenishthebody’sexhaustedreservestores.Thisistosay,inadditiontomeetingthedailyexpendituresconsequentuponthedailyactivitiesoflife,thebodyalsoseekstosetasideanotherreservestockinanticipationofasubsequentperiodofnutritivestringency.Forthisreason,thedemandforfoodiscommonlygreaterthanwhatmayberegardedasnormal,atleastforashortperiodfollowingthefast.Thisisaperiodwhenunusualcareshouldbeexercisedinthechoiceof foods, as, in laying up new reserves stores, it is essential that they be adequate, not alone inquantity,butalsoinquality,tomeetanysubsequentperiodofabstinencewithallflagsflying.InspiteofthefaultydietoftheAmericanpeople,ournutritivereservesarecommonlymuchmoreadequate

inqualitythanweshouldexpect.

After a fast the diet should be of the very best from the standpoint of its nutritive qualities. Nocannedandbottledjuicesshouldbeusedinbreakingthefast.Onlyfreshfruitsandfreshvegetablesshouldbeused.Ifanydriedfoodsaretobeemployedinthediet,onlysun-driedfoodsshouldbeused.Certainlyeveryfoodemployedshouldhaveitsfullcontentofvitaminsandminerals.Cannedfoods,sulphuredfruits,denaturedfoodsofallkinds,over-cookedfoods,andfoodsthathavebeenhashedormangled,sothattheyhavesustainedvitallossesthroughoxidation,arenottobeconsidered.Thelossofminerals and vitamins cannot possibly be compensated by the use of vitamin pills ofwhatevernaturenorbytheuseofmineralpreparationsfromanysource.Thesethingsmustbeobtainedfromnaturalfoods.

Thereisgreaterneedforproteinafteralongfastthanforcarbohydrates.Asthefastingindividualwhohashadalongfastwillbuild.tissuerapidly,hewillrequiremoreproteinthanthatcontainedinamaintenancediet.Highgradeproteinswillberequiredandtheseshouldbeasfreshandwholesomeasthemarketaffords.Itshouldhardlybenecessarytoaddthatthefullportionofproteindailycannotbestartedfromthefirstday thefast isbroken.Cautionmustbeobserved inbreakinganextendedfastandthepatientbroughtgraduallyfromthefasttofullmeals.

XXXI.GainingWeightAftertheFastThegaininweightafterafastisusuallyveryrapid.Oftenitisalmostasrapidasthelossduringthefast. People thatwere formerly always underweight and emaciated, due to impaired digestion andassimilation, will become normal in weight. Nervous patients and those who have long beenemaciated often gain very slowly. As there are a number of factors which determine the rate ofweight-loss so there are a number of factors which determine the rate of weight-gain.We cannotcloseour eyes to the complexity of the problem.The increased ability of the cells to take up andappropriatenutrientmaterialsthatisalwaysseentoresultfromfastingisafactorindeterminingthegaininweightthatfollowsthefast.Moregainonlessfoodistherule.

BothMorgulis andVon Seeland confirmed, experimentally, in their animals a fact that has beenrepeatedlyemphasizedbytheadvocatesoffasting,thatthinpeople,whiletheyloseweightonafast,tendtoregainmoreweightafterthefastthantheyloseduringthefast,sothattheultimateresultisagainofweight.Wenotethisinpatientswhopreviouslywereunabletogainonanytypeofdiet.Thereareonlyoccasionalexceptionstothisrule.Itisasthoughtherenovationwhichthefastingorganismundergoesnotonlycreatesafoodhunger,butalsoincreasestheabilitytodigestandassimilatefood,forweoftenseegains,sometimessurprisinglyrapidones,onadiet that theaveragepersonwouldloseweighton.Theabilitytoutilizefoodiscertainlyincreased.Itiscertainthatinthethinpeoplewecareforinthiscountry,notoneinathousandofthemisthinforlackoffood;commonly theyare“eatingtheirheadsoff.”Theyareunderweightbecausetheydonotdigestandassimilatewhattheyeat.Theorganiccorrectionsthatoccurduringafastchangeallthis.

Studyingthelivercellsofafastingsalamander,Morgulisfoundthatafterfourdaysoffeeding,bothcellsandnucleihadgained34and31percentrespectively.Inanotherfourdays,eightdaysinall,thecellbodyhadincreased143percent.Afteronlyfourteendaysoffeeding,thelivernucleihadreachednormal size although the cells were still under sized. The epithelial cells lining the duodenumincreasedevenmorerapidlythandidthelivercells.Theirbodiesandnucleiincreasing45and24percentrespectivelyinthefirstfourdaysoffeeding.Hesays“thesameholdstruefortheregenerationofthepancreaticcellsexceptforminordetailsoftheprocess.”Thesegainswereseenafterlongmonthswithout food, duringwhich time the body as awhole lost 50 per cent.The liver cells, being foodreservoirs,lost52percentthefirstmonth,74percentintwomonthsand80to85percentinthreemonths.

Morgulissays:“therecuperationofthecellsisshownwhentheanimalsarenourishedagainafterhavingfastedthreeandahalfmonths.Theregenerationofthecellsismarvelouslyrapid,theoriginalnormalconditionbeingpracticallyrestoredafter14daysoffeeding.”Protozoashowanastoundingcapacity for recuperation when feeding is resumed after an enforced fast. Some of them regainnormalsizeinonlytwodays.Otherformsrequireasmuchasfifteendays.Recovery“istheinverseofthatduringinanition.”Cell-divisionsbeginthreetofivedaysafterfeedingisresumed.

CarlsonandKundefoundthatattheendofafast,subjectsareabletomaintainthemselvesandevengainweightonmuchsmalleramountsoffoodthantheyhadformerlythoughtnecessarytokeepthemgoing, thus corroborating in the laboratory, a fact of observation that every one experienced inconductingfastshasseenmanytimes.Kunde(1923)says:“Itseemsthatthemechanismbywhichthecells of an extremely emaciated body, rendered thus by starvation [fasting] but organically sound,utilizesfood,mustbequitedifferentfromthatwhichoccursafteremaciationfromsickness,whennot

onlybody substancesmust be built up, but functional disturbances corrected aswell.Certainly thebodyisnotabletoutilizefoodonsuchaneconomicbasisunderordinaryconditionsofnutrition”(p.438).

It is not necessary to assume that the “mechanism” of food utilization is different in emaciationproducedbyfastingfromthatproducedbysickness.Weneedonlytorecognizethatitislessefficientaftersicknessbecauseofdamagesfromtoxins,drugsandfromfunctionalweaknesses.Ontheotherhand,weneedtoknowthatrapidgainsinweightdooftenfollowsicknessandthisisespeciallysoifthesicknesswasaccompaniedbyfasting.

Kunde (1923) gives one case where a subject gained 17.38 lbs. in the first seven days after thecompletionofafast,andthebodyweightcamebacktonormaldespite thefact thatduring thefirstfivedaysafterthefastonlyonemealadaywaseaten,andthataverymoderateone.Butitwouldbeimpossibletogainsomuchweightinsuchashorttimewithoutconsumingenoughfoodtoputonthismuchweight,unlessexcessivewaterdrinkingproducedawater-loggedstateofthetissues.Therewaseitherover-eatingorover-drinkingorboth,andthus,muchofthebenefitsofthefastweredestroyed.AnotherofKunde’sfastersgained18.2lbs.duringthefirstweekafterafast.Suchrapidgainsarenotdesirable.

Mrs.Sinclairlosttwelvepoundsintendaysduringherfirstfast,andthengainedtwenty-twopoundsinseventeendaysfollowingthefast.Mr.Sinclairgainedfourandahalfpoundsonthethirddayafterbreakinghisfast.Intwenty-fourdayshegainedatotaloftwenty-twopounds.Thisgain,beitnoted,followedatwelvedaysfast,whichoccasionedalossofseventeenpounds.Hetellsus:“Ihadalwaysbeenexpression;Inowbecameasroundasabutterball,andsobrownandrosyinthefacethatIwasajoketoallwhosawme”(1910,p.743).Aslow,steadygrowthoftissuefollowingafastisfarmoresatisfactory than any rapid laying on of fat.This is themore suremethod employed by nature; incontrastwiththequick,temporaryand“stimulating”gainsthatmanseemstoprefer.Thestabilityoftheslowgrowingoakiscertainlypreferabletotheinstabilityoftherapidlygrowingmushroom.

There isno reasonwhy the emaciatedperson shouldnot fast. Indeed, there isoften every reasonwhy he should. The fast is sometimes the only thing that will enable him to gain weight. Specialweightgaining diets are not required.Themilk diet is frequently employed after a fast to force arapidgaininweight.ThisIconsidernottobenecessary,butastendingtoactuallyundosomeorallofthebenefitsderivedfromthefast.

Von Seeland, subjected chickens to intermittent short fasts, using mature birds for this purpose.Thesefastslastedonetotwodays.Hisfastingbirds,althoughgettinglessfoodthanthecontrolbirds,becameheavierthanthelatter.Hestatesthattheincreaseinweightwasduetoanincreaseinrealflesh—proteinmaterial—andnot toamere increase in fat.He states that theperiodic fastingmakes thebodyheavier,strongerandmoresolid.Morgulisexperimentingwithsalamanderssecuredoppositeresults. “Kagan found,” says Morgulis, “that the power of resistance declined with each newexperienceofstarvation.‘Theorganismwhichrecoveredfrominanitionthroughtheconsumptionofaliberalquantityoffoodstillshowstheeffectsofthepreviousexperience...andwhentheinanitionisrepeateddiessoonerthanthenormalorganism’”(1923,p.285).

WhileDr.Morgulis thinks that the results of his experiments and those ofKagan, contradict theresults claimedbyVonSeeland,he says, “thiswouldnot necessarilydisprovehis contentionof aninvigorating influenceofbrief fasts inasmuchas inourownexperiments thedurationof each fast

wasconsiderablygreater”(p.285).Itshouldbequiteobviousthataseriesofintermittentfastsmustnotbelongones.It isquiteobviousthatsubsequentrecoverywilldependuponthecharacterof thefoodeatenaswellasuponotherfactors,suchassunshine,exercise,etc.Muchdepends,too,uponthelength of the period between the fasts.We frequently put patients upon intermittent short fasts andsecurejustsuchresultsasVonSeelandreportsinhischickens.

Morgulissaysthathisintermittentlyfastedsalamanders—“withone-halftheamountoffoodreachedsomewhatmorethantwo-thirdsofthebodyweightofthecontinuallyfedsalamanders.”Thispointstoaremarkable improvement in nutritive power and function, but it is toomuch to ask one-half theamountoffoodtoproducegreaterresults.VonSeelanddidnotlimithisfastingchickenstoone-halfthefoodeatenbythecontrolchickens.

Fastingisnotsomethingtoplaywith.Itisonlyapartofthehealthprogram.FeedingafterthefastandthegeneralHygieniccareofthepatientareevenmoreimportant.Laboratoryexperimenters,withtheirantiquatedandsyntheticdiets,certainlyarenottobetrustedinthismatteroffeedingafterafast.

Iamconvincedfrommyownexperiencewithpatients,thatatoorapidgaininfleshfollowingthefastdoesnotbuildassolidandhealthfulfleshasaslowrateofgain.Milkdietenthusiastsproduceaflesh-gainafterafast,bytheirover-feeding,whichisalmostasrapidasthelossduringthefast.Butsuch flesh is watery, flabby and soon lost when one becomes active and returns to other foods. Iprefer to feed patients an abundance of fresh fruits and green vegetables and limited quantities ofproteins,starchesandfats.Fleshgainedataslowerrateismoresolidandstayswiththepatient.Atoorapidgrowthinchildrenisnotproductiveofsoundtissue.Iamconvincedthatthesameistrueofatoorapidgainafterafast.

Afewdonotgainrapidlyformorethanaweekortwoweeksafterbreakingthefast.Withmany,a-shortfastdoesnotsufficetooccasionagaininweight.Manyfactorsareatworktopreventagaininthesecasesandtheshortfastisnotsufficienttorestorethenutritivefunctionstoavigorousstate.

Themostrapidgainsinweightareseenafteralongfast.Allcases,however,willgainatafairlyrapidrateiftheunderlyingcausesofdefectivenutritionandcorrected.Thisdependsonmanyfactorsother than fasting and the intelligent person, be he doctor or patient, will not fail to attend to allnecessaryfactorsandinfluences.

In those animals that periodically undergo protracted periods of fasting, a tendency to acquire,duringthefeedingseason,largestoresoffat,isseen.Amongtheseanimals,astheRussianbearandtheAlaskanfur-sealbull,theperiodofabstinencefromfoodisoftenoflongduration,sothatalargesupplyofnutrimentisnecessary.FrequentfastinginmanmayresultinthesametendencyalthoughIhaveneverseenaclearcaseofthedevelopmentofsuchatendencyfromrepeatedfasts.

XXXII.LivingAftertheFast“Thefastisinvain,”saysTilden,“ifthepatientreturnstohisoldhabits.Thisistrueofconvalescingin general.” The results of the fast will be more or less temporary unless one lives properlythereafter.Fastingwillnotmakeone“disease”proof.Orthobionomiclivingisessentialthereafterifonedesirestoremainingoodhealth.

Onewomanwhoplacedherwhole familyona fastwroteSinclairof theexperience. “Mamahadindigestion,”shesays.Afterhermotherhadprotestinglyfastedforsometime,theladydescribedhermother ’sconditionthus:“Mamaisnowcomfortablyeatingboiledhamandstuffedpeppers,andfruitcakeandcherrypieandgreenolivesandwhatnotatthesamemeal.Sheiswell,though.Butofcourseshewillgetsickagain.”

Fastingisbutameanstoanend.Itisacleansingprocessandaphysiologicalrestwhichpreparesthebodyforfutureright living.It is, therefore,necessary that theworkbegunby thefastbecontinuedandcompletedafterthefast.

Mostfastingadvocatesadvisegreatcareinbreakingthefastandinsubsequentfeedingandthenfeedabominably.Eales(1913),forexample,followedhisthirtydaysfastwithanexceedinglybaddiet.Hebroke his fast onHorlick’sMaltedMilk andwas soon eating suchmeals as the following (on thefourthdayafterbreakinghisfast):“Glassofmaltedmilkwithrawegg;”later,“onepoachedegg;”and6P.M.dinner,“twosoft-boiledeggs,glassofmilk,littlericeandstrawberries”(p.193).Onthethirddayafterbreakinghisfast,hementionsthathe“hadacupofcoffee”withsomefriends.

Dewey’spersonaldietconsistedchieflyofmeat,fish,eggs,milk,pastriesandbread,withbutfewvegetables, thesechieflyof thestarchiervarieties.Hewasopposed toacidfruits,declaring theyallcontainpotashwhichdecomposesthegastricjuiceandthat“thereisneveranydesireforacidfruitsthrough real hunger, especially those of the hyperacid kinds: they are simply taken to gratify thelowersense—relish”(1921,p.108).Acidfruitscanbe“takenwithapparent impunity”“onlyby theyoungandoldwhocangenerategastricjuicecopiously.”

The demoralizing influence of all acids, fruit acids included, exerted upon gastric secretion, isundoubted.But thisdoesnotnecessitate abstaining fromacid fruits anddoesnot prove them tobeharmful.Itonlycallsforeatingthemalone.Dr.Deweyknewnothingoffoodcombining.Hereferredto apple eating as converting the human stomach into a cider mill and declared that “by theirravishingflavorandapparenteaseofdigestion,applesstillplayanimportantpartinthe‘fallofman’fromthathigherstate,theEdenwithoutitsdyspepsia”(1921,pp.108-109).Itwashisnotionthatifwe“eatfromhunger”andnot“frommererelish,”wewouldeatrightwithoutmuchattentionbeinggivento what we eat. While there is perhaps more truth in this than is generally recognized, it is,unfortunately,notabsolutelytrue.

Pearsonlivedforthefirstweekafterhisfastwasbrokenonabout2oz.ofsweetchocolate,2oz.ofpeanutsand1sometimes2chocolatemaltedmilks,fromthesodafountain,aday.

Tannertellsusofhisownovereating,thatafterhisfast(hewasdyspepticbeforegoingonthefast)heate“sufficientfoodinthefirsttwenty-fourhoursafterbreakingthefasttogainninepounds,andthirty-sixpoundsineightdays,allthatIhadlost.”IfIcanjudgebytheresultsofover-feedingthatI

haveobservedafterafast,Tanner ’sgaininweightwasapuffy,water-loggedmassofmaterial thatcannotbyanystretchoftheimaginationbecalledhealthyordesirable.Hisuncontrolledeatingwasadangerousprocedureandhewas in luck toescapewithhis life. Itwouldnotbewise forothers toattemptthisfoolishstuffing.Theinabilityoftheundisciplinedindividualsofourcountryandagetocontrol themselvesmeans that theyshouldnotundertake to feed themselvesatallaftera fast.Theyshouldbecontrolledbyamanofexperience.

Itwill bequite obvious to the student of diet that the style of eating followed by thesemenmustinevitablyundomuchofthebenefitsderivedfromthefast.

Inmanyquartersitisthealmostinvariablepracticetofollowthefastwithsuchadiet.Themilkdietundoesmuchof thebenefitderived from the periodof abstinence.Dr.Hazzard also condemns themilkdiet following thefast.Sinclairnoted thatveryfrequently themilkdietdisagreeswithpeople,andsays:“Inasmuchasthereisnothingthatpoisonsmequitesoquicklyasmilk,Ihadtolookfartherformysolution.”

Hefurthersaysconcerninghisexperiencewithmilk,“Iwasneverabletotakethemilkdietforanylengthoftimebutonce,andthataftermyfirsttwelve-dayfast.Aftermysecondfastitseemedtogowrongwithme,andIthinkthereasonwasthatIdidnotbeginituntilaweekafterbreakingthefast,havinggotalongonorangejuiceandfigsinthemeantime.AlsoItriedonmanyoccasionstotakethemilk diet after a short fast of three or four days, and always themilk has disagreedwithme andpoisonedme.Itakethistomeanthat,inmyowncase,atanyrate,somuchmilkcanonlybeabsorbedwhenthetissuesaregreatlyreduced;andIhaveknownotherswhohavehadthesameexperience.”

It isquitetruethatafteralongfastoneiscapableofabsorbinglargequantitiesofmilk,but therestillremainsthequestionofwhyoneshoulddoso.Whygoonthefastinthefirstplaceifitistobefollowedbyworsegluttonythanever?Deweywasopposedtospecialexercises.Ragabliatiwasoftheopinionthatexercisesarenotnecessarytohealthandlife,andthattheordinarymovementssuppliedbytheordinarybusinessoflifearephysiologicallysufficientforthispurpose.Thisisobviouslynottrueinmanyoccupations.Besides,exerciseservesmanypurposesandfew,ifany,oftheoccupationsofmodernlifesupplyallofthebody’sneedsforexercise.

Ifwe are to continue to enjoygoodhealth after a fast, properdiet, adequate and fitting exercise,sunshine, freshair,mentalpoise, restand sleepand freedomfromdevitalizinghabits areessential.Thelengthoftimethroughwhichtheresultsofafastwilllastdependsuponhowonelivesafterthefast.

“Diseases,”whentreatedbydrugandserummethods,frequentlyrecuraftertheyappeartobecured.I am frequently asked if this is true of fasting-cured cases. To answer this question correctly, it isnecessary that the reader distinguish between “regular”methods of treating “disease” and fasting.Drugsandserumssucceedonlyinsuppressingthesymptomsof“disease,”so thatanapparentcureoftenresults.Butsuppressionofsymptomsdoesnotconstitutearealrecovery.Fastingdoesremovetheinternalcausesof“disease.”Ifpurifiestheorganism.Recoverybythismeansisgenuine,andisnotmerelyaforcedsuppressionofsymptoms.

Butfastingcannotmakeone“disease”-proof. Ifacertainmodeofeatingand livingmakesamansickonce,itcandosoathousandtimesifhereturnstoit.Whenamanhasrecoveredthroughfasting,ifheresumesover-eatingandwrongeatingandsensualityand inebriety,excesses,dissipationsand

otherformsofwrongliving,hewillagainbuild“disease”inhisbody.Itmaybethesameconditionorsomeother,butheiscertaintoevolvesomeformof“disease”ifhedoesnotliverightlyafterhisbodyhasbeencleansed.If,liketheBiblicalsowthatwaswashed,hereturnstohiswallowinginthemire,hecannothelpbutbecomedirtyagainandwill requireanotherbath.But ifhewill liveasheshouldlive,hemaybefullyassuredthathewillnothavearecurrenceofhistroubles.Once“disease”hasbeenremediedbyHygienicmethods,thepersoncannotagainhavethe“disease”withoutbuildingitalloveragain.

