DR. HENRY S. TANNER.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16417, 10 January 1919, Page 5

DR. HENRY S. TANNER.

Dr. Henry S. Tanner, tho worldfamous faster, whose death in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., was announced a few days ago, was a fully qualified doctor of ritetlicino. About forty years ago, while practising his profession in tho city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, his health broke down, and he suffered from a variety of ailments, which all his medical skill and that of his physician friends were powerless to cfrre. He was unable to 'take food without excruciating pain. Consequently he was determined that ho would "starve disease out," and, if necessary, would accept death rather than existence 6Uch as his was at the time. . He fasted thirty days, the first two weeks of winch lie went _ without water, although ho rinsed his mouth from time to time. His _ medical brothers were astounded that life could be sustained in those circumstances, and were still more amazed that the doctor was able to attend to his patients. After the sixteenth day water was taken as desired, and the doctor records that he gained five pounds in weight in four days at this time. The medical profession has always doubted the accuracy of this fast, and of the I later one that 3>r. Tanner underwent. At the end ol' thirty days of abstinence, while walking along the_ street, the doctor saw a water-melon displayed in a fruiterer's shop, and he bought the same, and broke his fast by eating the whole melon. He found his health immeasurably benefited by his fasting, and he at onco began to apply his personal experience to the caseß under tois care. Several years later, the doctor offered himself as a subject for scientific investigation concerning the value of fasting for the cure of disease to the medical societies of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, agreeing to fast forty days in order to prove his contentions, in order to permit the various symptoms to be recorded and tabulated scientifically. This offer was refused by the Minnesota societies, and it was then made to the Medical Society of the City of New York. They accepted. The test which the doctor underwent in New York City was most strenuous, for he was virtually confined under guard in one room for forty days. However, while weight was progressively lost at the rate of about one pound daily, energy evidently did not suffer, but rather increased aB. the days went by. It is recorded that public interest was so great that- Dr. Tanner appeared daily in a large hall where the crowds could be accommodated. A quizzing reporter got into argument with the doctor, making the usual assertion that it was impossible to keep up stiength without eating. Dr. Tanner finally said: "Here _ have I been for several years a semi-invalid, suffering from all kinds of disease, and now I have been fasting for two weeks. You are young, healthy, strong, and vigorous. I will just take a drink of water, and then I will run you a race around this hall, and we shall see who can endure the longest and go the farthest." The reporter accented the challenge with confidence, and the race began amid much amusement that Dr. Tanner could be so foolish as to pit himself against so healthy a person. It did not tako long to turn amusement into amazement, for the doctor so speedily and easily outran his competitor, and the reporter so laboured, puffing .and blowing in his distress, that the race went without question to Dr. Tanner. Dr. Tanner died at tho ripe 'age of 92. For many years past he has been practising his profession without the. use of drugs in the city of Los Angeles, California. Always he has been identified with religious questions, and, in addition to his life work, ho lectured upon Biblical historv and Biblical ethics. Since his departure from orthodox methods of practice. Dr. Tanner lived advocating fasting for tho cure of disease, and he was in many respects taboo by* the medical profes- . sion.