PERFECT HEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 308, 22 September 1908, Page 9

PERFECT HEALTH.

THE FASTINC CURE ACAIN. FURTHER ADVOCACY. (By Mr. Lloyd Jones,) "Perfect Health and How to Obtain It": by Ono Who Has It. (C. C. Haskell.) "Tho Tmo Science of Living, or a Now Gospel of Health," by Dr. E.'H. Dewey. "A'New Era for Woman, or Health Without Drugs," by Dr. E. H. Dewey. "The No-Broakfast Plan and tho Fasting I Curo," by Dr. E. H. Dewey. "The Best Thing in tho World, or Good Health and How to Iteop it for 100 Years," by J. Austin Shaw.' "No Breakfast or tho Secrct of Lifo," by "Gossip," (Sydney). , " Natural Avenues to Health," by H. Cardow (Sydney). . ' "Strength from Eating," by Bernan M'Fadden. "Healthology and Healthopathy" (Tho Fasting Cure, Health Treatment), by Dr. Irving J.-Bales, M.D., Bellville, Illinois. "Tho Fasting Curo," by Dr. Linda B. ■ Hazzard, Seattlo, U.S.A.

Tho foregoing is a collection of books by various authors who have all arrived at the same conclusion on tho subject of health, disease, and its cure. This conclusion may bo summed up in a few words. There is but ono diseaso and ono curo. That ono diseaso shows itself in multitudinous forms, according to the peculiarities of the individual and his hereditary tendencies, but when theso many forms' of diseaso are summed up they mean impure blood, which is tho ono and only disease,'and impure blood, in nearly overy case, arises from ono cause—improper habits of eating and drinking. The one euro is a reform of those habits, and a fast more or less prolonged, according to the severity of tho complaint. . '