Sinclair likens a man who needs a fast “every now and then,” to the man who spends his timesweepingrainwateroutofhishouse,insteadofrepairingtheroof.Ifthereisneedforyoutofastatfrequent intervals, this isbecauseyoureatingand livinghabitsarewrong. Ifyougiveupdrinkingyouwillnotneedtobesoberedupatfrequentintervals.

Enervation, established as a chronic state following enervating habits, lowers and pervertsfunctioningoftheorgansofthebody,somefunctionsbeingweakenedmorethanothers.Ifwedonotbuildenervation and toxemiaby taxing theorganism to thevery limit, nopathologywill develop.Lightenthetoxicover-loadwithwhichtheorganismhasbeenburdened,cultivateconservativehabitsofliving,guidethemindintonewchannelsofthought,poiseandcontroltheemotions,andgettingwellandremainingwellisnolongeragameofchance.

XXXIII.FastinginHealthCarrington(1915)says:“Ifawellmanstartsgoingwithoutfood,hebeginstostarve(notfast).Thenearerwellyouare, the lessyoushouldfast” (p.467).Macfadden takesasimilarview,saying thatfastingbyhealthy persons “representsmore nearly cases of starvation than of fasting. Aman canonlyfastwithbenefitwhenheisill.Ifheiswell,andgoeswithouthisfood,hecommencestostarveat once; and the two processes are very different. Hence the physiological experts observed onlycasesof starvation, andnot fasting cases at all.The therapeutic sideof thequestion seems tohavebeenmissedbythementirely!”—EncyclopediaofPhysicalCulture,Vol.III.

MacfaddenisdiscussingBenedict(1907),whichisdevotedentirelytoobservationsoffastinginso-callednormalorhealthyindividuals.Nowhere in themassivevolumedoesProf.Benedictconsiderthe value of fasting in sickness. His experimental fasts were of two to seven days duration, thesubjects being youngmen in good health. Strange, is it not, that studying Benedict’s reports, andfinding nothing in them to indicate that the youngmen suffered in any way from starvation,Mr.Macfadden should stress thealleged fact thatwhenahealthymanmisses a fewmeals hebegins tostarve.

Incorrectasthisviewis,ithasbeenheldbyothers.Jenningssays:“Takeahealthychildfromfoodwhileitsvitalmachineryisinfulloperation,anditwilluseupitsownbuildingmaterialandfalltoruinintwoorthreeweeks.”Heseemsnottohavebeentalkingoftheregularphysicalactivitiesofthechild when he said “with its vital machinery in full operation.” He contrasts the activities of thehealthychildwiththatofthesickoneandspeaksalmostwhollyoftheactivitiesoftheinternalorgans.Buthedoesgivethehealthychildtwoorthreeweeksofactivitybeforeitusesupallofitsresources.It shouldbeobvious that anadultwould require amuch longerperiodof abstinence to use up hisresources.

Carrington(1908)takesasimilarview.Heemphasizesthefactthathisobservationsoffastinghavebeen confined to sick fasters and have not been made upon healthy fasters. He asks the question:wouldtheeffectsoffastingbethesameinthecaseofasickmanasinthatofahealthyman?Hesays:“MyanswertothisisadecidedNo!Theeffectsoffastinginsuchcasesareverydifferent.”Indeed,hesaysthatweshouldexpectthisapriori“sincetheeffectsofanythingwoulddoubtlessbedifferentinhealthyandindiseasedbodies.”“Iwellperson,”hesays.Butthis“picture”isonethathehadconjuredupinhisownmindandnotonethathehadseenasheconfesses.Letuslookathis“picture.”Hesays:“Werea reallyhealthyperson tocommencegoingwithout foodandcontinue this foranumberofdays,we can easily picture the result in our imaginations—a starved and shrunken body; hollow,staring eyes; parched and shrunken skin; perhaps awanderingmind; emaciation,weakness; and aravenous, uncontrollable appetite—these are a few of the many symptoms we can imagine asfollowinguponthisoutrageuponnature.Whattheexactsymptomswouldbe;howlonglifecouldbesustainedunder the circumstances; these are questions I am totally unable to answer—since I haveneverhadtheopportunityofobservingtheeffectsofstarvationuponthehealthybody.”

Notethatthispictureisawhollyimaginaryone.Mr.Carringtoncouldhaveknownbetteratthetimehewrotethatpin-pictureofstarvationhorror.Hehadjustpresentedashorthistoryoffastingthroughtheagesinwhichhehadrecountedthelongfastsundergoneforreligiouspurposes.Hecouldhaveknownthatnoneofthesesymptomswerereal.Thefactisthatthehealthymanentombedinaminebyacave-inorshipwreckedatsea,orahealthyanimalforcedbycircumstancestodowithoutfood,goes

withoutfoodaseasilyandwithnomorewanderingofthemind,orparchingandshrinkingoftheskinthanoccurs in thesickpersonabstainingfromfood.Prof.Levanzin’s fastof31daysundertakenatCarnegie Institutewas takenwhile in good health. This fastwas undergone afterMr.Carrington’sbookwaswritten,butthereweremanylongfastspriortothatdatebyhealthymenandMr.Carringtoncouldhaveknownofthese.

Mr. Macfadden’s statements about fasting by the healthy were published after the famousexperiments inMadisonSquareGarden, inwhichseveralathletes tookpart.Afterwatchinga largegroup of healthy men and women fast and engage in severe athletic contests, with no signs ofstarvation resulting,howwas itpossible forhim to take theviewhedid?With someof the fasterslosingnoweightandoneortwoofthemregisteringgains,howcanitbesaidthatthefastinghealthymanwillwasterapidly?Weknowverywellthatsuchisnotthecase.

Thehealthyman,nomorethanthesickman,doesnotbegintostarveassoonasheomitshisfirstmeal.Helives,asdoesthesickman,uponhisstoredreservesandbeginstostarveonlyaftertheseareexhausted.Letusneverforgetthatthebodycarriesastoreoffoodthatmaybecalleduponatanytimethatneedarises.

Fasting indisease isverydifferent inmanyparticulars from fasting in health, but fundamentally,fastingunder the twosetsofcircumstances is thesameprocess.Theviewof fastingby thehealthytakenbyMr.MacfaddenandMr.Carrington isaverysuperficialone.Aperfectlyhealthymanmayderivenobenefitfromafast,butthatheisstarvingsolongasheislivingonhisreservesisnomoretrueofthethereisnosuchthingknowntousaperfectlyhealthyman,sothat theremaybenoonewhocannotderivebenefitfromafast.

Sofarasexperimentsmadeuponhealthyanimalsandmenhaveshown,thereisthesamehoardingorconservingofreservesandthesamerigidcontrolofautolysis inhealthyanimalsandmenas indiseasedones,whenthesefast.Tissuesarelostinthesameorder.Lossoftissueinthehealthyfasterisproportionedtohisactivity,whereas,inthesickmanorwoman,theremaybearapidlossofweightintheearlypartofthefast,duetotheinferiorqualityofthetissues.Indeed,thereisoftenmuchmorerapidlossofweightinthefastingsickmanthaninthefastingwellman.Letusgrant,then,thatthereisacertaindifferencebetweenfastingbythewellandfastingbythesick—thisdifferenceiscertainlynotfundamental.

Itwill be recalled that there is great activity in those animals that fast during themating season.Some of these fast for prolonged periods. Yet they know none of the signs of starvation thatMr.Carringtonconjuredupinhisimaginationaslikelydevelopmentsinthehealthyfaster.Thefactisthathispictureof“starvation”inthehealthyfasterissolikethepicturepresentedbytheregularphysicianin presenting his objections to fasting, as to arouse the suspicion that Mr. Carrington hassubconsciouslyborrowedthedescription.

XXXIV.FastinginAcuteDiseaseInstinctiveRepugnanceToFoodInAcuteIllnessFeedingToKeepUpStrengthNoPowerToDigestInAcuteSicknessNoNourishmentWithoutDigestionRectalAndSkinFeedingGastro-IntestinalDecompositionTheStomachAndIntestinesInAcuteIllnessNauseaAndVomitingFeedingIncreasesSufferingCompensationPhysiologicalRestPreventionNoDangerOfStarvationPainTortureOfHopelessCasesFastingInFeversTyphoidPneumoniaAppendicitisRheumatismCoughsDiarrhea—DysenteryWastingByTheAcutelyIllDespiteFeedingWeakness

“Insteadofusingmedicine,ratherfastaday,”wrotePlutarch,whowasmuchclosertotheprimitivepracticesofmankindthanwearetoday.Bymedicinehecouldonlyhavemeantdrugs.Someoneelsehassaid:“Wisepeople,fallingintoailment,takeabath,gotobed,andfast,leavingnaturetodoherownworkofcure,andnothinderingherbeneficentoperations.”This is theruleofnature inacutedisease:Gotobed,keepwarm,andabstainfromallfooduntilhungerreturns.Landis(1857)says:“Inacuteandinflammatorydiseases,nofoodshouldbeused”(p.57).Discussingrheumaticfeverinaneditorial,Trall(1857)says:“Nofoodshouldbetakenuntilthefeverhasnearlysubsided,andthecoatonthetonguebeginstocleanoff’(p.61).Goingwithoutfoodinthesecasesnotonlyrelievespain,but it rests the heart and relieves the kidneys. Fasting in fevers was commonly employed byNeapolitan physicians some hundred and fifty years ago. They frequently permitted their feverpatientstogoforaslongasfortydayswithoutfood.Wheninpneumoniaandpleurisy,thepatientisfed, not only is the toxic saturation kept up, but feeding retards resolution; that is, it prevents theinflamedlungsandpleurafromreturningtonormal.Thismayresultinabscessformation.

Oneofthefirstindicationsofillnessisafailingappetite.Indeedthedesireforfoodoftenfailsafewdaysbeforeanyother symptomsappear.Thecommonexpression,appliedalike tohorseandman,“offhisfeed,”describestheinstinctiveabstinencefromfoodthatnatureenforceswhenthepowertodigestfoodisloworabsent.Thelossofdigestivepoweranddigestiveconditionsisproportionedtotheseverityof theremedialaction. If the illnessbegins“suddenly”while the stomach is filledwithfoodorifthereisaseriousaccidentorshocktothenervoussystem,vomitingimmediatelyempties

thestomach.Thusdoesnatureindicate,bothinanimalsandman,thatinacutedisease,nofoodshouldbetaken.

Writingofthevomitingthatoccursinsea-sickness,Dr.Shewassertedthat“almostallpersonsarebenefitedbyit”(seasickness),andexplainedthebenefitthus:“Itisbythebeneficialpoweroffastingthat the benefit of sea sickness is caused.”Only false teachings can induce people to go on eatingregularlyinthefaceofthefact that thefoodisvomitedaspromptlyasit is ingested.Forthisfalseteachingwehavethemedicalprofessiontothank.

Physicianshavetaughtthepeoplethattherearespecificdiseasesrequiringspecificcausesandthatthesickmustbefed“tokeepuptheirstrength,”whilebeing“cured”oftheirdiseases.Solongaswebelievethatthe“cure”ofacommon“disease”dependsupontheaccidentalorprovidentiallyordaineddiscovery of some mysterious compound, we are likely to continue overlooking the plainestindicationsofnatureandgoonkillingthesickinthetime-honoredway.

Not merely in low chronic conditions, but in acute conditions, with high temperature as well,overfeeding is prescribed and enforced. Indeed, a high calorie diet is now the rule in fevers. Dr.Kellogg insists on sugar in some form, even in the most violent stages of acute “disease.” Thisinsistenceisnotbasedonphysiology,butonhisfearofbacteria.Hesaysthatbacteria“willnotgroworat leastarenotvirulentandactive inproducingtoxins, in thepresenceofsugar.”Fearandfalsetheoriesleadmenawayfromnatureandphysiologyandcausethemtodomanyabsurdanddamagingthings. With all due respect to Dr. Kellogg, his influence in this matter is highly pernicious andprejudicial to thehealthand recoveryof the sick.The indicationsofnature are the trueguide in asearchforhealth.Ephemeraltheoriesofmis-calledscienceoftendomuchharm.

InstinctiveRepugnanceToFoodInAcuteIllnessAnimalswillnoteatwhensick.Ithaslongbeenknownthatwhenanimalsareseverelyinjuredthey

refuse food. Shock, severe injury of any kind, fever, pain, inflammation, poisoning, reduce orsuspenddigestivepowerandreduce thenutritivefunctions throughout thebody.Thehumananimalhas no desire for food when ill; in fact, there is a positive repugnance to food, coupled with aninability to digest and utilize it.But, all too often, the human animal disregards his repugnance tofoodandthediscomfortsthatfolloweatinginspiteofthis,andeatsbecausehehasbecomeconvincedthathewilldieifhedoesnoteat.

Whenanimals,youngorold,becomesicktheyinstinctivelyrefrainfromeating.Warmth,QuietandFasting,withalittlewater,arealltheywant.Whentheytakenourishment,itisasuresignthattheyarerecovering.Theyeatbutlittleatfirstandgraduallyeatmoreastheygrowbetter.Theyneverworryaboutcaloriesorproteinrequirementseither.Warmth,Quiet(rest)andFasting,withalittlewater,asdemandedbythirst,aretheneedsofasickmanorwoman.Asickanimalcannotbemadetoeat;butsick men, women and children can be induced to eat to “keep up their strength.” Feeding, withrelapsesgalore,untildeathendsthevarioustragedies,iscommononbothsidesoftheAtlantic.Everyyearthelossoflifeamongusefulmenisappalling.Theydevelopa“springcold,”theneattokeepuptheirstrength;buttheeatingstrengthensthetoxinsandweakensthebody,untilfriendsareshockedbytheirdeath.

Dr.Hazzardclaims,andIbelieverightly,thatwhileappetitemaybeandoftenispresentin“disease,”truehungernever is. I believe that,with a fewpossible exceptions, this is as trueof chronic asofacute “disease.” Liek says that objection to fasting on the part of adults, is usually due not to the

workingoftheinstinctbut tothatofa“faultyworkingintelligence.”Heillustratesthiswithastoryaboutafatwomandoctoruponwhomheperformedanabdominaloperation,whichwasfollowedbyseptic developments.Although she admitted she did not have the slightest desire for food and thateven the thoughtof foodproducednausea, she thought“sheought toeat something tokeepupherstrength” and “was worrying for days because she has the idea that she ought to be givenstrengtheningfood.”Heveryappropriatelyremarksthat“herstomachpossessedmoresensethanherbrain.”Hisremarkwouldhavebeennearerthemark,hadhesaidthatherorganicinstinctspossessedmore intelligence thanhermedical instructorswhoeducatedher into the false belief that “the sickmusteattokeepuptheirstrength.”

Densmore (1892) says: “Quite generally, in severe attacks, the patient has no appetite—food ispositivelyrepulsive;butwhenthereseemstobecravingforfood,itwillbefoundtobeafictitiouslongingcausedbyinflammation,andnotfromneedofnourishment.Thisfictitiousappetiteusuallydisappearswith the first twenty-four hours’ fast. The effort of the true physicianmust be to assistnature,and tobeguidedbyher. If thereshouldstillbe found longingfor foodat theexpirationofforty-eighthours’ fasting, itwill be evidence that food is needed....Themore serious the attackofillness,thelongerdurationoffastneeded.Fromthreetosixdayswillbefoundtobethetimeusuallyindicated,butone, twoandeven threeweeks’ fastingwillbe foundadvisable inextremecases. Letnature be absolutely trusted;when the patient has been denied food long enough to overcome theinflammation which is liable to be mistaken for appetite, then give nourishment as soon and nosoonerthanthepatientcravesfood”(pp.22-23).

I do not agree that in cases of severe acute illness where the fictitious desire for food persistsbeyondforty-eighthoursof fasting, it indicatesa realneedfor food.Therecanbenodigestionoffood in these cases and there is no urgent need for food so long as the patient’s reserves are notexhausted.Thereappearanceofakeenappetiteinthesickisasureindicationofreturninghealthandstrength.Theabsenceofdesireforfood,whethercausedbyillness,grief,anger,excitement,fatigue,orothercause,isnature’swayofsayingthatthedigestiveorgansare,forthetimebeing,incapableofdigestingfood.

FeedingToKeepUpStrengthTheideathatdominatesthephysician,thenursesandtherelativesofthesickpersonisthatthevital

power or strength “must be supported with food” while the “conflict with disease” rages. Thissupposedneedfor food to support life, great inproportion to the apparent gravityof the patient’scondition,wouldseemtomakethenaturalorinstinctiveaversiontofoodaseriousmistakeofnature.“Theforceofcustom,”wroteDr.Densmore,“isoneofthestrongestpowers,anddoctorsandnursesforgenerationshavebeeninthehabitofurginginvalidstopartakeoffood,notinfrequentlytotheirserious injury.” Because we believe that recovery from illness depends on nourishment “ourunreasoning sympathy and solicitude prompt us to urge our invalid friends to partake of food.Whatevertheoriginofthecustom,itisoneuniversallytobecondemned;whenoneisseriouslyillafastisindicated”(1892,pp.21-22).

Onethingiscertain;eithernatureorthephysicianismistaken.Thefurredtongueandlossofrelishforfood,theabsenceof“hungercontractions,”thementaldepression;inshort,theentireabsenceofevery physiological requirement for digestion, with, in many conditions, the presence ofinflammationandevenulceration in thedigestive tract,makes it impossible to sustain thepatient’sstrengthbyfeeding.

Enforcedfeedingofthesickisawaragainstnature,dangerousinproportiontothegravityofthepatient’s condition. The poisonous products of undigested or imperfectly digested food musthandicapthepatientwhoisfedduringanacuteillness.Thestuff-to-killdoctorwhofeedsmilk,eggs,meatbroths,etc.,werehenotsoblind,shouldbeabletoseethatheiskillinghispatient.

NoPowerToDigestInAcuteSicknessBeaumont (1833)showed that there isnodigestion inseriousacute illness.Hesaysofoneofhis

experiments, that, this “experiment has considerable pathological importance. In febrile diathesis,very little or no gastric juice is secreted. Hence, the importance of withholding food from thestomachinfebrilecomplaints.Itcanaffordnonourishment;butisactuallyasourceofirritationtothat organ, and, consequently, to the whole system. No solvent can be secreted under thesecircumstances; and food is as insoluble in the stomach, as lead would be under ordinarycircumstances” (pp. 138-139).Certainly no food shouldbe eaten until normal secretions have beenrestored.

AfewyearsagoCarlson(1916)confirmedthefindingsofBeaumontandseveralofhissuccessors.Heshowedthatgastricsecretionisabsentduringgastritisandfevers.Theabsenceofhungerinfeverhasbeenshowntobeassociatedwithabsenceofthe“hungercontractions”ofthestomach.“Hungercontractions”havebeenshowntobeabsentingastritis,tonsilitis,influenzaandcolds.Indogsthese“hunger contractions” havebeen shown to be absent in pneumonia andother acute infections. Theabsenceofhungerisaconcomitantoftheabsenceofgastricandsalivarysecretionsandtheabsenceof the “hunger contractions.” It is, in other words, an evidence of a suspension of the digestiveprocess.

Itisunfortunatethatfew,saveNaturalHygienists,haveeverbasedtheircareoftheacutelyilluponthe fact that there is no power to digest food when there is fever, pain, inflammation and severepoisoning.Thepractitionersofallschoolshavecontinuedtourgefoodupontheiracutelyillpatientsinspiteoftheprotestsofnatureandinthefaceofthemountingphysiologicalknowledgeofthelackofpowertodigestfoodundersuchcircumstances.

Pain, inflammation, fever, headaches, mental disturbances, etc., take away the appetite, inhibitsecretionandexcretion, impairdigestionandrender it injurious toeatundersuchconditions.Pain,inflammationandfeverinallformsofacute“disease”inhibitthesecretionofdigestivejuices,“takeawaytheappetite”andrenderdigestionpracticallyimpossible.Thedrynessofthemouthinfeversismatchedbyasimilardrynessallalongthedigestivetract.Itcanbeofnoadvantagetourgefooduponapatientsufferingwithanacute“disease,”forthereisthennodigestivepowertoworkitup.Thereisanalmosttotalabsenceofthedigestivejuices.Thelittleofthesepresent,areofsuchpoorqualitythattheycouldnotproperlydigestevensmallamountsoffood.Alongwiththeabsenceofthepowertodigestandtheabsenceofthedigestivejuices,thereislackingthekeenrelishforfoodwhichissoessential to normal digestion. Pain inhibits digestion and secretion. Fever inhibits these. So doesinflammation.Foodtakenundersuchconditionsisnotdigested.Naturehastemporarilysuspendedthedigestivefunctions.Thisisnecessaryinorderthatherundividedattentioncanbegiventothetaskofrecovery.Energy that isordinarilyconsumed in theworkofdigesting, absorbing and assimilatingfood is now being used to carry on the restorative processes. The muscles of the stomach andintestineareinaboutthesameconditionasthemusclesofthearm.

