Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1887 — Still Living and Still Fasting. [ARTICLE]

Still Living and Still Fasting.

Mary Baker, of Monon township, White county, was still living at the latter part of last week, with prospects.fair for many days continued existence, If still living her wonderful existence without food has lasted more than one hundred days. The Monticeilo, Hei'ald has the following descrip, tion of this remarkable case.

Mary Baker, the fasting girl of Monon township, has now been practically without food for the remarkable period of ninety-five days. She is helpless but entirely conscious except at intervals when she is visited with convulsions. The only indication of approaching death is the gradual loss of strength. Her temperature is normal and the heart’s action strong, though somewhat quickened. She complains of a pain in the left breast, near the heart, which is relieved only by pressure. Her attendants state that the quantity of morphine, which is given hyperdermically, has been reduced from a grain to one-eighth of a grain at a dose, and is administered as the patient requests it. While it is true that efforts have been frequently made to give Miss Bakeu food by the mouth and otherwise, a physician who visited 5 the lady last Sunday says that frppa the accounts given him by those who have been near the patient constantly, he does not th|nk she has during the fast of more than three months received the nourishment that an ordinary meal’s victuals would afford. She is perfectly rational, but js only able to converse in a whisper. A large number of persons have visited the place during the past ten days, among whom have been many resident physicians, and all come away impressed with the fact that the statements concerning the girl are true, and the case is indeed a most remarkable one. The do-

eline of TitallfyTias been so gradual as to be scarcely perceptible and at the present writing theie is every indication that life will not be extinct for many days, though medical men say that death is iuevitable iu the near future.