.The various writers put forward not only their theories but their experiences, which they, back up with quotations from various other writers and letters from numerous pationts who liavo been cured of all forms of diseaso, some of. them chronic and so-called " incurable " diseases of long standing. " Unnatural and Impossible." At the first mention of the thing to the avorago man or,woman, fasting for tho euro of disease seems unnatural and impossible, and tho cases cited in the various books read more like romanco than sobor rpality,- but from my own personal experience and that of others within my knowledge I am convinced of the absolute truth of all that is stated in.them. As. the. result of these and similar books'there is a great movement going on in various parts of tho world for the reform of tho health of the people. This movement is moro pronounced in tho United, States, where it started, but it has spread to England and several other. European, coun-. tries, and also to Australia and New Zealand. As will bo seen from the list of books, two Australians have written on the subject. " No Breakfast, or the Secret of Life, by " Gossip," is a most entertaining and inspiring littljß book. Most persons have heard of Dr. Tanner, tho original "fasting man," but few porsons nave any idea of why he fasted, or that ho is alive and Well to-day at the'ago of "77 years young."' In " Healthopathy," by Dr. Bales, and m Shaw's " Best Thing in tho World " there.are portraits of Dr. Tanner as ho is now. In the former,thero is a letter from liiiri giving an account of his first fast, which -was undertaken in 1877. At that time he was in desperately bad health, with heart rheumatism and asthma, and many physicians had told him that his case was hopeless, and ho quito,agreed, with them. Dr. Tanner says that ho "had learnt in the, medical schools that ten days' abstinence from food was the limit ;of. human endurance. With tliis, belief in his mind ho" : entered on a fast ." in tho as-, suranco" that'l would in a'.few.days, reach a repose' of mi ff d CM^ 9 ld, up all rights to life, liberty, and -the pursuit' of happiness without regret or rebellion." In other Words, .he proposed." to abandon.lifo by 'starvation. 'Instead of doing this, hejo.und, to. his unbounded surprise,'that every day he 'abstained from food he got better, and he went on for 42 days and was absolutely cured. Two years later ho did another fast of 40 days publicly, and that was 'the fast that was telegraphed about the world, but.tho importance of-the subject was not then grasped, and it was looked ;upon either as a fraud or a phenomenal, performance that it would be foolish for anyone .else, to attempt. | Tho "No Breakfast," Plan. Tho present movement for the reform of general health was,started by Dr. E. H. •Dewey, of Meadville, U.S.A. He prescribed, tho '"No Breakfast Plan" and tho "Fasting Cure" in his practico for upwards of twenty years before it was much known outside his own. town. During all that timO he- was looked upon as-'a crank by bis medical confreres, and he incurred a good deal of opprobrium and persecution for his "starvation'-' methods. About fourteen years ago Dr. Dewey's treatment came under the, notice of Mr. C. C. Haskell, publisher', of Norwich, ' U.S.A. At that timo Mr. -Haskell was ap-parently-on the brink of tho grave. Liko Dr. Tanner, his 'medical advisers had . told him, after eight years of unsuccessful treatment, that thero was hq. hone for him and that he'had better wind up Eis business and await tho end. " Just then a friond who had been cured of nervous dyspepsia by Dr. Dewey came along and told Mr. -Haskell about the fasting cure. Ho immediately adopted j it, with such success-that ho was. rapidly cured. He then, persuaded Dr. Dewoy to write M The True Scienco of Living," and five years.later Mr. Haskell wrote a book himself, "Perfect Health," in which ho explains Dr. [ Dewey's system, and relates his own euro and gradual acquirement of perfect health. In this book are letters from some sixteen doctors who approve of the system, and numerous letters from persons who have been cured ■ by. following it. Dr. Dewey also ' wroto "A Now Era for Woman" and "Tho No Breakfast Plan and tho Fasting Cure." ! The result of tho publication of tliosc books was that, many other doctors looked into the matter. and joined in tho movement, tliough it must bo "admitted thai it .still meets with keen, opposition from tho "orthodox" medical school. In his book "Healthology" Dr. Eales quotes over twenty doctors who prescribe fasting treatment with success. One of the most notable examples is I)r. Linda B. Hazzard, of Seattle, who has published a pamphlet on "Fasting for tho Cure of Disease," and is now engaged in writing a larger book on tho subject. She gained her first light from Dr. Dewey's "Truo .Science," and in the introduction to licr forthcoming book she makes the acknowledgement of this. All science and knowledge aro progressive, and although Dr. Dewey started the movement ho had not attained the knowledge that somo of his followers claim to havo to-day, and Dr. Hamrd says that she lias discovered many things in advanco of Dr. Dowey. She says that she has superintended over 600 cases of long fasts, covering all forms of disease {so-called, as she, like other doctors in this line, maintains that there is only ono disease), ranging from 10 to 75 days. In the course of twelve years she has had eleven patients die during l'asts, and in each case an autopsy has disclosed a fatal disease too far gono to be cured. A Doctor's Fast. Dr. Irving J Eales, of Bellvillc, U.S.A., who has recently written "Healthology," describes his own fast of 31 days, beginning on May 31, 1907, and ending oil July 1. Dr. Eales was.originally a very stout man. At the ago of thirty-four he weighed 2351b5. He became alarmed at his state of health, and set himself to restore health and roduco his weight to normal by reduction of meals and fasting. He says': "Up to about twelvo years ago I . was a heavy eater. I weighed 23o)bs. and had an abdominal circumf .enco of 47 inches, had an irritated stomach, and was threatened with acuto albumcnuria and functional-disease of the heart. I realised that something must bo dono to romovo the mountain of rdiposc tissue that I had accumulated, or I might drop off with heart failure at any moment. What was I to do? I knew that drugs could not help me. I realised, that I must get back to normal weight, give my,vital organs rest, and stop ■the manufacture of fat. I know of no other