Inacutediseasethedigestivesystemisaslittlefittodigestfoodasthelimbsareforlocomotion—bothrequirerest.Whatistobegainedbyeatingwhenthereisnoabilitytodigestfood?Whyshould

physiciansinsistuponthepatienteatingwhenthereisnodesireforfood,orwhenthereisanactualaversion to food? Dr. Emmet Densmore laid down as the first rule to be followed when illnessdevelops:“Partakeofnofoodduringforty-eighthours;afterthattimecontinueanabsolutefastfromfooduntil thepatienthaspronouncednaturalhunger” (1892,p. 23).He says that “at all such times(when there is feverand inflammation)all foodmustabsolutelybewithheld from thepatient.Thismaybeonly foraday,or formanydays;no food is tobe takenuntil all symptomsof feverhaveentirelyabated,andnonethenuntilthepatienthasadecidedappetiteandrelishforit.”

Jennings says: “It is of no advantage to urge food upon the stomachwhen there is no digestivepower towork it up. There is never any danger of starvation so long as there are reserve forcessufficienttohold thecitadelof lifeandstartanewitsmainsprings.Forwhensustenancebecomesaprime necessity, the digestive apparatuswill be clothedwith power enough towork up some newmaterial,andacallmadeforitproportionedtotheabilitytouseit.Andifthereisnotpowerwithinthedomainoflifetosavetheorganism,itmustperish.”

Tralldeclaredthatwhenthebodyisstrugglingtothrowoffthetoxinsof“disease,”thepatient“hasnoability,untilthestruggleisdecided,todigestfood;andtocramhisstomachwithit,ortoirritatethe digesfire.” The stuff-to-kill doctor shuts his eyes to this important fact and, ignoring all theinstinctiveindicationsthatfoodisnotdesirableandallthephysiologicalevidencesthatfoodcannotbedigestedifconsumed,insiststhat“thesickmusteattokeepuptheirstrength.”

NoNourishmentWithoutDigestionInalltypesofacutediseasethewholeorganismisengagedintheworkofeliminatingtoxins,notin

that of assimilating food, hence, it is perfectly natural that the body should rebel against food.Anorexia, foul breath, coated tongue, nausea, vomiting, fetid discharges, the excretion of muchmucus,constipationalternatingwithdiarrhea,etc.,allindicatethattheorgansareengagedintheworkofvicariousorcompensatoryelimination,andarenotabletodigestfood.Itisnotpossibletonourishthebodybyfeedingundersuchcircumstances.

“Scienceandphysiologyteach,”saysDr.Densmore,“thatdigestionoffoodcanonlybeperformedsatisfactorilywhen there issecretionof thedigestive juices;andalso that therecanbenoadequatesecretion of the digestive juices where there is inflammation, or from any cause an absence ofappetite....If,asphysiologiststeach,therecanbenoeffectivedigestionexceptfromthesecretionofdigestive juices, and if there is almost no secretion of digestive juices where there is hightemperature,weought to expect that therewouldbe asmuchemaciation of the fever patientwhilepartaking of food aswhile fasting; and this is preciselywhatwill be seen to be the result by anyphysicianwhowillmaketheexperiment.Commonsenseteachesthatiffoodistakenandnotdigested,suchfooddoesnothelpnourishthesystem.Ifnofoodatallbetakentheprocessesoflifearecarriedon by consuming the tissues; and if food be taken and not digested the processes of life must besupportedbythesameconsumptionoftissues,withthefurtherresultthattheundigestedfoodmustbeexcretedfromthebody,whichataglancewillbeseentobeastrainuponthevitalpowers,callingforanadditionalconsumptionoftissue,andinevitablydelayingtherestorationofthepatient”(1892,pp.21-22).

RectalAndSkinFeedingItmaybeobjectedtoallofthisthatthepatientshouldbefedsocalledpre-digestedfoods.Ourreply

isthattherearenopre-digestedfoodsandlittleabilitytoabsorbthemiftherewere.Effortstofeedso-calledpre-digestedfoodshaveprovedfailures,evenwhenthefoodswerenotvomited.Welldid

Dr.Deweysay:“Predigestedfoods!Iftheynourishthesick,whynotfeedthewell;whynotabolishourkitchensatanimmensesavinginthetime,expense,andworryofcooking,andliveonthematanimmense saving of the tax of digestion and the indigestive processes? Brethren of the medicalprofession,makehastetolettheworldknowwhenyouhavefoundacaseinwhichyouhavemadeuseof the lowerbowel so tonourish the sickbody that it didnotwastewhile the curewasgoingon”(1921,p.116).

Rectal feeding isabsurd. It feedsnothing.Thecolon isbusyexcreting,notabsorbing,and theso-calledfoodinjectedintothecolon,notbeingdigested,couldnotbeusedifitwereabsorbed.Theleastitcandoisfermentandputrifyandaddtothediscomfortsandexpendituresofthepatient.Lavageorstomachtubeorduodenalfeedingaredelusions.Whensuchlargequantitiesoffluidarebeingpouredout,thereisnoabsorptionfromthestomachandintestine.Tofeedundersuchconditions,whenthereisnoabsorption,andalsonodigestion,isnottonourishthebody.Foodaddstotheputrescenceandtothedanger.

The body never performs any of what Dr. Tilden calls “Hindu tricks,” in this matter of takingnourishment.Itdoesnotdigestandabsorbfoodwhendigestionissuspendedandthemembranesofthe stomach and intestine are exuding matter instead of absorbing it. It is exuding fluid to aid inexpelling the mass of putrescence in the food tube, and to protect the walls of the tube and anyirritatedsurface.Sometimesnatureevenrejectswater,expellingitbyvomitingasoftenasitisforceddown.Howfoolishinsuchcasestocontinuetoforcefoodanddrugsonthepatientandwaterintohisstomach. Nature is trying to protect herself by this vomiting. She even guards against water bycreating a bad taste in the mouth that causes the patient to refuse water. Dr. Lindlahr likened theprocesstoasponge.Duringhealth,thesponge(intestine)isbusyabsorbing,duringafastorinacute“disease”thespongeisbeingsqueezed.

Skinfeedingisanotherabsurdity.Theskinwillnotabsorbfood,anditwouldnotbepreparedforusebytheorganism,ifitdiddoso.Ihaveheardphysicianstelloffeedingpatientsthroughtheskin.Milkbaths,oliveoilrubsandotherunphysiologicalproceduresareemployed,andthen,ifthepatientdoesnotdie,thephysiciantellsushowlonghekepthispatientalivebysuchabsurdpractices.Hadthephysiciannotbeenignorantoftheinternalresourcesofthebodyhewouldhaveknownthatthepatientwouldhavelivedjustaslongwithoutsuchmis-calledfeeding.Skinfoodsaredelusions.Intravenousfeedingisalsoadelusion.

Gastro-IntestinalDecompositionIf bacteriologists desire tomake cultures of “pathogenic” organism, they use meat broths, meat

jelliesandboiledmilk.Thesesubstancesprovideequallyasgoodculturemediaformicrobesinthedigestivetract,whenfedtopatientswhoareacutelyill,aswhenusedinthelaboratory,andgeneratejustasmuchputrescence.Thephysicianwhowouldnotfeedaputridculturemediumtoapatient,willblindlyfeedthepatienttheculturemediumandseeitbecomeputridinthedigestivetract.Dr.JosiahOldfield(1932)says:“If friendswereonlypresentat thepostmortemandcouldseeandsmell forthemselves the foul and filthy contents of the stomach and intestines of those nurse-bullied dyingpatients, theywouldpray,as Ipray, thatwhencleanliness, takingonly sipsofpurewater, and suchfruitjuicesastheirthirstycellscravefor,untilpeacefuldissolutiontakesplace.”

WhatDr.Oldfieldoverlooksisthatthemembersofhisownprofession,whoarepresentatthepostmortemsandareallowedtoseeandsmelltheputrescenceinthedigestivetract,prescribedthefoodsthenurseorfondrelativeforceduponthepatientandthatthesesamemedicalmentrainedthenurse

andtaughttherelatives.Foodthatisnotdigestedundergoesdecomposition,formingamassoftoxinsmoreorlessofwhichareabsorbedtofurtherpoisonandsickenthepatient.Averitablecesspoolisformedunder thediaphragmthat ismuchmoredangerous to the individual thananycesspool thatmaybeintheneighborhood.Togetridofthisrotting,fermentingmassoffoodandthetoxinsithasformed requires a needless expenditure of energy. Nature is trying to conserve energy. This isprecisely the reason she has temporarily suspended the digestive functions. It is little less thancriminaltoforcetheorganismtodivideitsenergiesandattentionsbetweentheworkofhealingandtheaddedtaskofeliminatingarottingsepticmassfromthedigestivetract.Theonlysensiblethingtodoistokeepthedigestivetractfreeofallsuchmatter.Natureherself indicates this is thestrongestpossiblemanner, for not only is all desire for food cut off, but themost tempting dishes are notrelishedbythesickperson.Thereisapositivedisinclinationtotakefood.

Bear inmind that the fooddecomposedandpoisoned thepatientbecausehisdigestivepowerhadbeen greatly impaired, and that to give more food, under such conditions, is only to add to thepoisoning.The“disease”willlastuntilthepoisonshavebeeneliminatedandthedecomposingfoodhasbeenvoided.Fever,vomitingandpurgingarenature’smethodsofgettingridofthepoison,andwhenthesecasesarefastedandnotfed,suchtroublessoonend.Thereisnodangerinthem.Feedinganddruggingaretheelementsofdanger.Neverpermitapatienttobedrugged,andneverpermitthephysiciantoreduce(suppress)hisfever.

One of our rules for caring for the sick is to stop the absorption of all toxins from the outside.Feedingduring acute“disease” does just the opposite. It keeps the digestive tract full of decayinganimalandvegetablematter,whichthebodymustvoidorabsorb.Putrescencearisingfromgastro-intestinaldecomposition,graftedonto thepreexistingenervation, toxemiaanddyscrasia, forms thecauseofpracticallyalltheso-called“diseases”fromwhichmansuffers.

In health the body is “potentized with immunizing power” and can to a large extent, renderinnocuous the toxic substances arising from decomposition. The secretions of the stomach andintestine takecareof such substances for us every day of our lives.Whenwrong eating and poorhygiene have broken down the body’s resistance and deranged digestion, so that decompositionproducestoxinsinexcessoftheimmunizingpowerofthesesecretions,troublebegins;thebodymustdefenditselfagainstthesetoxins,andthisdefensewecall“disease.”

Whenthedecompositionoverwhelmstheimmunizingpowerofthedigestivesecretions,vomitingand purging, so commonly regarded as evil, are the conservative and defensive measures whichnatureemploysinexpellingtheputrescence.Toabsorbthefermentingandputrefyingcontentsofthedigestivetractintothebloodstreamwouldmeandeath.Thisdoesnotoccur.Theabsorbentsreversetheirordinaryactivitiesand,insteadoftakingupthefluidcontentsofthedigestivetract,pouralargeamount of fluid (blood-serum), into the stomach and intestine to dilute and neutralize thedecomposingmatterandwashitaway.Thegreatquantityoffluidflushestheentirealimentarycanaland the vomiting and purging complete the work of carrying the toxic matter from the body’scavities.

TheStomachAndIntestinesInAcuteIllnessA standard medical author thus describes the stomach in acute gastritis: “The gastric mucous

membraneofsuchastomachisredandswollen,itsecreteslittlegastricjuice,andthiscontainsverylittle acidbutmuchmucus.Thepatienthasuncomfortable feelings inhis abdomen,with headache,lassitude,somenausea,oftenvomiting.Thevomitingrelieveshimconsiderably,for it removes the

irritatingsubstance.The tongue iscoated,and the flowof saliva is increased. If this decomposing,fermenting,irritatingmassisnotvomited,butreachesthebowel,colicanddiarrheaaretheresult.Asarulethepatientiswellinaboutoneday,althoughhemaynothavemuchappetiteforthenexttwoorthreedays.”

Withthestomachinthiscondition,withappetitelacking,andwithnodigestivejuicesecreted,eatingwould be worse than folly. It would seem criminal to add more food to the “decomposing,fermenting,irritatingmass”inthestomach.Fastinginsuchaconditionistheonlyrationalprocedure.Yetintyphoidfever,withthestomachinanevenworsecondition,withtheintestinesinamuchworsestate andwith temperature high,mostmedicalmen insist upon heavy feeding; a high calorie dietbeinggenerallyrecommendedandemployed.Notinacutegastritisandtyphoidonly,butincholeraandotherintestinalills,itisthecustomtoinsistuponplentyofgoodnourishingfood.Indeed,foodisliterally forced upon the sick. Part of the recognized formula of nursing invalids is to tickle theirpalateswithfooddainties.Foodisurgedupontheirunwillingstomachinspiteofstrongprotests.

NauseaAndVomitingNausea and vomiting are common symptoms in acute disease of all forms. If food is taken it is

commonlyvomited.Wherevomitingdoesnottakeplace,thefoodislikelytobethrownoutbymeansofadiarrhea.Whatcanbemore ill-advised than topersuadeapatient to takefood,knowing that itwillbevomitedimmediately?Byrejectingfood,doesthebodynotindicateinthestrongestpossiblemanner,thatfoodisnotneededandcannotbeused?Yetfoodisliterallyforcedthathiswholesystemrebels against it, and in spiteof thenausea andvomiting that follow taking it.Physicians resort tosedatives, antiemetics and tonics in their efforts to force the rebellious digestive system intosubmission.

FeedingIncreasesSufferingTofeedundersuchconditionscausesthetemperaturetoriseandthepainsandgeneraldiscomfort

ofthepatienttoincrease.Muchoftherestlessnessanduneasinessusuallyobservedinfeverpatientsofallkindsisduetofeedinganddrugging.Thefastingpatientiscomparativelycomfortableandrestswell,andmakesamorerapidandsatisfactoryrecovery.Dr.Jenningssays:“Themoreyoufeedasickman,thesickeryoumakehim.”Again,“Don’taggravatethetroublesofasickfellowmanbyforcinghimtoswallowfoodagainsttheprotestofhisstomach.”

Letusseewhathappensifwefeedinacute“disease.”Thefirstthingthepatientandphysiciannoteisanincreaseinsymptoms.Thefevergoesup, thepulse increases,painandothersymptomsbecomemoreintense;thepatientiscausedmuchunnecessarysuffering,andthepatient’srelativesarecausedmuchneedless anxiety.Grahamdeclared that “themore they nourish (feed) a bodywhile diseasedactioniskeptupinit,themoretheyincreasethedisease.”Again“whenthebodyisseriouslydiseased...entireandprotractedfastingwouldbetheverybestmeansinmanycasesofremovingdiseaseandrestoring health. I have seenwonderful effects result from experiments of this kind.”—Science ofHuman Life. He also called attention to the fact that eating increases the pain, inflammation,discomfort,feverandirritablenessofthesickandthatitdoessoinproportiontotheamountoffoodeatenandindirectratiotoitssupposednutritivequalities,whilefastingreducesthe“violence”ofthe“disease” and renders recovery more certain. All forms of acute disease are cut short and madecomfortablebyfasting.Feverrapidlyabatesandinflammationquicklysubsides.

CompensationDisease is labor, action, struggle—it is often violent action. Rapid heart action, rapid breathing,

vomiting,diarrhea,etc.,etc.,representincreasedeffort.Thisusesupenergy.Itoftenleavesthepatientexhausted at the end of his strenuous effort. It may so completely exhaust him as to end his life.Diseasefrequentlymeansagreaterexpenditureofenergythanthenormalactivitiesofhealthrequire,hencetheurgentneedforconservationofenergyineverypossibleway.Sogreatistheintensityofthe effort, so fully are the powers of life concentrated upon thework in hand, there is no energyavailable with which to carry on the work of digestion. The suspension of digestive secretions,cessationoftherhythmiccontractionsofthestomachandintestinesandthewithdrawalofthedesireforfoodare,therefore,compensatorymeasures,equallywiththeprostrationofthepatient,designedtoconserveenergyontheonehandthatitmaybeavailableforuseontheother.

Jennings(1867)wroteofthisconservativemeasureseeninallacutedisease:“Thegreat,extensive,and complicatednutritive apparatus, that requires a large amount of force to convert rawmaterialintolivingstructure,isputatrest,thattheforcessavedtherebymaybetransferredtotherecuperativemachinerywithintheirrespectivelimits,sothatthereisnocallforfood,andnoneshouldbeoffereduntilthecrisisispassed,orapointisreachedwheresomenutritivelaborcanbeperformed,andthereisanaturalcallfornutriment....Andfoodhasnomoretodowiththeproductionofvitality,thanthetimber, planks, bolts, and canvas for the ship have in supplying ship-carpenters and sailors. In themassofdiseases—suchas simplecontinuedor remittent fever, scarlet fever,measles,mildbiliousfevers—andmost of the disorders that are termed febrile, that require a few days to do up theirrecuperativeworkin,thepropercourseoftreatmenttobepursued,isexceedinglyplainandsimple.Solongasthereisnocallfornutriment,acupofcoolwaterisallthatisneededfortheinnerman”(pp.186-187).

Theurgentdemandforincreasedeffortwhichthepresenceoftoxinsoccasionsisthereasonfortheincreased,evenviolenteffort.Butviolenteffortinonedirectionrequiresreducedeffort,bywayofcompensation,inotherdirections.Fastingbytheacutelyillisdefinitelyacompensatorymeasureanditsurgencyisindirectproportiontotheseverityofthesymptoms.Thereremainsdigestivepowerinacold,inpneumoniathereisnone.Bythisismeantthatthemoreillisthepatientthegreateristheneed to refrain from eating. Curious as it may appear at first thought, health and hunger cometogether.

PhysiologicalRest“Nothing is remedial,” wrote Trall, “except conditions which economize the vital expenditures.”

Theamountofworkdonebytheheart,liver,lungs,kidneys,glands,etc.,islargelydeterminedbytheamountoffoodeaten.Whyshouldtheseorgansandthestomachandintestinesbegivenmoreworktodo by eating? Haven’t they enough work to perform under the circumstances? Nature demandsphysiologicalrest,notphysiologicalover-work.Hercallforrestcomesinunmistakableterms.Why,then,shalltheorgansbeforcedtodoextraworkbytheuseofstimulantsorbyfeeding?Tostoptheuseoffoodforatimeaffordsthemostcompleteresttothewholevitaleconomy.

Fasting,orphysiological rest is thesurestwayofeconomizingvitalexpenditures.Walter pointedoutthat“thepatientoftengrowsstrongerthroughtheprocessoffastingandalwaysbetter.”Itshouldbeunderstoodthatwhenfoodiseatenbythesickmanorwoman,muchofthevitalenergiesmustbedivertedfromtheworkofpurificationtothatofriddingthebodyoftheunwantedandunusablefood.Even body’s energies have been mobilized for the work of disease, and in which considerabledigestive power remains, with, perhaps, some desire for food, fasting often means the differencebetweenamildillnesswithquickrecoveryofphysiologicalequilibriumandasevereillness that is

longdrawnout,orthatmayendindeath.

PreventionTildensays:“Allacutediseasecouldbeprevented ifanticipatedbya fastofsufficientduration to

lowertheaccumulatedtoxinsbelowthetolerationpoint.Ananticipatoryfastestablishesadependableimmunization to any so-calleddisease. If started too late, itwill eliminate or render verymild theworsttypesofepidemics.Ifthisweregenerallyknownandacteduponbytownsandcitiesinorderingthepeopletofastforafewdays,andtofollowthefastbylighteating,epidemicswouldbeshornoftheir virulence, and in time rendered impotent or prevented entirely. Only the vulnerable—thosepronouncedlytoxemic—areattacked(?)byepidemics.”

Fastingdoesnotremovethecauseof“disease”—toxemia.Itmerelyallowsthebodytodoitsworkofeliminationmoreefficientlybynotputting anyhindrances in theway.Fastingdoesnot stop theprocessescommonlycalled“disease”—nordoesitshortentheirduration—feedingandtreatmentdooftensuppresstheseprocesses,alwaysimpedethem,andalmostalwayslengthentheirduration.Thelengthsof time the courses of self-limited “diseases” are said to run are times they run under thefeedingandtreatingplans.Underfastingandrestingtheyneverrunsolong.

