UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ^ . . FOUNDED 1836 WASHINGTON, D. C. GPO 16—67244-1 nrnmrnrmnifflnrmm AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXTRAORDINARY ABSTINENCE OF ANN MOOR, OF Staffordshire, WHO HAS, FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, LIVED ENTIRELY WITHOUT FOOD ; \ GIVING The Particulars of her Life to the present time, AN ACCOUNT OF TTTm'1 f."~rtT>^ THE INVESTIGATION —~ Instituted on the occasion, j ^J f Observations on the letters of some Medical Men wEoattended it ALSO OTHER SIMILAR CASES OF ABSTINENCE, ETC. the first American,Jrom the second English edition. — «» — PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY JOSEPH SHARPLESS, MOUNT PLEASANT, HALF A MILE ABOVE CALLOWHILL STREET, ON THE RIDGE ROAD. ^1 #*' ADVERTISEMENT. THE very rapid sale which the first edition of this small Pamphlet has met with, and the pressing orders daily receiv- ed from many of the Booksellers for fur- ther supplies, have induced the Author to publish a Second edition, which he has carefully corrected, and also made some additions thereto. August 1809. 3 INTRODUCTION, MANY erroneous reports having been circulated respecting this wonderful phenomenon, the author was impressed with an idea, that a small publication, giv- ing a true statement of the case, would not be unac- ceptable to the public. Under this impresssion, he has been induced to publish the following particulars, which he thinks will tend to remove the doubts still existing in the minds of.many individuals. The facts herein related, are authenticated in such a manner as not to leave room for the smallest shadow of doubt; nor does it contain a single assertion for which he has not the best authority. At a time like the present, when prejudice is so very prevalent with mankind, even with people the most respectable, it is no easy matter to convince them of so extraordinary an occurrence. Incredible how- ever as it may appear to those who have not before heard of it, he can assure them from the best testimo- nies that it is no less true than wonderful. Many amongst those who have been told of the circumstance, especially those who. do not live in the immediate neighbourhood of the woman, still discre- dit it, and remain unconvinced even now; yet the author is inclined to think, that such persons have not been sufficiently informed of every circumstance rela- tive thereto, or surely they would not be so obstinate a 2 vi INTRODUCTION. as to deny facts, that have the authenticity of men of the first respectability, amongst whom are several in the medical profession. Mr. Taylor, a respectable medical gentleman, who undertook to investigate the affair, is a man of strict scrutiny; he used every means to detect her, and had she been guilty of deceit, it were impossible that it, could have escaped his penetration. He, like others, was at first prepossessed with a strong pre- judice against her, which nothing but the most con- vincing proofs could have removed. He was so con- fident in his own mind, that it was an imposition, that he went with the intent of discovering the cheat, and punishing the impostors: however, he had not been there more than two days, before he began, in some measure, to relax from his suspicions. Her willingness to submit to every thing that he proposed, and even consenting to be removed from her own house to another; which was procured (in order the more effectually to carry on the investigation), were circumstances much in her favour. So very strict was he, that he suffered no person of her acquain- tance to come near her, and during the watch which continued for sixteen days and nights (of which I shall hereafter give an account) no person was allow- ed to attend, but such as discredited the fact; and by this means it was more in his power to convince the public of her innocence, which at that time very few even in the same town would believe; but since the investigation there is scarcly one person in or near Tutbury, but is well assured of the truth of the wo- man's assertions. This is not the first instance of the kind that has taken place within this last century, the INTRODUCTION. vii circumstances attending which may tend to convince many who at this time disbelieve the present case ; as prejudice is generally stronger against an unpre- cedented occurrence, than where something of a simi- lar nature has before been heard of. I will therefore bring forward two instances of equally extraordinary cases of abstinence, related in the Philosophical Trans- actions : "In the year 1724, John Fergusson, of Killmel- foord, in Argyleshire, overheated himself in the pur- suit of cattle on the mountains, drank largely of cold water, and fell asleep. He slept for four-and-twenty hours, and waked in a high fever: ever since his sto- mach loathed and could retain no kind of aliment but water. A neighbouring gentleman (Mr. Campbell) to whom his father was tenant, locked him up for twenty days, supplying him daily with water, and taking care that he should have no other foood; but it made no difference either in his look or strength; at the age of thirty-six (when the account was sent to the Philosophical Society) he was of a fresh com- plexion, and as strong as any common man." " Gilbert Jackson, of Carse-Grange, Scotland, about fifteen years of age, in February 1716 was seiz- ed with a violent fever, which returned in April for three weeks, and again on the 10th of June; he then lost his speech, his stomach, and the use of his limbs, and could not be persuaded to eat or drink a, thinking it might perhaps agree better with her; but she soon discontinued it, and re- took to the former. Her strength has gradually de- creased, though her spirits keep their usual standard, and are seldom affected. She is particularly suscep- tible of cold, and perspiration is frequently obstructed from the slightest causes. Her head and left side are never free from pain, so that she has no sound sleep ■%ht or day. In this deplorable condition, without scarcely a friend in the world, she continued, labouring under the greatest distresses; she had not even sufficient clothes to cover her