way to do this but to stop eating, and stop eating I did.. I, had read of Dr. Tanner's fasts, and decided I would try a few days of his modicinc. Tho result was that I reduced myself by a few short fasts to 1801bs.; my kidneys wero cured, my stomach was normal; I felt physically regenerated, and my waist nioasnro was reduced to 42 inches — in fact, I was well. Since'that date I have indulged in periodical fasts whenever my weight increased to IDOlbs.j always feeling rejuvenated at tho expiration of tho fast. It was a revelation to me, *nd I began using it in my practice, with the result that acuto and chronic troubles that defied the usual methods of medicament yielded in some instances liko magic' as soon as a rest was given to tho stomach, and consequently to tho entire organism." Dr. Eales then found that others wore using tho system with tho same results. Last year Dr. Eules decided to do a 31 days' fast for tho reduction of superfluous flesh, and for scientific purposes, lie gives a daily, record of his weight, tho specific gravity of urine and stato of pulse, and oil many days the stato of his blood. During all this tjmo Dr. Eales kept about his daily practice, and ho performed numerous feats of strength, such as lifting a heavy man and heavy dumbbells over his head. Ho lost no strength during his fast. 110 shows photographs of himself at various stages of tho fast, including ono oil tho SOtli day raising two 501b. dumbbells over his head easily. ' Mr. J. Austin Shaw's "Best Thing in tho World " is mainly a record of his own fast of •45 days. Liko Dr. Eales, Mr. Shaw had been A, stout man, weighing 2501b., and was suffering from several diseases. His eyes were opened by reading Mr. Haskell's " Perfect Health." By a series of fasts, commencing with one of throo days, and increasing by a day each time, in about six months ho reduced his weight to 1701b., and oil tho twomeal plan lived in good health for two years. Ho then found that his weight had gonoup by 271b., and ho determined to reduce it to normal by_ a fast. It is surprising to road that it required a fast of 45 days to do that. Like Dr.- Eales, Mr. Shaw kept about his work as a journalist all tho time, and ho experienced no loss of strength. Two Meals a Day. Mr. Bernan M'Fadden, who writes " Strength from Eating," is a great advocate of tho two-meal plan, omitting breakfast, as a means of increasing strength.' This work is valuable as an outside confirmation of what the doctors quoted say about the valuo of fastiug and abstemious living, and is a complete answer to thoso who raise tho objection that the two-meal plan could not bo suitable for tho man who has to work hard. Dr. Dewey says most positively that it does apply to tho- hard worker, and Mr. M'Fadden confirms this by saying that when ho was training for hard wrestling matches he livod on the two-meal plan, and nover lost a fall; in fact, ho says ho always knew beforehand that ho could beat his opponQiit if lio was a " throe-meal man."

Mr. C. C. Haskell, the writer of "Perfect Health," and the publisher of Dr. Dowey's books, has now been spreading this "New Gospel of Health " for somo 12 or 13 years. Ho lias opened a " Correspondence School of Perfect Health," and has a very large correspondence, spread over a groat part of the world. Somo four years ago I got into touch with Mr. Haskell, and took his series of lessons, and I have been in close correspondence with him ever since.- At that time I was in very poor health, and saw little chances of long life. I adopted the teaching laid down by sill these writers, which is primarily "no breakfast," supplemented by fasts. The result lias been that I have acquired 'very good health, and I have tho assurance of ; a .continual improvement which apparently is to go on indefinitely; in fact, as Mr. Shaw puts it, it is tho " secret of perpetual youth." A Delightful Sensation. There, is. a most delightful sensation of returning youth and activity, and Mr. Haskell tells me that it. will go oil until I feel as well and strong as a young man. That is his own experience. He is 08, and has all tho vigour and activity of a young man, and fife says his strength,is still.,increasing.,. He says, "14 years ago I could-walk very little with tho aid of a stick, - now I do not know anyone who can walk with me."