Natureindicatesinthestrongestpossiblemannerherdesiretofastinacute“disease.”Inproportionto its severity, so-called “disease” means a loss of digestive conditions and digestive power.Anorexia,nausea,vomitingandtheabsenceofallrelishforfoodshouldconvinceanyone,whoisnotaconverttothedoctrineof“totaldepravity,”thatnofoodshouldbegiven.Duetoourdistrustofournaturalinstincts,wealltoooftendisregardthepatentdemandsofNatureandeatinspiteoftheclosed-for-repairssignshehashungout—anactioninvariablypursuedbyNature.

If fastingwere instituted at the first sign of trouble, few acute diseaseswould ever become verysevereandmanyofthemwouldbesomildastoleadtothethoughtthatthepatientwouldnothavebeenverysickanyway.Unfortunately,itisthecustomtocontinueeatingwhensymptomsappear.AsDr. Page ably put it, “Nearly all patients continue eating regularly, until food becomes actuallydisagreeable, even loathsome, often; and, after this, every effort is exhausted to produce sometoothsome compound to ‘tempt the appetite.’ Furthermore, and often worst of all, after the entirefailure of this program, the patient can, and usually does, take to gruel or some sort of ‘extract,’whichhecandrinkbyholdinghisbreath.Allthistendstoaggravatetheacutesymptoms,andtofastenthediseaseinachronicformupontherheumaticpatient,ortoinsurerheumaticfever;andthesameprincipleholdsinnearlyallacutedisorders,itiswelltoremember”(1883b,p.146).

Pagealsosays:“Thereisneitherpleasurenornourishmentinforcedfeeding—onlypain,poisoningandstarving.Thefastingcureuniversallyandrationallyapplied,wouldsavethousandsofliveseveryyear.Forexample,therewouldbepracticallyno‘typhoidfever,’asallfeverswouldbeabortedinafewdaysof stomach rest; andnever adeathorprolonged illness fromwhooping-cough,which isalways a stomach cough from inflammation of that organ. Inmy busy practice of forty years, nofeverhasdevelopedinto‘typhoid;’norhastherebeenanywhoopingbeyondafewdays,andneveradeath.”

NoDangerOfStarvationThereisnodangerofthepatientdyingofstarvationintheprocessofgettingwell.Letusbear in

mindthatthebodyispossessedofreservefoodstoreswhichwillmeetitsneedsfornutrimentforaprolongedperiod.Inacute“disease”thebodycansupplyitsnutritiveneedsfromthesefoodreserves

withlesseffortandwithlesswasteofenergyandsubstancethanisrequiredtosupplythemfromrawmaterials.Webelievethatmanrequiresfoodallthetimebecausewehavelearnedtothinkofhimasanengineoramachinethatcanrunonlysolongasheissuppliedwithfuel.Thisabsurdmechanisticview of life insists upon ignoring every prompting of instinct and treating man as an inanimatemachineistreated.

LetthesickeatonlywhenNaturecallsforfood.Alargenumberofcaseswillrecover,whethertheyfeedorfast,butthereisalsoaverylargenumberofcaseswhowilldie,iftheyarefed,whowouldotherwiserecover.Tofastortofeed—thisisoftentheissueoftoliveortodie.

PainPainsthatseemunbearablewithouttheuseofnarcoticsandanodynesrapidlylessenwhileonefasts,

so thatwithin a short time to a fewdays the patient is comfortable.Repeatedly have Iwatched thealmostunbearablepainsof acutearticular rheumatismsubsideand thepatientbecome comfortableafterthreeorfourdaysoffasting.Inthelaststagesofcancer,whennothingisdonefor thepatientexcepttodosehimwithopium,andwhenpainsinducedbyopiumareasgreat(orgreater)asthoseresultingfromthecancer,afastwillrestorecomfortandpermitthepatienttodieinpeace.

TortureOfHopelessCases“Feedthepatientanythinghisfancymaydesire;heisgoingtodieanyway,”istheadvicefrequently

given by physicianswhen the patient has been brought to low that death seems inevitable. This isshamefulcrueltyandoftenresultsindeathincasesthatwouldotherwiserecover.Whymakethedyingmanmoremiserable?Why increasehis suffering?“Do takea littlemore,dear, just topleaseme,”nurse uses all of hermental power andmasterful force to get theweak, perhaps, dying patient, toswallowmore boiledmilk,moremeat broth ormore egg custard,which decomposes rather thandigestsinthepatient’sdigestivetract.

FastingInFeversTrallinsistedthat“strictlyspeakingfeverandfoodareantagonisticideas.Nosimplefever,ifwell-

managed,requiresdietinginanyway,savethenegativeoneofstarvation,untilitsviolenceisabated”(1851a,p.447).Againhesays:“Ifyougivefood in theearlystageofa fever,youdonot feed thesystem,youonlyaggravatethefever.Why?Becausethevitalpowersaresooccupiedintheremedialeffortthattheycannotdigestorassimilate.Thatiswhysomanyfeverpatientsarefedtodeathbythenursesanddoctors....Infeverit[thelivingsystem]cannotdigestfood.”

Feverindicatespoisoning,usuallydecompositionintheintestines.Itmeansthat there isamassofrotting food in the food tube poisoning the body. It means something else—namely: nutrition issuspendeduntilthepoisoningisovercome.Itmeansthatnofoodshouldbegiventothepatientuntilallfeverandothersymptomsaregone.Itmeansthatnothingbutwater,asdemandedbythirst,shouldbegiventothepatient.Solongasthereisfeveranddiarrhea,nofood,ofwhatevercharacter,canbeofanyusetothebody.Ifthepatientappearstobehungry,itisthirst.Givehimwater,forfoodwillnotrelievethethirst.

ThefollowingquotationfromTrallistothepointinthisconnection:“Foodshouldnotbetakenatalluntiltheviolenceofthefeverismateriallyabated,andthenverysmallquantitiesofthesimplestfood only should be permitted, as gruel, with a little toasted bread or cracker, boiled rice, mealypotatoes, baked apples, etc. There is not a more mischievous or more irrational error abroad inrelationtothetreatmentoffeverthanthealmostuniversalpracticeofstuffingthepatientcontinually

with stimulating animal slops, under the name of ‘mild nourishing diet,’ beef tea, mutton broth,chickensoup,panada,etc.Thefeverwillalwaysstarveoutbeforethepatientisinjuredbyabstinence,atleastunderhydropathictreatment,andtheappetitewillalwaysreturnwhenthesystemiscapableofassimilatingfood”(1851b,pp.85-86).

Inspeakingofthetreatmentofsmallpox,Shew(1854)declared:“Mostfeverpatientsareallowedtoeattoomuch.Somemaybeallowedtoolittle;butthismustbetheexceptiontotherule.Inallseverefevers,thesystemabsolutelyrefusesnourishment;thatis,itisnotdigestedormadeintoblood.Henceallnutriment,insuchcases,isworsethanuseless,sinceifitdoesnotgotonourishthesystem,itmustonlyproveasourceofirritationandharm.Ifthediseaseissevere,thenitwouldbebestaslongasthefeverlasts,togivenonourishmentwhatever.Inmildcasesitwouldofcoursebeotherwise,althoughitwouldharmnoonetofastafewdays,butwould,onthecontrary,dothemgood.Whennourishmentisgiven, it shouldbe someblandandanti-feverish kind.Goodandwell-ripened fruit in its seasonwouldbeespeciallyuseful,takenalwaysatthetimeofaregularmeal”(p.429).

TyphoidTyphoidfeverpatientsbecomecomfortableinthreetofourdaysifthefastisinstitutedattheoutset

of the “disease,” and in from seven to ten days are convalescing. The patient will have such acomfortablesicknessandrecoversospeedilythatfriendsandrelativeswilldeclarehewasnotsick.And,indeed,hewillnotbeverysick.Itrequiresfeedinganddruggingtoconvertthosesimplenaturalprocesseswecallacute“diseases”intoseriousandcomplicatedtroubles.Itisnotpossibletohaveatypical case of typhoid fever, as described in allopathic text-books, without typical text-booktreatment. Unthwarted nature never builds such complications and such serious “disease” as aredescribedinallopathicworks.All thismassofpathologyisbuiltbydrugging,serumsquirtingandfeeding.

InSutherland’svoluminousworkondiet(1908), thereareafewinterestingparagraphswhichareworthquotinginthechapter,“DietInFeversandAcuteInfectiousDiseases,”byClaudeB.Ker,M.D.Discussingthe“starvationtreatment”ofenteric(typhoid)fever,Kersays:

The same idea which underlies the ‘empty bowel theory’ is no doubt responsible for theattemptsmadetotreatentericfeverwitheithernofoodbythemouthatall,oratthemostwithverysmallquantities.ThusQueirolohasrecommendedthatfeedingshouldbeentirelyrectal,alemonademadeupwithalittlehydrochloricacidbeingtheonlydrinkallowed.Providedthatthebowelofapatientsotreatedwasfirstemptiedbyadoseofcalomelorothersuitablepurgative,such a method of dieting should secure complete rest for the affected parts and absolutelyexcludethepossibilityoffermentingmassesofpartiallydigestedmateriallyinginthegut.Thenutritivevalue,however,ofrectalfeedinginaprolongeddiseaseissolimitedthatthismethodmayfairlyberegardedasatreatmentbystarvation.

Similar in itsobjectandeffects is themethodsuggestedbyWilliams,who,believing that theexhausting diarrhoea of the fever is due to improper feeding, endeavours to secure that thebowelshall,asfaraspossible,remainempty.Onlywaterisallowedinseverecases,sometimesfordaysatatime,andheregardshalfapintofmilkinthetwenty-fourhoursasaliberaldiet,seldom apparently exceeding this amount until the temperature is normal. Themethod seemsdrastic,butIhavereasontoknowthatthecasesdoremarkablywell.Ihaveoftenmarvelledattheamountofstarvationwhichatyphoidcasecansafelytolerateafterahaemorrhage,anditisonlyrational to suppose that the patients would support starvation even better before such a

depressing complication had occurred. Under such a regimeWilliams probably more nearlyattainstheidealofthe‘emptybowel’thananyshouldoccasionallygaininweightandthattheydonotinanycasewastemorethanpatientsmoreliberallyfed;butitis,afterall,obviousthat,iffood isnotassimilated there isnobenefit tobederived from it, and inmanycasesof entericfeverassimilationisundoubtedlyextremelypoor.

The theoretical objection to both these methods of treatment is that, if ulceration has oncestarted, such a remarkably low diet would apparently give the intestinal lesions only a poorchanceofrepair;ontheotherhand,itispossiblethattheabsenceofirritationwouldgofar tocounterbalance this defect, especially as the patients seem to stand their starvation so well. Ifplenty of water was supplied this would be more easily understood, but some of Williams’patientswere limited, for a time at least, to one pint ofwater per diem,which seems amostinadequateamount(pp.332-333).

Kerisunwillingtorecommendwhathemistakenlycallsthe“starvationtreatment,”butthinksthereismuchtobelearnedfromsuchthingsandadds:“Itencouragesustostarve,fortwoorthreedaysifnecessary,severecaseswithmarkedgastricandintestinaldisturbances,probablyverymuchtotheiradvantage. It is,however,unnecessarily severe for theaveragepatient, evenwhileweadmit that inentericfeverthereisnocertaintyastowhatmayhappenfromdaytoday”(p.334).

Wehaveitstatedthattheexhaustingdiarrheaoftyphoidisprobablyduetoimproperfeeding.

Wehave itadmitted thata“starvation treatment”seemscomplete rest for theaffectedpartsof theintestine.

Wehaveitadmittedthattyphoidpatientsmay“starve”fordaysandmakeremarkableimprovementduringthistime.

Wehaveitadmittedthattheymaydothisevenafterahemorrhage.

Wealsohaveitadmittedthatinthis“disease”“assimilationisundoubtedlyextremelypoor.”(Itissopoorthatthereisnone).

Wehaveitadmittedthat“starvation”leavesnorottingfoodintheintestinestoirritateandpoisontheinflamedandulceratedintestinalwall.

Everyoneof these things,Hygienists have been pointing out for over a hundred years.We havebeen denounced as “quacks” and “ignorant pretenders” for so doing and our methods have beenrejectedbythemedicalprofessionasawhole,and,evennow,theauthorities,inadoptingourmethodsinpart,andinreportingfavorablyuponthem,neglecttogivecreditwherecreditisplainlydue.ButKeroverlooks the important fact thatwhere typhoidpatientsarenot fed,ulceration isnot likely tooccur,andthathemorrhagesareextremelyrare,whileheseemstobewhollyunawareofthebody’sabilitytohealwounds,brokenbones,opensores,ulcers,etc.,whilefasting.Thetheoreticalobjectionoffered to fasting, in enteric fever, is based on ignorance. It completely ignores the precedingstatement that “assimilation isundoubtedly extremelypoor,” and it appears toThe author does notseem to be cognizant of the fact that repair of tissues does go on during a fast.What ismore, heoverlooksthefactthatiffeedingisstoppedatthe“onset”ofthe“disease”thereisnotlikelytobeanyulceration or any hemorrhage. Besides this, the patient is more comfortable and the “disease” of

shorter duration—providingno drugging is resorted to. It is encouraging to note that he docs notoffer,asanobjection,theoldnotionthatfastinglowersone’sresistancetogerms.

ThefaultIfindwiththemethodofQueiroloisthathedoesnotstopfeedingattheoutsetinsteadofwaiting until the “disease” becomeswell developed and not that it is too “severe for the averagepatient.”Onthecontrary,itistheeasiest,safestandbestplan.Thefeedinganddruggingplanis thedrasticplan;theplanthatintensifiesandprolongsthepatient’ssuffering.Itisnoordealtodowithoutfoodinacuteillness.Theordealconsistsineatingatsuchtimes.Allweaskwhenacutelysickistobeletaloneandtobefreeofworryofanykind.

PneumoniaIffastingisinstitutedattheveryoutsetinpneumonia,thepatientwillnotbeverysick,theexudate

intothelungswillnotbegreatandresolutionwillbehastened.Deathinpneumoniawillbeveryrare.

AppendicitisAll medical authorities admit the great value of fasting in appendicitis and recommend its

employment, if the patient refuses an operation or, if for some other reason an operation isconsideredinadvisable.Thepainsofappendicitispracticallyceaseafteraboutthreedaysoffasting.

RheumatismPagequotesCaseyA.Wood,M.D.,ProfessorofChemistryintheMedicalDepartmentofBishop’s

College,Montreal,inanarticleintheCanadaMedicalRecord,entitled“StarvationinthetreatmentofAcuteArticularRheumatism,”asgivingthe“historyofsevencaseswherethepatientswerespeedilyrestoredtohealthbysimplyabstainingfromfoodfromfourtoeightdays,andhesayshecouldhavegiventhehistoryoffortymorefromhisownpractice.”Nodrugswereused.

“Innocasedidthistreatmentfail.”Thecasesreported“includedmenandwomenofdifferentages,temperaments, occupations, and social positions.” Dr. Wood says: “From the quick and almostinvariablygoodresultstobeobtainedbysimpleabstinencefromfood,Iaminclinedtotheideathatrheumatism is, after all, only a phase of indigestion.” Dr. Page adds: “In chronic rheumatism heobtainedlesspositiveresults,butdidnotventuretotryfastsoflongerduration.”Dr.Woodconcludesby saying that “this treatment, obviating as it to realize all that has been claimed for it—a simple,reliableremedyforadiseasethathaslongbaffledthephysician’sskill.”

CoughsMostcoughscanbestoppedbyatwenty-fourtoseventy-twohoursfast;if theerrorsineatingare

corrected, thecough isgone forever.Relief comes in theveryworst cases of bronchial asthma infrom twenty-four to seventy-two hours of fasting so that the sufferer can lie down and sleep incomfort.

Diarrhea—DysenteryVomiting,restlessness,diarrheaandgrossfatnessaresomeofthesymptomsofthesurfeitdisease

anditspropercareis,notsoothingsyrups,butfasting.Imaginefeedingapatientwhoishavingtwentyto thirty bowel movements in twenty-four hours; or one that is vomiting frequently! Dysenterymedicinesmaybeentirelydispensedwithifthesuffererwillresorttofasting.Fastingindiarrheaiscertainlybetterthantheemploymentofastringentsandnarcotics,suchasopium.

Oswaldsays:“For theincipientstagesof thedisorder thegreatspecific is fasting.Denutrition,orthe temporary deprivation of food, exercises an astringent influence, as part of its general

conservativeeffect.Theorganism,stintedinthesupplyofitsvitalresources,soonbegins tocurtailits current expenditure.Themovementsot the respiratoryprocessdecrease; the temperatureof thebodysinks,thesecretionofbileanduricacidisdiminished,andbeforelongtheretrenchmentsoftheassimilative process react on the functions of the intestinal organs; the colon contracts, and thesmallerintestinesretainallbutthemostirritatingingesta”(1883b,p.201).

WastingByTheAcutelyIllDespiteFeedingDeweyemphasizedthefact that thebodyoftheacutelyillalwayswastes,nomatterwhatheisfed

norhowmuch.Indeed,heinsistedthatintyphoidandotherseverefevers,thepatientthatisfedwastesmost.Thisfactthatinacutediseasewastinggoesonwhetherfoodiseatenornot,andthatinfact,itisfrequently true that themore thepatient is fed, thegreater thewasting, showsunmistakably thatnofood is absorbed and used during acute illness. Certainly, if it cannot be digested, it will not beabsorbedand if it isnotabsorbed, itwillnotbeassimilated,and if itnotassimilated, it cando thepatientnogood.

Kerbelievesinfeedingto“keepupthestrengthofthepatient,”asdoall“orthodox”medicalmen.Feedinginacute“disease”doesnotkeepupstrengthanddoesnotpreventthewastingofthepatient.“In all acute diseases,” says Dr. Dewey, “in which there is a high pulse and temperature, pain ordiscomfort,aversiontofood,afoul,drymouthandtongue,thirst,etc.,wastingofthebodygoesonnomatterwhatthefeeding,untilaclear,moist tongueandmouthandhungermarkthecloseofthedisease,whenfoodcanbetakenwithrelishanddigested.Thismakesitclearlyevidentthatwecannotsavethemusclesandfatbyfeedingundertheseadverseconditions.”

The wasted bodies of patients who have been fed through acute illness is the strongest kind ofevidence, to those who are capable of seeing, that the food they were fed was not digested andassimilated,andthattheirowntissuesweredrawnupontoprovidethematerialsnecessarytocarryontheprocessesoflife.Wemaygoastepfurtherandsaythatinpracticallyeveryinstancethewastingwillbegreaterandthe“disease”willbeof longerdurationif thepatient isfedthanifhe is fasted.Liek says: “From my observations on children and animals, I have come to the conclusion that,particularlyinacutediseases,fastinggreatlyfavorstheprocessofhealing.”

Ifthefoodeatenisnotdigested,ofwhatvaluecanitbetothesickmanorwoman?Atwohundredpoundmanmaybecomesickwithtyphoidfever.Hewilllooseweightnomatterhowmuchheisfed,until,whenheiswell,heisbutashadowofhisformerself.Infact,themoreheisfedthesickerhebecomes,themoreprolongedhisillness,andthemorehewillloseinweight.Whatmoreconclusiveevidenceisneededtoprovethatthefoodeatendoesharmandnotgood?Whatistrueoftyphoidisalsotrueofother“diseases.”

WeaknessWeaknessinacute“disease”isnotproperlyattributedtothefast.Indeed,thefastingpatientwillnot

becomeasweakastheeatingpatient.Heismorelikelytogrowstrongerasthefastprogresses.Iampleasedtopresentthefollowingorthodoxtestimony,onthispoint,byDr.Liek,whosays:“Thosewhoare sick feel weak. Thosewho have been operated upon andwhowake up from the narcosis aregreatly enfeebled.According to the textbooks,wecanovercome thatweaknesswith strengtheningfood.Nothingismoreobvious.Hence,weinquireforthemostnourishingandstrengtheningfoodsandgivethemtopatients.Thatideais,ofcourse,completelymistaken.Thepatienthasbeenweakenednotbyashortfast,butbythedisease,bytheaftereffectsofthenarcosis,theshockoftheoperation,etc.” It should be obvious that the weaker the patient is, the less able is he to take and digest

nourishment.Theweakerheisthegreateristheneedforrest.

XXXV.FastinginChronicDiseaseDietingVersusFastingLostAppetitePlentyOfGoodNourishingFoodFearOfFastingUnfoundedStarvationFromOver-FeedingFictionalDesireForFoodUndigestedFoodInTheStomachNatureAcceptsTheFastEliminationReliefOfPainPleasuresOfThePractitioner“Some-Orthodox”TestimonyAFewDiseasesConsideredFastingInNervousDiseases

Nobody who thoroughly understands fasting, harbors any doubts about its possibilities andlimitations.Mostpeoplewhohavevoluntarilyresortedtofastingforrecoveryfromchronicillness,havedonesoasalastresort.Theyareusuallyinaverybadconditionbeforetheyconsenttofast.Thatthe results havebeen so great,whenwe consider the type of patients that fast, is remarkable.Thatthereare thosewho fastwithonlymeager resultsmustbe expected, from the fact that somany ofthose who consent to fast are nearing death at the time. Fasting does not enable the body toaccomplishmiracles.Butninetyfivepercentofchronicsufferersmayundergoaproperlysupervisedfastwitheveryhopeofgoodresults.

DietingVersusFastingAlightdiet,suchastheeliminatingdiet,isofferedasasubstituteforfasting,particularlyinchronic“disease.”Whileweemploysuchdietsquiteoftenandrecognizetheirvalueandutility,theyarenottheequalofthefast.Onedifficultywiththemliesinthefactthatthepatienteatsjustenoughfoodtokeephisappetitealive,butnotenoughtosatisfyit.Myexperiencewithfastingandlighteating,andso-called “fruit fasts” has been the same as that of Sinclair ’s; namely, that the light eating is justenoughtokeeponeravenous,whereasonthefastalldesireforfoodsoonceases.Healsosaysthatonthe“fruitfasts”hewouldgetsoweakhecouldnotstandup—“farweakerthanIeverbecameonanout-and-outfast.”Inmanycases,afruitdietfollowingashortfast,causesthepatienttofeelweakerthanduringthefast.

Manyofthosewhofreelyemployfastinginacute“disease,”whenthereisnopowertodigestfood,andnodemandforfood,objecttofastinginchronic“disease,”wheretherestillexistsmoreorlessdigestive power and an appetite, even though morbid. For example. Dr. Kritzer cautions againstfastingwhere there is a strong abnormal craving for food, due to gastric disorder. He thinks themental process involved in the suppression of such a strong craving is unwholesome, that “itproduces a general tension which is not conducive to elimination. It may even contribute to themanufactureofnewtoxins,for,atbest,thereisanincreaseofacidsinthesystemduringthefastwithcorrespondinglesseninginthealkalinityofthebloodwhichnormallybathesthetissues.”

Continuing,he says, “Fasting isnot indicated in the treatmentof foods rich inorganic salts until

their semi-starved tissues become revitalized and capable of promoting better tissue changes—metabolism.”1needhardlydiscussthesestatementsatthisplaceastheyaresufficientlyansweredinprecedingpages.Theyarebasedonmistakennotionsaboutchemistrychangesinthebodyduringthefast and on psychological half-truths that are the present vogue. The value of fasting is too well-establishedtobeoverthrownbythesefallacies.

Kellogg(1923)says:“Itistrue...thatduringaprolongedfastany>surplusofproteinwhichmaybepresentinthebodymaybeusedupandaccumulatedtissuewastesmaybelessenedinamount.Buttheamountofsuchaccumulationsistoosmalltojustifytheexpensivemethodadoptedbythefasterfor their elimination. . . .The faster, inorder to free himself of 3 pounds ofwaste or undesirablematerial,sacrificesanamountofhealthyandusefultissuetentimesasgreat.Whyshouldonethrowaway30poundsofgoodmuscle,brain,nerve,heart,bloodandotheruseful,vitalmachineryinordertogetridof3poundsofwastematerialwhichcanbeeasilygottenridofbysimplyrestrictingthedietand increasing the intake ofwater” (p. 643). If restricted eating andwater gluttony could dowhatfasting does, perhaps therewould be no need for a fast in chronic cases. But the restricted eatingseldom accomplishes these—perhaps never produces all of the benefits of fasting. Fastingaccomplishesmorethanthemereremovalofapossiblethreepoundsofexcessprotein.

LostAppetiteAhorsedoesnothavetobeacutelyilltobe“offhisfeed.”Acowdoesnothavetobeacutelysickto

refusefood.Ihavewatchedsickcowsstragglingalongintherearoftheherd,notsickenoughtostayofftheirfeet,butrefusingfood.Adogoracatmayrefusefoodbecauseofaslightindisposition.Inmanwe frequently observe a lack of desire for foodwhen there is discomfort and distress in theabdomenorwhenthereisaheadache,eventhoughthereisnosuggestionofacuteillness.Indeed,oneofthemostcommoncomplaintsofthechronicsuffereristhis:“Ihavelostmyappetite.”Frequentlythecomplainttakesthisform:“Ieat,butIdonotenjoymyfood.”Anotherverycommoncomplaintis:“Everything I eat turns togas.”Others complainof sufferingafter everymeal.Asoftenasnot thechronicsuffererismoreinterestedinregaininghisappetitethaningettingwellofhisrelativelymildsymptoms.

Physicianscommonlyprescribetonicsanddigestantsforthesepatientsandurgethemto“eatplentyofgoodnourishingfood.”Theyprescribetheirdrugswiththedeliberateintentionofwhippingupajaded appetite into renewedvigor, foolishly calling thiscuring the patient of lost appetite.When apatientisheardtocomplainthat“nothingtastesgood,”wemaybesurethatheisinneedofafast.Hewillusuallyattempt,bytheemploymentofseasonings,condiments,sweetenings,etc.,whichheaddstohisfoods,tomakethemtastegoodspeedilyrestorethedesireforfoodandthepleasuresofeatingasafast.Justassexualabstinenceisthesurestandbestaphrodisiac, soabstinencefromfood is thebestappetizer.

PlentyOfGoodNourishingFood“‘Nourishment!’istheprevailingcryofthosewhowouldcureus,”saysAdolphJustinhisReturntoNature;“‘youneedmorenourishment!’Buthowcanabodybenourishedwhenitisincapableofabsorbing,andespeciallyincapableofexpelling,thatwhichhasalreadybeenstuffedintoit?Thefactisthatinnearlyeveryinstancethesufferertowhommorenourishmentisrecommendedisonewhoisalready brought low by excessive nourishment—he is actually pining through over plus!” Thesepatientsarenotonlyincapableofabsorbing,but,also,ofdigestingfood.Howfoolish,togivemorefood when it cannot be digested, absorbed and assimilated! Not more food, but more ability toassimilate and excrete, is needed and thismust be first provided through rest, fasting and hygiene

beforefoodistobethoughtof.

How foolish to insist on feedingunder conditionsof analreadyexistingplethora!Why insist on“plentyofgoodnourishingfood”underconditionsinwhichfoodcannotbedigestedandassimilated?Natureknows fullwell how toguard andprotect and this is themeaningof the lackof desire forfood,nausea,vomiting,distressaftereatingandothersymptomsofprotest.Whendigestionhasbeenpushedand“stimulants”anddrugshavebeengivenforthepurposeofforcingareluctantappetite,weonlyaddmoreburdentoanalreadyovertaxedorganism.Fastingmayherebeusedtobestadvantage.If the feeding person finds himself growing sicker, with frequent diarrhea and vomiting, withoccasionalnauseaandconstipation,andlossofappetite,with,perhaps,headache,coatedtongue,foultasteandbreath,hecertainlyneedsafastandifhehadnotlosthisabilitytointerpretthelanguageofhissenses,hewouldneednourgingtogethimtofast.Whymustmaneat“fromobviousnecessity”whenfoodisrepugnant?Howdisgustingtopersuadeonetoeatfoodknowingthatitwillbevomitedimmediately!

FearOfFastingUnfoundedThethinandweakindividual,knowinglittleornothingoffasting,maybeexcusedforhisfearof

fasting,buttheplethoricandoverweightindividualcertainlycannotbeexcused.Thebeareatsheartilyofnuts,honey,fruits,flesh,etc.,whiletheseareplentiful,andputsonagreatstoreoffatwithwhichtosustainhisbodyduringthewinterseason.Thefrogalsostoresupconsiderablefatforthisoccasion.Therearehundredsofthousandsofmenandwomenwhocarrygreaterstoresoffatthanthebearorfrog,who imagine that if theymiss somuchasa singlemeal theywill begin togrowweak.Theycarrysufficientfatandotherfoodreservestolastthemforweeksandevenmonths.Theycouldfastforprolongedperiods,notonlywithoutharm to themselves,butwithpositivebenefit.Thinpeoplealso carry a reserve supply and may safely fast for considerable periods if they are properlysupervised.

StarvationFromOver-FeedingGreat numbers of the chronic sufferers who habitually over-eat are very thin and grow

progressivelythinnerwiththepassageoftime.Indeed,onefrequentlyhearsthemremark:“themoreIeat the thinner I get.”How true it is that they are slowly starving from overconsumption of foodwhichtheycannotdigest.Dr.Deweyfrequentlyspeaksofthe“starvationofover-feeding.”Dr.King-Chambers spoke of the “starvation of over-repletion.” Drs. Page and Rabagliati use similarexpressions.Fastingliteratureisfullofrecordsofcasesthathadbeensufferingwhilesurfeitingandwhorecoveredhealththroughfasting,regainingtheirnormalweightwheneatingwasresumed.

FictionalDesireForFoodManychronicsufferersthinktheyareravenous.Theyfeelthattheirsupposeddesireforfoodshould

besatisfied.Thereisagreatmassofchronicsuffererswhoeatthreesquaremealsandtwolunchesadayandare“alwayshungry.”Theysaythattheybecome“veryweak”iftheymissameal.Otherseatallthroughthedayandseveraltimesatnight.Theyareneversatisfied.Thesepeople,overlookingorneverhavingknown that badhabitswill in the enddominate andpervert our instincts, believe thattheir fictionaldemandsfor foodarevalidand shouldbegratified.Thesepeopleareneveractuallyhungry. They are food drunkards. They suffer from neuroses. Their troubles have grown out ofhabitualover-eating.Dr.Pagesaysofsuchpatients:“Soinveterateisthismaniaforeating,evenwhentocontinueisliketurningcoalsuponthedeadashesandclinkersofanexpiredfire,that,inordinarypractice, it is well nigh impossible to induce any class of patients to abstain from food at thebeginningofanattackortogivethefastingcureafairtrialatanystageofthedisease.”

UndigestedFoodInTheStomachIt isnotunusual, incertaincasesof indigestion, tohavefoodremain in thestomach twoor three

days.Beaumont(1833)foundthatfoodtakenincertainmorbidstates“remainsundigestedfortwenty-fouror forty-eighthours,ormore, increasing thederangementof thewholealimentary canal, andaggravating the general symptoms of the disease” (pp. 108-109). He points out that all of thisprolongedretentionofundigestedfoodinthestomachisoftenwithoutdiscomfortorpainofsomesortandwithoutthepatient’sknowledgethatitispresent.ManyHygienistshaveobserved thissamephenomenon.Forexample,Carringtonsaysthathehasseencaseswherefoodwasejectedfromthestomachthreedaysafteritwaseaten.Thefoodwasthuslyinginthestomachforseventy-twohourswithoutbeingdithat therewasanythingwrongwithhisstomach.Anamazingamountof pathologyoften exists in the stomach of those who regard themselves as healthy and as possessing gooddigestion.Thesepatientshabituallymistakethemorbidsensationsoftheirstomachforhunger.

Carringtonsaysthat“thefactthatfoodfrequentlyremainsinthestomachofquitelighteaterswhentheyareindisposed,and‘outofcondition,’iscertain.”Itshouldalsobenotedthatemotionalupsetswill suspend the process of digestion and cause food to be retained for prolonged periods in thestomach.Rabagliatisays:“Indeed,foodisoccasionally,orevennotinfrequently,stillinthestomachtwentyfour,thirty-six,andevenforty-eighthoursafterithasbeentaken.”Carringtontellsusthathehasknownofcasesinwhichlargequantitiesoffoodwerevomitedattheendofthreedaysoffasting.I have seen a number of such cases in my own practice. I think that it must be admitted, to useCarrington’swords, that it“wouldbeacommonsenseprocedure towaituntil thismassofrubbishwasremovedbeforeagainaddingfood.”Itisquiteobviousthatstomachdigestionisnotgoingonintheseinstancesandthatthefoodisrottingratherthandigesting.

Ayoungmanoncevisitedmewhocomplainedofheadaches,catarrhofthestomachandnoseandthroat, hyperacidity of the stomach, constipation and nervousness.Hewas extremely ravenous, butcoulddigestnothingheate.A fewdaysbeforecoming toseemehehadarrivedhome fromworkwithanalmostirresistibledesireforfood.HeateaheartysupperandstartedfortheY.M.C.A.,wherehewas to play in a basketball game.About six blocks from his home he suddenly became dizzy;everythingbecameblackandhefainted.Thiswasfollowedbyvomiting,whichbroughtupnotonlyhissupper,butfoodhehadconsumedatnoonthedaybefore.Ithadnotbeendigested.Iplaced thisman on a short fast, then taught him how to live, with the result that his catarrh, hyperacidity,indigestion,constipation,headache,nervousnessandmorbidappetiteallended.

Physiologistssaythatanordinarymealisdigested(inthestomach)infromtwotofivehours.Thatthisisthenormaldigestiontimemaybenearlytrue,butitisnounusualthingforfoodtoremaininthestomach for amuch longerperiod.This is especially true if there is some slight indisposition.Physiologistshaveassumedthatifthefoodhaspassedoutofthestomachintotheintestineithasbeendigested—thatis,itisassumedthatgastricdigestioniscompleted.Thatthisisoftennottrueisshownby thegreat amounts of undigested food that are found in the stools of thousands of patients.Thestomachmayemptyitselfofundigestedandunwantedfood,eitherbyvomitingorbypassingitontotheintestine.IwishheretoreverttothecontentionofDr.Hazzardthatwhile“appetite”maybepresentindisease,genuinehungerneveris.Whilesuchpatientsofteninsistthattheyareravenous, it seemsmorelikelythatineveryinstance,theyhavemistakentheirmorbidsymptomsforademandforfood.

Therehavebeenmenwhoapprovedoffastinginacutedisease,butnot inchronicdisease,on theground that so longasnaturedemands food, food shouldbe taken.Theyhave insisteduponbeing

guidedby instinct in thismatter of eatingor fasting.Thedemand for instinctive eating, instinctivefastingandinstinctivelivingisquitefundamentallysound,butwemustlearntodiscriminatebetweeninstinctive demands and morbid cravings. Morbid cravings are strengthened, not overcome, byappeasingthem.Takethecaseofthepatientpreviouslymentioned,whowasravenous,ateamealandshortlythereafter,vomitedthisalongwithfoodthathadbeenconsumedatnoonthedaybefore;howcan we think of his supposed desire for food as an instinctive demand? It seems the height ofabsurditytocontendthatappetite,suchashehadbeforeheatesupperthatevening,shouldbesatisfied.Tome such contentions are on a parwith the claim that the craving for opium, alcohol, tobacco,arsenic,etc.,shouldbesatisfied.

NatureAcceptsTheFastInchronic“disease”digestionisnotsuspended.Inmanycasesitseemsnottobeimpaired.Appetite

may and may not be present. There is not, therefore, the same necessity for fasting in chronic“disease”asinacute“disease.”Yet,ifthefastisenteredinto,natureusuallysignifiesherwillingnesstoundergoalongdeferredfast,whichshehasprobablyrepeatedlyaskedforbutdidnotreceive,bycuttingoff theappetiteon thesecondor thirddayandperhapsbydevelopingnausea,vomitingandrepugnancetofood,andbyinstitutingtheusualprocessesofelimination.Asthiscourseofactionisinvariablypursuedbynature,weareforcedtoconcludethatshewelcomestheprofferedopportunityforhousecleaning.

EliminationDuetomanycauseswasteaccumulatesduringtheentirelifeperiodofthebody.Theolderthebody

and themoregluttonyandsensualityhavebeen indulged in, thegreater the toxin saturation.Thesetoxins are lost to the body during a fast. It is largely for this reason that fasting proves to be sovaluable inchronic“disease.”Thepurificationof the organism and the regeneration of its tissuesrestoretheyouthfulnessofthebody.

Dr.Lindlahrlikenedthedigestivetracttoasponge.Inhealthitabsorbstheelementsofnutrition;butinacutediseasetheprocessisreversed;thespongeisbeingsqueezedanditthrowsofftoxins.Whenthespongeisbeingsqueezedtheprocessesofdigestionandabsorptionareatastandstill.Infact,ashesaid, theentireorganism, inacutedisease, is ina stateofweakness,prostrationand inactivity.Thevitalenergiesareconcentratedupontheworkofcleansingthebodyofitsaccumulatedtoxins.Ineedonly toadd that inchronicdisease,when thepatient fasts, thewholedigestive tractentersupon theworkofeliminationandassistsinfreeingthebodyofitsaccumulatedtoxins.

“Restandfastingconstitutethepropertreatmentofthosesufferingfromoverwork,overeatingandsexualexcesses.”Itshouldbeobviousthatwhenenergyislowandfunctionsareinefficient,aperiodofphysiologicalrestwillbebeneficial.Whenthedigestivefunctionissobadlyimpairedthateverymeal is followed with gas or with nausea or when undigested food remains in the stomach forprolongedperiods,arestofthedigestivesystemisimperative.Mr.Carrington,whoinsistsupon thenecessityofrestingindisease,placesgreateststressuponrestofthedigestivesystem.

Afterpointingoutthatlossofappetite,seeninallacutediseasesandcommoninchronicdisease,is“thevoiceofnatureforbiddingustoeat,”andlamentingthefactthatphysiciansandnursesdisregardthis“voiceofnature”andforcefooddownthethroatsof“disgustedpatients,”Dr.T.L.Nicholssays,“restforthestomach,liver,alltheorgansofthenutritivesystem,maybetheonethingneedful.Itisthe only rest we will not permit.—In certain states of disease, where the organs of digestion areweakenedanddisordered, thebestbeginningofacuremaybe totalabstinence fora time fromall

kindsoffood.Thereisnocurelikeit.Ifthestomachcannotdigest,thebestwayistogiveitarest.Itistheonlythingwhichitneeds.”Healsosays,“foreverydiseaseofeveryorganofthebody,thefirstconditionisrest—restforstomach,restforbrain.Brokenbonesandcutortornmuscles,musthaverest,ortherecanbenocure.Forthevitalorganstheremustbe,atleast,diminishedlabor—intervalsofrest—allthereposethatisconsistentwiththenecessaryoperationsoflife.Indiseaseoftheheart,wemustdiminish theamountof thecirculatingfluid,andremoveallstimulantsandexcitements toaction.Itischieflythroughthestomachandnutritivesystemthatwecanactontheheartandbrain,themorerestwecangivetothestomach,themorechance.”

Whenorganshavebeen lashed into impotencybyoverwork andover-stimulation, rest alone cansave, it alone can restore power.Dewey referred to fasting as the “rest cure,” and emphasized theurgentnecessityofrestinallacuteandchronicdiseases.Rest,hesaid,“isnottodoanyofthecuring(healing) any more than it heals the broken bone or the wound; it is only going to furnish theconditionfor cure.”By rest in this statement,he is referring tophysiological rest.Usingupnerveenergyinbusinessandthegeneralaffairsoflifetotheextentofhavingtoolittletotakecareofthefood we eat is common in present-day society and is commonly met with increased foodconsumption,ratherthanbythephysicalandphysiologicalresttheconditiondemands.Ifwearesickwe“needplentyofgoodnourishingfood”;ifweareweakweneed“morefood.”Ifwearetiredand“outofsorts,”weneed“morefood.”

Sinclair (1910) went upon his first fast when, “after another spell of hard work I found myselfunabletodigestcorn-mealmushandmilk”(p.743).Hetookafastwhennaturecompelledhimtodoso.The commonmode of caring for the body in health and“disease” is a tragedy. It consists ofeating foodseveral timesaday,ofemployingstimulants towhipup fatiguedorgansuntil theyareexhausted,ofyieldingtoindulgencies,anddissipationsthatwastetheenergiesandsubstancesofthebody;ofwhippingintosubmissionanyandallorgansandfunctionswhichattempttocorrectmatters;ofcuttingoutoffendedorgansandstructureswhicharetheseatofdiscomfort;andofneglectinganyandall rationaland radically remedialmeasuresuntil somepartsof theorganismhavebecomesobadlydamagedandtheorganicdestructionissogreatthatrecoveryisallbutimpossible.

ReliefOfPainFastingnotonlybringsabsolutecomforttothosewhohaveafatal“disease,”butitbringscomfort

in everyother “disease,” cuts all “diseases” short, andgives the sickmanorwoman the verybestopportunity and the surest road out of suffering into health. Dr. Shew wrote: “Very seldom willtoothachewithstand twenty-fourhoursof entire abstinence fromall food” (1849, p. 63).Again, hewrote:“Ifapersonhasatoothache—nomatterhowbad—providedthereisnotswellingandagueintheface,itiscuredwithcertaintywithintwentyfourhoursbyabstainingfromallfoodandfromalldrinks,exceptwater.Atanyrate,Ihaveknownnocasewheresuchtreatmenthasfailedofcompletesuccess”(1854,p.796).