I have not done any long fasting such as described in the books, but Ihavo done several shorter ones, such as seven, ten, and fifteen days, and these havo proved to mo tho possibility of doing much longer ones if necessary, and I'-know of several cases of long ones, up to 53 days. In a letter from Mr. Haskell, just to hand, he sends mo particulars of two long fasts recently undertaken under the supervision of Dr. Linda Hazzard, of Seattle. One was in tho caso of a lady suffering from the disease symptom known. to mcdicino as "diffuse psoriasis, which, has been under treatment since 1871. When tho lady went to Dr. Hazzard in January of this year, tho patches characteristic 'of the symptom covered at least ono- I third of the surface of tho body, and wero oxuding serous matter, and itching intolerably. The lady fasted for 75 days, and was absolutely cured, and she describes her condition now as' " superb.". Tho other caso was that of a lady suffering from "locomotor ataxia," and was in a most deplorablo condition. After a fast of 22 days "she had entirely regained cdntrol of ovcry muscle, and was in much better physical and mental trim than ever before." - Against Current Idoas. I trust that what I havo written may attract tho notice of all persons who are out of health, and., suffering, especially chronic cases. Mr. Haskell tells me that lie knows of thousands of cases of tho euro of all forms of disease, including even cajicer, by careful attention to living habits coupled with the necessary amount of fasting and, to my mind, tho evidence in favour of it is very conclusive. Of course, I know that fasting such as described •in the various books is quito contrary to all our previous habit of thought, and to orthodox medical teaching. As montioned before, Dr. Tanner had boon taught that ten days' abstinence from fond was the .limit of human endurance, and I understand that is still tho orthodox belief. In "Human Physiology," ' a book largely used in our schools, tho following paragraph appears:— "If a person abstains from food for a few days the body _ rapidly wastes away, until at about tho ninth or tenth day 40 per cent, of it has gone, and death ends tho suffering." The last four words are printed in capitals to emphasise tho truth! Well, I havo three times personally, disproved that statement. During a fast, ono loses weight at the rate of lib. per day, and on each occasion I have lost 101b. in ton days, not 40 per cent, of my weight. This quito agrees with tho experiences related m the books, though an exception is tho caso of Mr. Shaw, who only threw o(f 271b. in forty-, live days, and had then only reduced himself to normal weight. Of course, for serious cases it would bo well for a fast to bo supervised by a doctor, but unfortunately that is not obtainable in New Zealand. As already shown, thero are numerous doctors in America who superviso fasts, dnd for thoso who can afford the expense it is well worth considering whether they should go to Amorica for treatment. I know of ono poison who has gone for that purpose. Of course, in all ordinary cases the sutferor can act for himself, aud everyone can do a series of short fasts which, although taking longer, will usually bring about the samo results as a long one. It is well to read and understand, so that tho sulfercr knows what ho is about. In this matter most decidedly "knowledge is power." Tho man who suffers hunger and dies of starvation alter a few days' absence of food, really dies of ignoranco and fear. If ho had knowledge ho would derive bonolit rather than death from the experience.

Solving Social Problems. As time goes on and this niovemont for a reform in tho habits of tho peoplo spreads, many social questions will bo settled by it. Ono writer says that most persons consume at least double tho amount of food that is necessary to maintain tho body at its best for health and strength, and that many consumo threo or four times too much. Just think what this means to tho average family of small means! I was much struck by ono of tho statcnionts mado by a deputation of "unemployed," who lately waited 011 tho Primo Minister, that they had to iivo "on 0110 meal per day." Of course this was put forward a hardship, but if tho

speaker had only known this might liavo been a blessing instead of a hardship. Of course, in the abscnco of . knowledge, no doubt it was felt to bo a hardship,- but I have lived for three months at. a stretch on ono meal per day from choice, and 1 know of a gontlonian in Wellington who has lived for over two years on ono meal per day, and by that means quite rcstorod his health. It is! therefore, no hardship to livfe on ono meal per day, and, in most cases, would bo a positive benefit. In the case under notice, the speaker was "unemployed," and therefore tho "hard work" question could not arise, and, if ho had only known, ho could have lived very comfortably oil his one meal. Dr. Dewey says that tho drink question Would bo largely solved by "somo scientific living," and that if tho temperanco party would devote their energies to reforming the eating habits of tho people, the drinking habits would bo solved almost automatically, as it is tho habit of overeating which provokes tho craving for liquor. I will conclude by quoting Mr. Haskell, who says if "King Alcohol" slays his thousands, "King Appetito" numbers his victims by millions. LLOYD JONES.