PleasuresOfThePractitionerDr.ArthurVosgrowspoeticinhispraiseofthebenefitsoffastinginchronic“disease.”Hesays:“I

can conceive of no greater pleasure in the pursuit of my profession; than to witness a patientsufferingfromachronicdisease,graduallyregaininghishealthundertheadministrationofafastandtheapplicationofproperdieteticandhygienicprocedures.Thoughsomepatientshaveconsiderabledistressduringthefirstfewdaysofafast,thelaterfeelingsofbuoyanceandfreedomofpain,bothmentally andphysically,make themwilling to continue amethod againstwhich their prejudices atfirststronglyrebelled.Toseethecloudedeyeclearupandregainitsigneousbrightness,toseethe

zanthicallydiscoloredparchment-likeskinclear itselfandbecomenormallypeachesandcream, toperceivethebreath,atfirstheavilyladenwithunmentionableimpurities,graduallyloseitsnauseousodorandbecomeattarofroses, toexperiencethejoysoffellowshipthatcomebackagainwith thecorrectmentalattitudeandasaneviewoflife,displacingtheold,intoxicated,pervertedanddisjointedattitude toward the world and one’s fellowmen, from the enjoyment of witnessing which neitherstrugglenoreffortoughttodeter.Thesedevoutly-to-be-wished-forbenefitsandconsummationsanda thousand other patronymics come as the effects of a fast perment is carried on in amanner tocontinuethebenefitsreceived.Thiscanbedonebycorrectingthelifethroughtheapplicationoftheprinciplesofhygieneandnaturalliving.”

“Some-Orthodox”TestimonyAsclepiadesusedfasting2,000yearsago,asdidThessalusofTralles;Celsusemployedfasting in

jaundiceandepilepsy;Avicennausedtofasthispatientsfourorfiveweeks.EvenParacelsusdeclared,“Fastingisthegreatestremedy.”Inthe17thCentury,Dr.Hoffmanwroteatreatiseonfastingentitled“Description of the Magnificient Results Obtained Through Fasting in All Diseases.” In the 18thcentury,Dr.AntonNikolaiasked:“Whatismoresense,tofeedthepatientandgivehimmedicineandkeephimsickfortherestofhislife,ormakehimthinforawhileandmakehimabsolutelywell?”

Dr. Von Seeland, a Russian physician, says: “As a result of experiments, I have come to theconclusionthatfastingisnotonlyatherapeuticagentofthehighestdegreepossiblebutalsodeservesconsideration educationally.” Dr. Adolph Mayer, a prominent German physician, says, in a bookentitledFastCures—Wondercures:“Iassertthatfastingisthemostefficientmeansforcorrectinganydisease.” He also asserts that “Fasting and surgery is all that is of any value in the professionalarmamentarium.”Dr.Moeller,headofthesanatorium“Closchwitz,”says,“fastingistheonlynaturalevolutionarymethodwhereby throughasystemiccleansingyoucanrestoreyourselfbydegrees tophysiologicnormality.”Dr.Osbeck,ofUpsala,ProfessorofSurgery,wassosuccessfulwithfastingtreatments that the government ordered them investigated, and upon receipt of a favorable reportfrom the committee, gave him a bonus of $5,000 and a yearly pension of $500. Fasting is nowemployedinseveralEuropeansanatoriums,bothinEnglandandonthecontinent.

AFewDiseasesConsideredWhenweseetheeyesbecomebrighter,theskinfairerandthebreathsweeterfromfasting,whenwe

seepimplesonthefaceclearupandnotrecurthereafter,whenweobservealltheotherevidencesofbenefit to be derived froma period of abstinence,we are naturally encouraged to go onwith ourworkinthemorecomplicatedstatesoftheorganism.Itisagreatmistaketoexpectonelongfasttoalwaysbesufficienttoenablethebodytofreeitselfofallofitsaccumulateddebris.Whenwespendalifetimepilingupinjuriesinthebodyandstoringuptoxin,wecannotexpecttoalwaysrepairalloftheseinjuriesandexcretealloftheretainedwasteintheshortspaceofafewweeks,butwecanrepeatthefastwherethisisneeded.

Denutrition or temporary abstinence from food, is themost effective, and, at the same time, thesafest method for eliminating morbid elements from the system. Any flux, issue, diarrhea,bronchorrhea,dropsy,flowoffluidintothepleura(sacaroundthelungs),pericardium(sacaroundthe heart), peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) water on the brain, flow of pus from anychronicsuppuration,polyuria, andothers—anydisturbanceof the fluidsof thebody—is favorablyinfluenced by total abstinence from food and water. All catarrhal conditions—rhinitis, ozena,bronchitis,colitis,metritis,cystitis,hayfever,asthma,andothercatarrhalconditions—quicklyceasetoexistunderafast.Whentheabnormalflowoffluidiscontrolled,aproperdietarycanbefittedto

the body; and when impaired nerve-energy—enervation—is brought back to normal, health isrestored.

Everymeal eaten, everyglassofmilkor fluiddrunk, raisesbloodpressure.Every transfusionofbloodraisesblood-pressure.Whenpeople are sickwith catarrhandnosebleeding,or tuberculosisandbleedingfromthe lungs,or tuberculosisof thebowelswithdiarrhea,etc., they should stop theintake of water and food, and the hemorrhage will surely cease within twenty-four hours. Thenrestrictedeatingshouldbepracticeduntilhyperemiafromplethoryisovercome,afterwhich,propereatingandrespectingfoodlimitationswillbringdependablehealth.

The editor of an osteopathic journal, an ex-druggist,who still believes in drugs and particularlybelieves in their use in so-called syphilis,wroteDr.AlvinN.Davis, of Pa., thatDr.Weger rejectsfastingintheconditionslabeledsyphilis.Inreplytoalettertohimaboutthematter,Dr.Wegerwrotetome,saying,“Icertainlydofastsyphilitics.”TheauthenticatedlongfastofUlrichVonHutten,whichwasfollowedbyanabsoluteandopenlyattestedcureof“syphilis,”isknowntoallstudentsofmedicalhistory.Thistreatmentofso-called“syphilis”foundmanyzealouschampionslateron.Thevalueoffastingintheconditionslabeled“syphilisisbeyonddispute.Nothingismoreeffectiveintheso-calledprimaryandsecondarystages.Itisvaluablealsointhetertiarystage;butasthisstageisduetodrugs,its value is often less apparent. The truth of these things is not impaired by the failure of someindividualtoemployfastinginsuchconditions.

Tilden says: “Somethingmore is necessary, however, than simply fasting to overcomeandbringaboutabsorptionofafibroidtumor.Theproperlocaltreatmentsforcorrectinguterinederangementandestablishingpropernutritionareabsolutelynecessary inallcases, ifdependablehealth is tobehopedfor.”Thishasnotbeenourexperienceandwedonotapproveof the scarificationandotherlocal treatment employed by him. The wen is a cyst. Grahammentions seeing wens remedied byfasting. I have no desire to dispute this observation, for I have myself seen a very few suchpathologies remedied by fasting. What I do want to point out, however, is that this is a rareoccurrence.Commonlywens and other cysts are notmuch affected by the fast. Tildenwas of thissame opinion, saying that there is but one treatment for wens and this is surgical removal. Dr.Weger ’sobservationsledhimtothesameconclusion.

Dewey, Hazzard, Carrington, Macfadden and others record cases of recoveries from diabetesthrough fasting, beforeAllenmade his experiments and gave the “Allen treatment” to themedicalworld.

Allobservers,whohavehadwideexperiencewithfasting,recordcasesofimprovementofeyesightwhilefasting,evenanoccasionalcaseofblindnessinwhichsightisrestored.Often,hearingthathasbeenfaintforyears,isbroughtuptotheacutenessofchildhood.Inothercasescompletedeafnessisremedied.Ihadonecaseofcompleteblindnessinoneeyethathadexistedforseveralyears,inwhichcompleteandpermanentrecoveryoccurredduringafastundertakentoreduceweight.Anothercasewasoneoftotaldeafnessinoneearthathadexistedfortwenty-fiveyears.Perfecthearinginthisearwasrestoredduringa fastofmore than thirtydays,undertaken to remedyother troubles.Somanypathologicalchangesintheeyesandearsandtheirassociatednerveandbrainstructuresmayresultinblindnessanddeafness, itwouldbefollytoexpectvisionandhearingtoberestored inallcasesofblindnessanddeafness.Suchrecoveriesarenottobeexpectedasaregularoccurrence.

Carringtonsays:“lungtissueseemstopossesstheinherentpowerofhealingitselfinafarshorter

time,andmoreeffectually,thananyotherorganwhichmaybediseased.Ihaverepeatedlyobservedthat,inallcaseswhereafasthasbeenundertaken,inordertocurelungtroublesoranydescription,suchfastshavealwaysterminatedmorespeedilyandmoresatisfactorilythaninothercases;andsuchfastsarealsoundertakenfarmoreeasily,andthedeprivationandlackoffoodnoticedevenless, insuchcases,thaninanyothercaseswhatever.”

Headdsthatsuffererswithtuberculosisofthelungsarelikelytocollapsemoreorlessfrequently,whentheyfast,anextremedegreeofdebilitybeingnoted.This,hethinksisduetothreechieffactors:Therealconditionof the tubercular isoneofdebility,but thecondition isnotapparent,due to thepressure of tonics and stimulants and to the over-feeding towhich they are regularly subjected—overfeeding on meats, eggs, milk, and other stimulating foods. The real condition of the patientbecomes apparent when the stimulants and the foods are withdrawn, the reaction being severe inproportiontothedegreeofdebility.“Thegreatsenseoffreedomwhichisexperiencedinthelungs,andtheabilitytotalkandsingwithgreaterclearnessandfacility,andwithgreaterrangeanddepthoftone,thanhasbeenexperienced,perhaps,inmonthsandyears,willamplytestifythatthelungsarefarsounderandmorenormalthantheyhavebeen—perhapsever!”(1908,p.497).

Short fastsarecommonlyemployed in tuberculosis. It shouldbenoted,however, thatanamazingnumberofpeopleareconstantlyundertreatmentfortuberculosiswhodonothavethedisease.Ioncehad a case ofwhat I shall call “pseudo-tuberculosis” of the lungs to getwell in aweek.This casepresented the following symptoms upon which the diagnosis had been made—weakness, loss ofweight, habitual cough, night sweats, afternoon temperature, “positive” sputum and “spots” on thelungs,asrevealedbyx-ray.Severalphysicianshadconcurredinthediagnosis.Anothersimilarcase,whichhadbeenundertreatmentfortuberculosisforfouryears,growingsteadilyworse,completelyrecoveredinsixweeks.

Someofthemostremarkablerecoveriesithasbeenmyprivilegetowitnesshavebeenincasesof“incurable”heartdisease.Thereareirremediabledamagestotheheart,butitdoesnotalwaysfollow,because somephysician has pronounced a given case of heart disease “incurable,” that it is reallyirremediable.Fastinginheartdiseaseisasuremeansofgivingtheheartarest.Eatingplacesaloadupon theheart.Overeatingneedlessly increases thisburden.Fastingrelieves theheartof theexcessloaditiscarryingandprovidesanopportunityforrest.

Everydaypeopledieof“heartattack”or“heartfailure”whoareeating threesquaremealsadaywith extra food betweenmeals. Often these deaths follow immediately upon the heels of a heartymeal,oroccurwhile the sufferer is eating. If “plentyofgoodnourishing food”will prevent heartcollapse,orwillassistinthe“cure”ofheartdisease,thesepatientsshouldnotdiesoregularly.Thesimpletruthisthatveryfewsufferersfromheartdisease,betheydoctororlayman,failtonotefromexperience that their comforts depend to a great extent upon what and how much they eat. Heart“attacks,”fromsimpleaccelerationandpalpitationtothesevereanginas,areinthegreatmajorityofinstances,duetoover-loading,fermentation,distentionofstomach,andindigestion.

FastingInNervousDiseasesInmany quarters there exists a strange prejudice against the employment of the fast inwhat are

called “nervous diseases.” It is customary to recommend a “full diet” in both nervous andmentaldiseases.Thisplanofcareisfarfromsatisfactory,butitispersistedinwithaslavishadherencethatwoulddojusticetoabettercause.Thispracticegrowsingreatmeasure,outofthetendencytosetthebrain andnervous system apart from the remainder of the body and to think of it as not physical.

Thereistheclassificationofdiseasesinto“mental”and“physical”whichgrowsoutofthisefforttothinkof thebrainandnervoussystemasseparateanddistinct fromtheorganismasawhole.Butamoment’sreflectionshouldbesufficienttorevealtheerrorofthisview.

Thehumanbodyisonevastlycomplexorganism,themanypartsofwhichareintimatelyconnectedandcorrelatedintheirfunctionsandinterdependencies.Itisessentialthatwefullygrasptheintricateinterrelationsofallpartsoftheorganismbeforewecanmakeanyrealprogressinthescienceandartof caring for thewell and the sick.Theorgansof thebodyarenot isolated isonomies.Due to theclose unity of the body it is utterly impossible for any one part of the body to become impairedwithoutinvolvingthewholeorganismintheconsequencesandimpossibleforanyparttobeimpaired(exceptbyviolence)solongasitreceivesadequatesupportfromitsphysiologicalpartners.Partsofthe body become impaired only after there is more or less general impairment. Organs do notbecome“diseased”independentlyoftherestoftheorganism.

Inwhatwaydo“nervous”diseasesdifferfrom“physical”diseases?Thenervesarealsophysical.They are parts of the body. They are not so completely removed from the physical as popularexpressionsseemtoimply.Theyareneitherethereal,normental,norspiritualinessence,andtheydonotcallfornon-physicalmeansofcare.Theyareorgansandshouldbelookedatfromtheorganicpointofview.Basicallynervefibersarenotgreatlydifferentfrommusclefibers.Nervesaresuppliedwith blood, they must have oxygen, food, and water; they are capable of being cut and torn byviolence,orpoisonedbytoxinsofvariouskinds.

Thebrainandnervoussystemaresubjecttothesamelawsoforganizationasistherestofthebody,aresubjecttothesamenutritiverequirementsandaresubjecttopoisoning,aswellasarethemusclesandglands.Thenervoustissuemaybecomeinflamed,itmayundergoatrophy.Itscondition,strength,powerandfunctioningabilitydependwhollyuponthecomposition,purityandqualityof thebloodwithwhichitissupplied.

Anotherreasonthatwetendtothinkofandtreatthenervesandbrainasthoughtheyareseparateanddistinctfromthegeneralorganismisthealmostuniversalerrorofthemedicalprofession,anerrorinwhichtheyhavefullyindoctrinatedthelaypublic,oftryingto treatonepartof thebodywithoutreference to all other parts—an error that has given rise to all the evils of specialism. A fullrecognitionoftheunityofthebodyshouldcausethiserrortoberejected.Theeffectsofover-eatinguponnervousdiseasesarereadilyapparenttoallwhowilltakethetroubletoobservethem.Likewise,thebenefits that flow from fasting in nervous andmental diseases have only to be observed to beappreciated.“Theextremerapidandinvariablysuccessfulresultsatonceprovethecorrectnessofthecontention,”saysCarrington.

Itisusualforanincreasednervousirritabilitytomanifestwhenthementalandnervouspatientisnotfed,hencetheadviceto“feedhimup.”Butthisstuffingtreatmentonlyservestosmothersymptoms,not to remove their causes. It is significant thatwhen food iswithheld for a fewdays, thenervousstormthatensuesupondiscontinuanceoffood,subsidesandthepatientprogresseshealthward.Theremarkablemannerinwhichattention,memory,associationandtheabilitytoreasonwithmorethanordinary brilliance are acutened during a fast indicates as nothing else can, the benefits the brainderives from a period of physiological rest. Recoveries from insanity while fasting are equallydramaticevidenceofthisbenefit.

MacfaddenandCarringtonrelatethecaseofamanwhohadaparalyzedthroatwhofastedfor ten

dayswhen“signsoflife”appearedinthethroat.Hefoundhecouldagainswallowandwithinafewdays, the full power of his throat was restored. “Though in some cases,” they say, “through theinfluenceoffastingtheblindhaveliterallybeenmadetosee,thelametowalk,Ifeelthatthiscasewasperhapsoneof themost remarkableof allwithwhich Ihavecome incontact.”Fasting andprayerwereprominentamongtheremediesemployedbytheancientsinepilepsy.Dr.Rabagliatisaysthatthebestremedyforepilepsy“consistsofacarefulrestrictionofthediet....Ihaveformanyyearsnowadvisedrestrictionofthedietinepilepsytotwomealsdaily,andsometimestoone;andinacutecaseshave recommended further and great restriction to a pint or a pint and a half ofmilk daily for aconsiderableperiodoftime....Fasting,infact,seemstobeofverygreatefficacyinthetreatmentofepilepsy.”

Thelengthofthefastinanyconditionwillhavetobedeterminedbyeachindividualcase.Inmostcases,excepttuberculosis,therecanbenosoundobjectiontoafasttocompletion,althoughthiswillseldom be necessary, andmany patients will not want to fast so long, unless theymust. The caseshouldbecarefullywatchedandthejudgmentoftheexperiencedpractitionerfollowed.

XXXVI.FastinginDrugAddictionAlcoholismNicotinismCoffee,Tea,CocoaOtherPoisonHabitsOpiumAddictionAfter-CareOfTheAddict

Any form of drug addiction is an unintelligent seeking for “relief.” Thosewho are comfortableseek no soothing poisons. Restless bodies and irritable nerves are soothed, often with the veryoccasionfortherestlessnessandirritability.Thecoffeeuser“relieves”herheadachewithmoreofthecoffeethatinducedherheadacheinthefirstplace.Themorphineaddictsootheshisdamagednerveswithmoreofthemorphinethatisresponsiblefortheirdamage.Thereisnodrug-hunger,nocravingforapoisonofanykind,asispopularlysupposedtoexistinthevictimsofdrughabits.Thesupposedcravingforpoisonofanykindisapeculiarandunbearablenervousnessarisingoutofexhaustionandinjury.Itisnotaloudcallformorestimulation(irritation)ormorenarcotization(depression)—noryetacallformorepoisoning,moreinjury,greaterexhaustion—butacryofdistress.Therealneedisrestandacessationofabuse.The“relief’ that followstherepetitionof thepoison-dose is fictionalandunreal.

Addicts take their beer and tobacco to soothe their distressed nerves. They feel weak and faintwithoutthem.Theyarejustasweakandfaintwiththem,buttheyareunconsciousofthefact.Thedrugmerely temporarilywipesout theirawarenessof their truecondition.Amanbecomes irritableandcranky when denied his tobacco. The irritableness and crankiness are merely part of his generaluneasiness— an uneasiness that has grown out of and is perpetuated by his habitual poisoning ofhimself. That temporary respite from a sense ofweakness and uneasiness, that temporary “relief’frommiseryandpainmaybehadfromare-narcotizationofthenervesthataresufferingfrompriornarcotization,leadsthepoorvictimofthepoison-vicetobelievethathismiseryisacravingforhisaccustomedpoison.Thisalladdsuptothefactthatthedrughabitisthe“relief’habit.Manydrugsaresaid to be habit-forming. It is not the drug, butman that forms the habit.Man is, indeed, a habit-forminganimal.Forwhateverreasonhefirsttakesthepoison,helatertakesithabituallyasameansofescapefromhisintolerablesuffering.

Nothingenablesthealcoholic,thedrugfiend,thetobaccoaddict,toovercomehis“desire”forhisaccustomedpoisonandtoreturntoastateofgoodhealth,asdoesfasting.Tofullyrealizethetruthofthisstatement,oneneedsmerelytoviewthewhiskey-soddenbodyofthedrunkardbeforefastingandthefreshrenewedbodyofthesamepersonafterafast.Inhiswholecountenance,fromthesparkleinhis eyes and the ruddiness of his cheeks to the pink glow of his renewed skin, and his wholedemeanor,fromthebuoyantsteptothegayspirits,themanhasundergoneacompleteandthoroughrenovation and regeneration. Few drunkards have sufficient will power and physical stamina toabandondrinkwithouthelpandnothingaffordsthemgreaterandmorecertainassistancethanthefast.

Deweyseemstohavebeenthefirsttocallattentiontothegreatvalueoffastinginalcoholism.Hisbook,ChronicAlcoholism,firstpublishedin1899,isdevotedtothissubject,althoughheemphasizedthevalueoffastinginthisabnormalityinhisotherandearlierworks.Subsequentwritershavealsostressedthevalueoffastinginalcoholism.InhisVitality,FastingandNutritionCarringtonsays:“a

fastisoneoftheeasiestmethodsforthecureofalcoholism.”Idonotsubscribetotheexplanationhegivesofhowandwhyfastingputsanendtoalcholism,butIamsatisfiedwiththeforegoingstatementasitstands.InhisEncyclopediaofPhysicalCulture,Macfaddensays:“Thereisnobettermethodofgivingavictimofthisdisease(alcoholism)anopportunitytoagainsecurecontrolofhimself,atleastinthebeginningofthetreatment,thancanbesuggestedbyacompletefast.”

AlcoholismSince,apparently,fastingwasfirstusedinalcoholismandlateremployedinotherdrugaddictions,

itmaybewelltobeginwithabriefstudyofthisaddiction.Itisnoweverywhererecognizedthatthealcoholic is a sickman (orwoman), but nowhere, it would seem, is the true nature of the illnessrecognized. The development of the illness called alcoholism is so insidious that even the mostthoughtfulbecomeenslaved toa remorselesshabit,almostbefore theyareawareof it.Starting theuseofalcohol,usuallyinyouth,whentheenergyreservesof thebodyaresogreat thatalmostanyamount of indulgence seems perfectly safe, the habit progresses to a chronic illness that seemshopelesstothehelplessinebriate.Fetteredbychainsofhisownforging,weakenedinbody,mindandwillbytheveryindulgencethathewoulddiscontinue,sufferingunutterablywhenhedoesnottakehisalcohol,hewilloftencommitcrimetogetthe“relief’heseeks.

Thesufferingofthealcoholicissomuchgreaterthanthatwhichhisdrinkingcausesthemembersof his family that he does not hesitate to spend all hismoney formore alcohol and let the familysuffer forwantof foodorothernecessities.He finds temporary“relief’ fromhis sufferingby re-narcotizinghimselfwithalcohol.Hemayhavestarteddrinkingtodrownsorrowsthatrefusedtostaydrowned;henowdrinksbecausehe ismiserable—amisery inducedbyhispriordrinking—and hefindsafictionalsurceasefromhisunutterablemiseryinmoreofthenarcoticthatinducedhismisery.Heisasickman.Heisprofoundlyenervated.Hisinjurednerveswillgivehimnopeace.

Whenitisrecognizedthatalcoholismisachronicillness,itwillbeeasytounderstandhowandwhyfastingmaybeofserviceinthecondition.Itisaperiodofrestduringwhichthemuchabusedperatesitswastedenergies.Whenthefastisendedandthesystemhasbeenfreedof itsaccumulatedtoxins,and what is even more important, the nervous system has been restored to health, the supposedcravingforalcoholisnomore.

Alcoholismisan illness involvingstructuralabnormalities.The thickeningand tougheningof themembranesofthemouth,throatandstomacharenecessarydefensiveexpediences.Fattydegenerationoftheliverorsclerosisoftheliverare,ofcourse,laterdevelopments.Whenthealcoholicfaststhethickened membranes are removed and new membranes are formed. The new membrane of themouth,tongue,throatandstomachwillnotbeathickened,searedone,imperviousaliketofoodsandpoisons,butathin,delicateandsensitiveonethatpermitsfullappreciationofthefinedelicateflavorsoffoods.

Glandsandnervesthathavebeenlashedintoimpotencybyoverstimulation,restintofullfunctionalpowerwhen given an opportunity. Renewal of their power can come in no otherway.Will nerveenergyberestoredthroughrest?Justascertainlyasanightofsleepwillpermit recuperationfromtheexpendituresoftheday.Theabusedorganismwillhealitselfthroughrestasthebrokenbonewillknitthroughrest.Dowedenyresttoabrokenbone,awound,anulcer?Dotheseneedothermeansofhealing?Canwe deny that restorative cell-action resideswithin and that it operates bestwhile thebodyisatrest?

Deweysaid that theonly remedy foralcoholism is“througha rest fromall irritation fromotheralcoholicsorfood.”Hesaysoffastinginalcoholism:“thefastcureisoneoftheveryeasiestafterthefirstthreeorfourdays,andeventhemostdesperateoldchronicscanfastonfortwo,threeorevenmoreweekswithonlyanincreasingsenseofcomfort,andwithnolossexceptdiseaseandpounds.Waseveracureforthealcoholicdiseasemorerational,moreinlinewiththeverylawsofnature?”Hedeclaredthatthereareonlythefewestcasesofchronicalcoholismsodesperate,solongcontinuedthatafastwillnotresultinanewstomach,arepairedandrenewednervoussystemandanewoutlookuponlife.

Of this new outlook upon life, resulting from the emancipation of the man from his slavery toalcoholandofhisrenewedhealth,itmaybewelltotakeabriefglance.Deweysaidtothealcoholic:“letmepresumethatforawholemonthyouhavebeenabsentfromyourhomesundergoingtherest(fasting)cure,aidedbymyencouragement,yourhomesthewhilehavingthe‘peacebestill’comfortyouhavenotpermitted for years.Youwill return to thosehomes sanermen, andbecauseof yourclearer vision and soul power in reserve you will see far more in the countenance of that longsuffering wife to love, honor and respect than you really were able to see in your days of foodgluttonyevenbeforethealcoholicdisease.

“And those children, as soon as they find that it is safe to be in the same house with you, willrespondtoyoursoul,bornagain,as theroseunfoldsunder thefavoringconditionsofJune.Itwilltakethemalittletimetoovercomefearofyourattacksofemotionalinsanity,butintimetheywillgetaccustomedtothedazzlinglightwheretheyhaveonlyfounddarknessandviolence.Ascertainlywillthisbetheresultasyoucomplywiththeconditions.”

Secretcuresforalcoholisminvolvetheexpenditureofhundredsofdollars,weeksofabsencefromhomeandwork,theintroductionintothebodyofpoisons(dangerousdrugs)whichareoftenworsethanalcohol,and,usually,ifnotalways,failure.Thefollyoftryingtocureonepoisonaddictionbyresort to another poison should be apparent to all who read these lines.Occasionally themedicalprofessionannouncesthediscoveryofadrugthatwillcurealcoholismorotherdrugaddiction.Asoftenasthesepoison-curesforpoison-addictionareannounced,theyfail.Stillthemerrysearchforsuchamagicdrugcontinues.

To the question: How long must I fast for alcoholism, Dewey replies: “Until you get into suchcomfortofbodyandmindthatfastingwillbealuxury.Youwillfastuntil thereisaperfectlycleantongueandyoufeelcapableof fastingunlimited.Youwill fastuntil there isaslighthint thatsomefood of the nourishing kind is craved. Some of youwill not get this felicity in less than amonthotherssooner,andotherswillrequireevenmoretime.Thetimeisofnospecialaccountwhencureissocertainandforsuchdiseasesasyours.”Whenthealcoholichasfullyrecoveredfromhis illnessandhungerhasreturned,noformofalcoholicdrinkwill tempthimandshouldheattempttodrinksomeform,hewilldiscoverthathenolonger“likes”it.Itwillbiteandstingasitdidwhenhefirsttookitasayouth.Hewillbeafreemanagain—nolongeraslavetoKingAlcohol.

NicotinismLetus lookat tobacconext.Nicotinism, like alcoholism, is a chronic illness that ismoreor less

willfully, although largely ignorantly cultivated. Young people usually begin the use of tobaccobecauseitis“beingdone.”Itisthe“properthing.”Theymustbeinstyle,theymustconformtotheapprovedusagesofthesocietyinwhichtheyliveandofwhichtheyareapart.BeinginRome,theymust“doastheRomansdo.”Poorpurblindfools!Theyknownotwhatchainstheyare forgingfor

themselves.

All that has been previously said about the use of alcohol, opium, etc., as a means of securing“relief’fromuneasinessanddistress,applieswithfullforcetotheuseoftobacco.Tocheworsnuff,tosmokeapipe,cigarorcigarette,isto“relieve”distress—thedistressofprofoundenervation.Itisto re-narcotize the outraged nerves of the user of tobacco, to again cover up or hide fromconsciousnessthetrueconditionoftheslaveofLadyNicotine.

Many tobacco-slaves try repeatedly todiscontinue theuseof thepoison,but fail to succeed.Theyreturn to the poison-vice rather han endure the irritableness, grouchiness, “nervousness,” anduneasiness that theprioruseof tobaccohas induced.They lack thedetermination to“tough itout,”until the nerves have repaired themselves; they lack the will power to carry through; they areunwillingtobearthesuffering,butreturnagainandagaintothefictional“relief”offeredbyanotherdoseoftheiraccustomedpoison.

To such as these fasting is a God-send. It makes discontinuing the tobacco-vice easy, almostpleasant.Indeed,inbutafewdaystheverytasteoftheweedbecomesobnoxious.Itisnouncommoncomplaintof the old smoker, after a thoroughoverhauling, that he cannot get a cigar of the rightbrand,orthathecannotfindacigarettethathelikes.Thedifficultyisnot,however,ashethinks,inthetobacco,but inhis improvednervous system, and in the regeneratedmembranesof hismouth andnose.Ihaveseenheavysmokers,whosmokedhalfalife-time,afterafast,becomeso“sensitive”totheobnoxiousfumesoftobaccothat theodorofacigarwaftedtotheirnostrilsfromablockawaywasobjectionabletothem.

Coffee,Tea,CocoaIt should not be necessary to devote space to coffee, tea, chocolate and cocoa addiction. These

poisonoussubstances(caffeine-containingdrugs)areusedbymanymillionsofpeopleforthesamereasons that tobacco and alcohol are employed—to “relieve” distress. Caffeine is classed as astimulantandiscommonlyemployedbytheenervatedandweakto“sustain”themintheirworkortokeep themawakeatnight. Stimulation iswasteful of the energyof life, producing enervation.Theheadache,nervousness,unease,andsufferingofthecaffeineaddictdriveshim,orher,tomoreofthesamepoisonthatproducedhis,orherenervationinthefirstplace.

OtherPoisonHabitsOtherdrughabits,suchastheopiumandmorphinehabit, thecocainehabit, thechloralhabit,etc.,

aredevelopedinmuchthesamemannerandfollowmuchthesamecourseintheirdevelopmentasthetobacco and alcohol habits. First resorted to in our search for “relief” from strain and tension, orfrompain,orsleeplessness,orbecauseofourmadsearchforthrills,theuseofthesedrugsbecomesa habit. This damages and enervates the nervous system to such an extent that the user is uneasy,uncomfortable, in pain and distress. He returns to his narcotic as a means of escaping from hisintolerablesuffering.Drugaddictionisaphaseofman’sincurableescapism.

Thedrugaddictusesnomoreintelligenceinhissearchfor“relief”fromhisexhaustion,uneaseandactualpainthandoesthesuffererwiththejumpingacheofadiseasedtooth.Hisgroaningnerveswillnotpermithimtosleepandhisdistresscriesoutfor“relief.”“Relief”hewillhaveifhehastodietogetit.Hisresorttoalcoholormorphineorcocaineorother“relieving”poisonisnomoreamatterofmoralsthantheforcepsofthedentist.

OpiumAddictionTheopiumandmorphinehabitsareoftentheresultoftheuseofthesedrugsbythephysicianinthe

treatment of some disease that can be more readily, and certainly more rationally cared for byHygienicmeasures.Themedicalprofessionstandsconvictedofthecrimeofproducingthousandsofdrug-addicts.Asitpleadsguiltytothecharge,thereseemstobenoreasontolaborthepoint.Cocaineusing often becomes habitual as a result of using proprietary catarrh “remedies.” Chloral andbarbiturateaddictionisacommonresultoftheuseofthesedrugsforpurposesofinducing“sleep”ininsomnia.Hadthemedicalprofessionnottaughtmankindforagesthatpoisonsarebeneficent,theseformsofpoisonaddictionwouldbeunknown.

Macfadden’sEncyclopediaofPhysicalCulture says:“Fasting is themostvaluableofall formsoftreatmentforovercomingthepathologicconditionofthebodybroughtaboutbythehabitualuseofpoison.Fastinggivesthebodyanopportunitytoreadjustitselfinanormalwayandalsohastenstheeliminationofanypoisonremaininginthesystem.Thedrug-fiendhaslosthisappetiteanyway,andbymeansofafastwillregainanormalconditionofthealimentarycanalinafractionofthetimethatwouldotherwisebeconsumedintheprocess.Especiallythemindwillclearandgainstrength,andhewillmuchsoonerfindhimselfinpossessionofthemoralimpulseandthewilltofighthishabit.”

Thedigestivesystemandthenervoussystemofthedopeaddictaresomewhatthesameasthoseofthealcohol addict and from the samecause—habitual lashingwithpoisons.Rest—physical,mentaland physiological—is the great need. In a remarkably short time, the fasting patient finds hissupposed “craving” formorphine or other poisons, has disappeared. It is, of course, necessary todiscontinuetheuseofthedrug.Experiencehasshownjustwhatweshouldexpectonapriorigroundstobetrue,namely,thattheabruptwithdrawalofalldrugsattheveryoutsetisfarmoresatisfactoryinthelongrunthananyefforttograduallywithdrawit.The“taperingoff”processcontinuestheinjuryandkeepsalivethesufferingthatcausesresorttothedrug.

Violentreactionsoftenfollowthewithdrawalofthedrug.Forthisreason,itisessentialtotakegreatcare of the patient. Mania following the withdrawal of morphine or opium, or delirium tremensfollowingthewithdrawalofalcoholaresimilardevelopments.Theyindicatethegravityoftheinjurytothenervoussystemandrevealhowimportantandurgentistheneedtogetawayfromtheuseofthepoison. It ismuchbetter, in casesofmania, to completely emerse thebodyof thepatient inwarmwaterfortwotothreehours,evenifhehastobestrappedinthetub,untilhisnervesbecomequiet,thantoresorttoevenasmalldoseofthedrug.Acoldclothoracoldpackshouldbeplacedontheheadwhilethepatientisthusemersedinthehotbath.Bearinmindthattheseviolent reactions soonceaseasthepatientfasts.Withthegradualrecoveryofenergy,repairofhisdamagednervoussystemandregenerationofhismembranes, the“call” for the“soothing”morphine,chlorate,cocaine,etc.,grows so faint that it is easy to discontinue its use.Of the cases ofmorphinism I have assisted incaringforinthismanner,notone,sofarasIhavelearned,haseverreturnedtoitsuse.

After-CareOfTheAddictIt seems necessary to point out that any return to the prior mode of living, after the fast, will

reproduceastateofenervationandtoxemia,thusgivingtherisetomoresuffering,whichmaytemptthe “relief” seeker to again resort to the old “relief’ measure. If he does this, hemay again findhimself inthegripofaddiction.Onlybyfirst-classhabitsof livingcananymanguaranteehimselfagainstevilsofallkinds.Theeatinghabitsoftheformeraddictareofspecialimportance.

Themedicalprofessionnowsaysthatdrunkennessisadisease.Theyhavenotconsidereditsofor

anygreatlengthoftime.Ontheotherhand,thefactthatit isadiseasehaslongbeenrecognizedinHygienic circles. Forward (1898) says that a “remarkable instance of success in the treatment ofintemperance bymeans of a vegetarian dietwas that of Dr. James C. Jackson, of Dansville, N. Y.Writing in ‘TheLawsofLife,’Dr. Jackson stated that ‘It is now twenty-fiveyears since I took thepositionthatdrunkennessisadiseasearisingoutofwasteofthenervetissue,oftentimesfindingthecentre of its expression in the solar plexus or networkof nerves that lies behind the stomach, andreflecting itself to the brain and spinal column bymeans of the great sympathetic. Since that timetherehavebeenundermycarenotlessthanahundredhabitualdrunkards,someofthemwithsuchadesireforliquorthatiftheycouldgetittheywouldkeepdrunkallthetime;othershavingperiodicturns of drunkenness, during the paroxysms of which they would remain drunk for a week or afortnight at a time. Everyone of these persons was so far gone as to have lost all selfrespect,character,andposition,andmanyofthemfineestates.InonlytwoinstanceshaveIfailedtogivebackgood health and sobriety where these individuals have been under my personal management anddirection;andofalltheagenciesthathavebeenbroughttobearuponthem,savethepsychological,nonehaveproved themselvessoeffectiveas thoseofdietandbathing. It ismorallyandphysicallyimpossibleforanymantoremainadrunkardwhocanbeinducedtoforegotheuseoftobacco,tea,coffee, spicy condiments, common salt, flesh meats, and medicinal drugs. If his diet consists ofgrains,fruitsandvegetables,simplycooked,andhekeepshisskinclean,hecannot,foranylengthoftime, retain an appetite for strong drinks. The desire dies out of him, and in its stead comes up adisgust.Thisdisgustisasdecidedlymoralasitisphysical.Hisbetternaturerevoltsatthethoughtofdrinking,andthepowerinhimtoresistisstrengthenedthereby.Theproofofthiscanbeseenatanytimeinourinstitution,wherewehavealwayspersonsundertreatmentforinebriety.Thetestimonyisample, is uniform, is incontrovertible.’ And further on, Dr. Jackson declared, ‘I have found itimpossible tocuredrunkardswhile Iallowed them theuseof flesh-meats. I regardanimal fleshaslying right across the way of restoration. Aside from its nutrition, it contains some element orsubstancewhichsoexcitesthenervoussystemasinthelongruntoexhaustit,towearoutitstissues,andtorenderitincapableofnormalaction’”(pp.66-68).

Notethathetaughtthatbothfleshandalcoholandother“stimulants”produceenervation—“wasteofnervous tissue.” Enervation is the basic fact in all addiction and to avoid re-cultivation of a drugaddiction, it is essential that the individual so live that he does not enervate himself. While Dr.Jackson, in the foregoing,emphasizesaddiction to alcohol,whathe says is applicable to anydrugaddiction.Itshouldalsobestatedthatflesheatingisfarfrombeingtheonlyorthegreatestenervatingfactor in the lives of our people.All sources of enervation should be studiously avoided.Awell-nourishedbody,theenergiesofwhichareconservedbyfirst-classhabits,willnotfeelthe“need”forstimulantsandwillnot“need”tobe“relieved”ofdiscomfortsandpains.

XXXVII.FastingVersusEliminatingDietsFoodCuresDeficienciesLessFoodBetter

Tilden(1931)says:“TheforegoingmayleadtothebeliefthatIaminthehabitofadvisingpatientsthroughlongperiodsoffasting.Thisisnottrue.Idonotbelieveintheneedoflongfasts.InyearsgonebyI requiredofmypatientsmorefasting thanIdonow.Sincehavinghad theopportunityofwatchingpatientsindividuallyfromthebeginningtotheendofoneormoremonths’staywithme,Ihaveprovedtomyentiresatisfactionthatlongfastsareneithernecessarynorbeneficial,butoftendoharm”(pp.646-647).Headds that“very lighteating, insteadof fastingovera longperiodof time,bringsmuchbetterresults—withpropernursing,itshouldbeunderstood”(p.647).

Astatementofthisnature,comingfromamanofthevastexperienceofTilden,isnottobelightlybrushedaside.Itshouldrevealtomyreaderstheimportanceofcompetentsupervisionofafastandthefollyofattemptinglongfastsoutofenthusiasmandhalf-information.Thatalongfastmayproveharmful insomecases iscertainand toundertakesucha fastwithout supervision isunwise. Ihavecaredfornumerouscasesthatalongfastwastheonlythingthatbroughtanygenuineimprovement;Ihaveseenmanymorewherealongfastwouldhavebeendangerous.Ihavehadtwopatientstodieandanother to sustain considerable temporary injury because they refused to break their fasts when Iadvisedandpersisted in fasting fordaysafter Iwanted itbroken.Apatientwho takes thebit inhisteethandrunsawaywiththeapplecartinthismannerisalsoalmostcertaintorunintotrouble.Thepractitionersupervisingafastisjustifiedinrefusingfurtherresponsibilityinacasewhenthepatientrefusestofollowinstructions.

Whoeverarbitrarily rulesout the long fast therebycutshimselfoff froma remarkablemeansofenablingthebodytorenovateitstissues.Thereisalsothetimefactor.Itispossibleforthebodytodofor itself in a fewweeks of fastingwhat it will requiremonths and even years to accomplish onlimiteddiets.Thisisanimportantfactorintheinstitutionalcareofapatientwhohasneitherthetimenorthemoney,northepatiencetogetwellbyanylongdrawn-outprocessofdieting.Thefastwillalsoassurelesssuffering,moreprofoundbodychangesandmore..certaintyofsuccess.

There is todaymuchloose, talkingandwritingaboutfastingbywritersand lecturersanddoctorswhohaveneverconductedandinthemajorityofinstances,neverevensomuchasobservedasinglefast.Thesepeoplealmostuniformlydecrythelongfastandadvise,notfasting,butvariouskindsofdietsandprogramsfor“detoxication.”Justwhytheyinsistoncallingtheseprogramsandthesediets,fasting,isdifficulttodetermine.

The“detoxicating”programusuallylastsfromthreedaystosevendaysandconsistsoftakingfruitjuicesorfruitsand,sometimes,vegetablejuices.Withthesegorepeatedenemas,largequantitiesofdrinkingwaterandpurgesorlaxativesofvariouskinds.Theirwholeideaof“elimination”isthatofemptyingthedigestivetract.Theyknownothingoffastinganditseffects.HowtruearethewordsofDr. Rabagliati that “the most popular criticisms of fasting are written by people who have nevermissed a meal in their lives.” The periods of detoxication are arbitrarily limited and bear nonecessary relation to the needs or condition of the patient, are seldom of sufficient duration toproduce marked benefit, and are often accompanied with such drastic purging that the patient is

weakenedandmadeworse.Oftenthepatientsaresoldmachinestoextractthejuicesfromtheirfruitsandvegetablesandareurged todrink largequantitiesof juice to“alkalinize” theirbodies.Greatlyenervatedandinneedofrest,thesepatientsspendsomuchtimeintheirkitchensmakingjuicesthattheywearthemselvesoutandgrowworse.

Few doctors of any school know enough about fasting to conduct a fast with confidence. Theyprefertheeliminatingdietinallcasesbecausetheirignoranceofthesuperiormethidissogreat.Afewofthesemensucceedincamouflagingtheirignoranceandinexperiencebehindthepretensethatfasting isdangerousor that theeliminatingdiet is superior to the fastbecause it supplies thebodywithalkalinesalts,whilethefastdepletesthesupplyofthese.Theirplausiblearguments,basedastheyare,onhalf truths,deceivemanywhoarenot fully informedabout fasting.Then, thereareothers,who,findingitmucheasiertogetpeopletogonaneliminatingdietthantogetthemtofast,prefertheeliminatingdiet.

Dr.T.L.Nichols,anoutstandingHygienistofthelastcentury,laidgreatstressontheimportance,insomecases, ofwhathe called the “partial fast.”He says: “I haveknown a case of serious organicdisease,whichIfearedmightprovespeedilyfatal,tobeentirelycuredbyaseven-monthsfastononeverymoderate and very puremeal a day.” Following his lead, Dr. Rabagliati of England andDr.Tildenof this countrymade frequent use ofwhat Tilden often referred to as the “starvation diet.”Indeed,Tildensaidthatthepatientshouldbefedbarelyenoughtosustainlife.Macfaddenandhisstaffalsomadefrequentuseofvarious“partialfasting”regimens.Itwillbereadilyrecognizedthatlimitedfeeding of this type constitutes a marked degree of physiological rest for the sick and enervatedorganismandconstitutesanearapproachtoacompletefast.Thestudentofthematteralsoknowsthattheoriginatorsofthe“partialfasts”or“eliminatingdiets”didnotregardthemascures.Theyknewwhat they were doing and were not fooled by the ideas that there are curative foods. I offer thefollowingreasonswhytheeliminatingdietispreferabletothefastincertaincases:

1.Afewpatientswhoknownothingoffasting,orwhohavebeenpoisonedagainst itbysomeoneelsewhoknowsnothingoffasting,arcafraidofthefast.Theeliminatingdietshouldbeemployedinsuch cases. It frequently happens that after watching others fast and witnessing the results, thesefearfulonesasktobepermittedtofastbutattheoutsettheyrefusetofast.

2.Somepatientsaresogreatlydepleted inbodythatafastofmore than threeor fourdays,oratmostafewdays,isinadvisable.Suchafastmayprofitablybefollowedbyaneliminatingdiet.Insuchcasesaneliminatingdietmayevenincludesmallquantitiesofproteins,carbohydratesandfats.

3. Inmild, acute and in chronic “disease,” in childrenwho demand food and cannot bemade tounderstand the reason for fasting and cannot be induced to cooperate with parent and doctor, theeliminatingdietisusuallyverysatisfactory.

The eliminating diet is of no value in acute “disease” and should not be employed in acuteconditions.Itprovestobeofvalueinchronicconditionsandfollowingperiodsofindulgenceinthehealthystate. In themilder formsofacute“disease,” suchas thecommoncold,aneliminating dietmaybeused,althoughitisnotassatisfactoryasthefast.Aneliminatingdiet(anorangeorgrapefruitdiet)mayalsobeusedinboilsandsimilardisturbances.Suchadietmayalsobeemployedinacutediarrhea,althoughthefastisfarsuperiorinsuchcases.

Itsometimeshappensthatapatientisplaceduponaneliminatingdietanduponthesecond,thirdor

fourthday,acrisisdevelops, justasoccurs inmany instancesduring the fast, and feedingmustbediscontinued. As in the fast, these crises are seen in toxic individuals. They are cleaning-outprocesses.Insuchcasesthefastshouldhavebeeninstitutedfromthebeginning.Therearemanycasesofchronic“disease”inwhichtheeliminatingdietprovestobeofbutlittlevalue.Thesepatientsmakealmostnoimprovementuntiltheyareplaceduponafast.Ioncecaredforalady,who,beforecomingtome,couldnoteatanyfoodbutmeat,withoutgreatdistress.Fruitsandvegetablescausedpainanddistressandpassedoutinthestoolsastheywereswallowed,havingundergonenodigestion.Afterafastofelevendays,thispatientcouldeatcertainfruitsandvegetablesandjuices,anddigestthem.Herprogress,however,wasveryslowandatthetimeshepassedfromundermycareshewasabletotakebutalimitedvarietyoffoods.Hertroubleshadexistedforovertwentyyearsandtherehadbeenanabdominal operation and a permanent suppression of menstruation by means of the X-ray. Weanticipateslowrecoveriesinsuchcases.

I see many cases of “nervous indigestion” of long standing, in which rational feeding andeliminatingdietsarenotpossible,untilafterafasthaspreparedthewayfor these.Thedoctorwhorejectsfastingcutshimselfofffromamethodthatwouldspellcertainsuccessinmanycasesinwhichthe eliminating dietmeans certain failure. The patient who rejects fasting often dooms himself tocontinuedinvalidism.1amprovingthesethingseverydaybyemployingthefast,withthemosthappyresults,incasesthatseveraldoctorshaveplaceduponeliminatingdietsandfailedtobringaboutevenslightimprovement.

John W. Armstrong, of England, after sixteen years of experience with fasting, says that “anyattempt to tonedown theprinciplesof correct fasting, (by ‘the attempts,’ often successful, ‘to curedisease by fasting’ on the juices of fruits and water, or by vegetable juices and water) oftendisappointsboththefasterandhisadvisers,and,thosenumerous‘failures,’merelyillustratethefollyofrakinggroundthaturgentlyrequiresnotastirring-upbutagooddownrightprolongedsystemofdigging.”Headdsthattoanyonewhohashadopportunitytoobservenumerouscasesonafastandonlight diets, it is very apparent that the patient progressesmuch better on the fast and that the bodyfrequentlyprotestsvigorouslyagainsteventheingestionoffruitjuices.Helistsanginapectorisandother forms of heart trouble, most forms of rheumatism, influenza, phlebitis, dropsy, jaundice,eczema, psoriasis, and diabetes as among conditions in which this is especially noticeable. “Thechronic,so-calledincurableformsofdisease,”hesays,“can—andmostlydo—continuetoflourishuponevensolightadietasfruitjuice,nottomentionwholefruits,milk,andfreshmeat.”

4.Somepatients are compelled to continuewith theirwork.While long fasts have been taken bybothmentalandphysicalworkerswhocontinuedtheiractivitiesduringthefast,thisisnotadvisable,particularly,ifthereisanystrainconnectedwiththementalwork,orifthephysicalworkisheavy.Ashortfastiseasilypossibleforpeoplewhomustcontinuetheirwork.Thismaythenbefollowedbyaneliminatingdiet.Noteveryone,however,cantakeashortfastandcontinueworking.Insuchcasestheeliminatingdietisveryconvenient.

It isworthyofnote the fasting isusuallymucheasier than restricteddiets.The fastproduces lessdiscomfortandthefastingpatientisoftenthestrongerofthetwo.Sinclairsaysthatagainandagainhetriedlightfruitmeals,“butwithalwaysthesameresult:thelightmealsarejustenoughtokeepmeravenouslyhungry,and inevitably I foundmyself eatingmoreandmore.”Healso says thaton the“fruitfasts”hefoundthathe“couldliveonnothingbutfruitforseveraldays,butIwouldgetsoweakthat I could not stand up—far weaker than I ever have become on an out-and-out fast.” These

experiencesofSinclairagreewithmyown.Thefastingpatientsoon losesalldesire for food—thepatienteatinganeliminatingdietdoesnotlosehisappetitebutdoesnoteatenoughtosatisfyit;so,heis alwayshungry. I do not knowhow to explainwhy the patient on an eliminating diet is so oftenweakerthanthefastingpatient,butitisafactIfrequentlyobserve.

DuringWorldWarII,theArmyAirForceconductedaseriesofconnectedwithsurvivalatsea.Menwere put out in liferafts and permitted to remain on these for several days under all the weatherconditions theywere likely to encounter in the event theywere forced down at sea.Each day theywere takenaboard ship for examinations and tests.One38-yearoldofficerwentwithout food andwaterforfourdays,alsorefrainingfromsmokingduringthisperiod.Heissaidtohave“feltnoilleffects,”while, the account adds, “Others on short rations, sufferedmore.”The fact that the fastersuffered less than those on short rations is no surprise to those of us who are experienced withfasting.

5.Inmanycasesitisnecessarytotreatthefamilyandfriendsmorethanthepatient.Inmanycaseswhereafastisplainlyneededandwouldbeofthegreatestgooditisimpossibletogetthepatienttofast,becauseoftheunreasoninganduninformedoppositionoftheothermembersofthefamilyandfromthepatient’simmediatefriends.

Evenshouldthepatientattempttofastdespitethisopposition,thosearoundhimkeephimsoupsetanddisturbedthatheisharmedmorethanhelped.Unlessthispatientcanbecaredforaway,fromtheinfluenceof family and friends, the eliminatingdietwill provemorepractical, even if inferior. Ininstitutionalwork,where patients often come long distances and can be away from theirwork orbusiness for only a limited time, or have but limited funds, they must get results as speedily aspossible.Theycannotspendmonthsoryearsattheinstitutition.

Resultsmaybeachievedbyfastingthatcanbeachievedinnootherwayandresultsmaybeachievedinlesstimebyfastingthanbyanyothermethod.Ifonlythosewhoknownothingoffastingwouldletitalone!WasitnotIngersolwhoprayedtoGodtotakecareofhisfriends,sayinghecouldtakecareofhisenemies?

FoodCuresDietcuresarequitepopularatthistimeandarenowexploitedfromthehousetopsbyallandsundry.

Thereare“grapecures,”“lemoncures,”“orangecures,”“onioncures,”“garliccures,”andsimilarcures,galore.Juicesofallkinds—vegetablejuicesandfruitjuices—simple,mixed(compounded)ineveryconceivablemanner,areurgeduponthesickascuresforalmostalltheillsfleshissubjectto.Foodextracts,foodconcentrates,vitaminpreparations,glandextracts,foodpills,foodpowders,andotherfood-derivedimitationsoftheproductsofthepharmaceuticalhousesaresoldatbigprofitstoacredulous and cure-deluded people. Practically all parts and tissues of the body are bathed in asolutionoffoodandoxygenconstantlyrenewed—thebloodandlymph—whichyieldstofunctioningorgansandgrowingtissuestheelementsneededbythemtosustaintheirspecialactionsandsupporttheirgrowth.Everyfunctionalactandeveryprocessofrepairandgrowthisalocaldemandon thewhole resourcesof thesystem.Theorganor tissue is local, thesupply isgeneralandmobile.Theblood, if normal, contains ample resources to sustain alike all parts and all functions of the body.Healthyindividualsfindnodifficultyinderivingnutritivesupportforalltheorgansandfunctionsoftheirbodiesfromthesamefood.Thismeansthatordinarynaturalfoodscontainamplediversityforallneedsandthatspecialfoodsarenotrequiredtosupportspecialfunctionsorparticularorgans.Ifthesefoodsareadequateforthehealthy,theyareequallyadequatefortheunhealthyandspecialfoods

tosupportweakenedpowers areof slight value.Thepresent feedingplans seek specific foods forspecialorgansorfor“specificdiseases”inthesamewaytheolddruggingplansoughtspecificdrugsforspecialorgansorfor“specificdiseases.”

Foodcuresarebasedontwohalf-truths.Someofthemarebasedonthenotionthatthesickbodyisfullofacidsandthatalkalinefoodsmustbesuppliedtoneutralizetheacids.Foodsrichinbasesareprescribed for this purpose and it is usual to urge their use in large quantities. Two fallacies areinvolvedinthistheoryandpractice.Itisnottruethatthesickbodyisfullofacids.Itistruethatthecellwastesareallacidandacidfermentation-productsdogetintothebodyfromthedigestivetract.But thebodywillnot tolerate acids for a second.They are immediately “bound”with alkalies andneutralized.Theother fallacy is thebelief that thebodyutilizes foodelements inproportion to theamountingested.Thisisnottrue.Forcinglargequantitiesofalkalies into thebodydoesnotassuretheirutilization.Indeed,onemaybepositivethatthesickbodywillnotbeabletoutilizethem.Onlyahealthybody,possessedoffullnerveforce,iscapableofproperlydigestingandassimilatingfoods.Tooverfeedthesickbodyoncertainelementsdoesnotrestorehealth.

DeficienciesThe other half-truth upon which diet cures are based is that “diseases” are due to nutritive

deficiencies,andcurefollowsanadequatesupplyofthedeficientelementorelements.Effortstomeetthis requirement may take the form of drinking large quantities of juices or of using foodconcentrates—substancesrichinmineralsorvitamins.AlloverAmericathegum-willisare talking“deficiency” to the people and all over America there are millions of people who are livingtestimonials to the failure of the theory and the practices built thereon. This is not to deny thatdeficienciesexist;rather,itistopointoutthatmostdeficienciesareduetofailureofassimilationandcanbecorrectedonlybyremovingthecausesthathaveimpairedthenutritiveprocesses.Enervationandtoxemiaandthementalandphysicalhabitsthatareresponsibleforthesearethechiefcausesofdeficiency.

Therearedeficiencies,but theyarealmostneverprimary.Constitutional impairment—enervationand toxemia—is prior to the appearance of the nutritional imbalance. The toxic state is the largefactorandthemineralandvitamindeficienciesaresecondary to this.The truthof this isstrikinglyrevealed in anemia, where the deficiency eliminates the toxemia is followed by immediate andmarked improvement in the bloodwithout any food at all, exceptwater, being given.Goitre alsopresentsastrikingdemonstrationofthisfact.Carebasedonthe“deficiency”theoryisafailure.Carebasedonthetoxemiatheoryisasuccess.

Thegreatobjecttobeachievedistheeliminationoftoxins.Nothingmoreeffectivelypromotestheeliminationoftoxinsthanafastcoupledwithrest.No“eliminative”or“curative”dietcanequalthefastforthispurpose.HereisatruestoryofawomanwhowascaredforintheHealthSchool.Amonghertroubleswerebrittleandcorrugatedfingernails.Shehadbeenassuredthatthistroublewasduetocalcium deficiency and for some time before coming to the Health School had been faithfullyswallowing the calcium preparations that were prescribed for her. She was also using other foodpreparationsthatwereprescribedforher.Nonethelesshernailconditiongrewworseinsteadofbetter.AttheHealthSchoolsheunderwentalengthyfastduringwhichhernailscompletelyrecovered,sothatwhensheleftherealltracesoftheformerdifficultyhaddisappeared.

LessFoodBetterCampbell(1915)says:“Thereisnothingthatcanbefoundasanactualsubstituteforfasting,nothing

whichwillgivethefullbenefitsof thefast.”Heisdiscussingvarioustypesofeliminatingdietsforthosewho“cannotfast.”Amongthesediets,hementionsthegrapediet,theapplediet,thetomatodiet,themilk diet, etc.He says: “I am inclined to the opinion, however, that there are better fruits thangrapes that may be used. An exclusive apple diet is superior, an exclusive orange diet more sobecause there is little nourishment in oranges. An exclusive diet of tomatoes answers the samepurpose”(p.394).

The principle here expressed, that the diet gives better results as it approaches a fast, agreesperfectlywithmyexperienceinthematter.Notonlyisittruethattheless“value”thefoodpossesses,themoregoodthepatientderivesfromitsuse,butitisalsotruethatthelessthepatienttakesofthefoodandthemorenearlyhefasts,themorerapidlyherecovers.Tildenfeddilutedfruitjuicesforanextendedperiodandcametothesameconclusion.

Fruit diets, vegetable diets, juice diets,mono-diets, etc., are valuable in the degree towhich theyreduce the amount of food daily ingested.Their value increases as the total amount of food eatendailydiminishes.The nearer one approaches a complete fast themore good one derives fromhis“curative” diet. In an articlewritten a short timebefore his death and published posthumously,Dr.Tildensays:“Howdofruitspreventcloggingoftheliver,kidney,andskin?Bynotcausingcloggingof these organs. Certainly not through eliminating properties —medicinal qualities. No! Natureeliminates,whengiven anopportunity.Clogging comes from ringing the changes onbread,meat,potatoes puddings, pies, and coffee, until the body is burdenedwithwaste.A fruit diet . . . allowsnature to work in an unobstructedmanner. Every particle of fruit taken when the body is repletehinderselimination.Thisbeingtrue(andIhaveproveditdailyforyearsinactualpractice),thenfruitdoesnotassistelimination,exceptbyitsabsence.Whenused,ithaslessinfluencethantheotherfoodsinpreventing elimination” (p. 556).Consuming large quantities of juicewater-logs the tissues andoverworksthekidneys.Thelessjuiceingested,themorerapidlythesickpersonimproves.

Afastismoreeffectivethananyformofdiet;notbecausefastingcuresforitdoesnothingofthekind,butbecauseitaffordsthebodyfullopportunityforhouse-cleaning.Thesickmanisnotsomuchinneedofingestionasheisofexcretion.Hisbodyisalreadyoverloaded.Moreoftenthanotherwisehe issufferingfromnutritiveredundancy.Abstinence,orpartial abstinencealone, can savehim. Inmanycasesofchronic illness it isnotnecessary toundergoa longfast,ashort fast,oraseriesofshortfaststoobtainthedesiredresults.However,themostsalutaryeffectsofcuttingdownthefoodintakearebestobtainedbyfasting.Allthatisneededinsomecasesistocutdownthetotalquantityoffood consumed and of the proteins and starches in particular. But, even in these cases, the resultsobtainedareneverasfarreachingasthoseobtainedwhilefasting.Thereasonforthiswillbeevidenttothosewhohavementallydigestedandassimilatedthechapterontherejuvenatingeffectsofthefast.

Thatmanydoobtainrelieffromsymptomsbytheuseofthesevariousdietsisnottobequestioned.For,attheirworst,theyareusuallybetterthanthedietcustomarilyeatenandtheiruseusuallymeanslessgluttony,atleast,forawhile.Butthemanofexperienceiswellawarethatfullhealthisalmostneverachieved,thattheeffectsofthedietsareneverasprofoundandfar-reachingasthoseoffastingandthatthedietsalmostneverachievetheirresultsinasshortspaceoftimeasdoesthefast.Usingfoods to cure, insted of removing the causes of disease and using foods to nourish the body, isfundamentallyasunsoundasusingdrugs tocure. Foods do notcure.Untilwe have discarded ourfaith incures, there can be no intelligent approach to the problems presented by suffering and noproperuseoffoodsbythosewhoareill.

Iamnotcontentwithhalf-waymeasures. Ihaveseen themfail toooften,wherea subsequent fastbroughtspeedyresults,tobefooledbytheclaimsoftheinexperiencedandpoorlyinformed.Inmanycases,failurehasbeensomarkedthatthepatienthasbeenpermanentlysoureduponthewholeideaoffasting.Inthusdrawingacontrastbetweenfastingandtheeliminatingdiet,andpointingoutthemanylimitations of the latter, I do not wish to appear to minimize its value. The eliminating diet isextremelyimportantandnodoctor,whodoesnot fullyunderstand theapplicationofsuchadiet, isfullyequippedtoserveallpatientswhomayconsulthim.Heisseriouslyhandicapped justas is themanwhodoesnothaveathoroughworkingknowledgeoffasting.

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