bed, and during the winter of 1807 she had not the least fire to warm her room, which must be extremely cold, the snow and rain beating through the tiles, &c. The conduct of several medical gentlemen in the neighbourhood, whose opinions had complete sv/ay over the minds of the inhabitants of Tutbury, render- ed it a necessary act of self-defence for her, to wish for an investigation of the fact which she asserted. Most of the medical gentlemen alluded to, had no other reason for their assertions than the conclusions they immediately made on feeling her pulse, which ihty all maintained were too strong and natural for a person in the situation she pretended to be. Every idle tale was laid hold of, in order if possible, to con- firm her guilt, such as her sending to buy jallop, using 17 bacon, being overheard at tea, changing the shop where she was reported to have bought these things, on the messenger being interrogated whom they were for, &c. &c. Upon reflection it is surprising that people should have been guided so far by their prejudices,*as to suffer these trifling circumstances, even had they been true, to operate so powerfully in their minds, against the wo- man, whose guilt had never betrayed itself by a single inconsistency of self-contradiction, to the invincible incredulity of hundreds of sceptical enquirers; nor been confused into detection by the enquiries and ex- amination of the most respected medical men. Her piety, however, was the means of still preserving her one advocate in the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, to whom she often expressed a wish that such an investigation might be made as would satisfy every one beyond a doubt. In consequence of which Mr. H. consented, and Mr. Taylor was engaged to come from Lane-End for that purpose. It is said that on the day of his arrival (which was on Monday the 12th of Sept. 1808) Nanny's daughter passed under the window of the room where he was, several times, from which circumstance it was immediately suspected that a timely elopement of the accomplices was about to take place, and would save them any further trouble on the occasion, but these suspicions proved to be groundless. She was waited upon by Mr. T. the same evening at her own house, where he found two young women, who were suspected of being her accomplices. Alter using very severe language in order to strike them more forcibly, and to let them know he was not to be B 2 18 imposed upon, her voice appeared affectedly faint, but her countenance did not show the least signs of confusion, her pulse at that time were about 74 in a minute. Although these were circumstances rather against her, there were other arguments which tended to confirm^her assertions, viz. the extremely emaci- ated state of her body, and the pleasure which both she and the women expressed in what was about to be done; also the woman's willingness to submit to any thing that was thought necessary for the satisfac- tion of the public. The young women being asked if they would consent to her being removed to another house, at first hesitated, saying that it would be very likely to kill her; but Nanny perceiving that people would immediately construe this into a confession of imposture, cheerfully said that they might do with her whatever was thought proper, for she should consider herself perfectly safe under the hands of Mr. T. The young women then expressed great pleasure, and hoped that they should soon be clear of the unfounded charges that were laid against them, and more especially as his conduct seemed to be more liberal than many others of his profession who had before seen her, and without searching minutely into the case, pronounced their opinions against her, thus leaving • her to the virulence of her enemies, many of whom, I am inclined to think, were more set against her on account of her religious principles, than their own incredulity; which argument I am compelled to bring forward on the evidence of their imputing to the woman, a depth of artifice far more improbable than the simple fact which she asserts and raaintains. On the same evening Mr. T. went a 19 second time by surprise, and overheard the language of persons regaling themselves in Nanny's room: he immediately required to be admitted, which was in- stantly complied with. On his entrance, he requested every person to leave the woman: her daughter was in bed with her; however, she covered herself imme- diately, and with Hannah Birch (the person who was most constantly with her) went out into a neighbour's house. When Mr. T. was left alone with the woman, he examined the room, and found a bason of milk and a slice of bread, and likewise saw.many crumbs about Nanny's bed, where Birch had been eating her supper. These circumstances operated very powerfully on the mind of Mr. T. and he in the most solemn and impres- sive manner addressed himself to her on the occasion. But the serenity of her countenance remained un- changed, not the least sign of confusion appeared, and she heard him with the most affecting humiliation and meekness. No account, fabricated or true, could es- tablish an evidence against her greater than that which Mr. T. here witnessed himself. And what did that prove ?—nothing, unless it was the woman's simplicity; since it very plainly shows, that she took no pains to prevent suspicions, nor any care to confute the preju- dicial reports that were spread against her. It is well known that, before the investigation, she had abundant opportunities to eat, but that she did eat, no individual has been able to assert, on any other ground than his own supposition. She having consented to be removed, Mr. T. went round the town to procure a number of the most re- spectable inhabitants for the watch, and he made it his first principle to expunge those who, in his opinion, 20 were in the least degree liable to be imposed upon, or of a disposition that might be suspected would connive at imposture. He admitted no persons but such as most vehemently objected to the verity of the fact. In short, he himself thinking that she would be found an impostor, left no means untried that might be of use to prove her such. Mr. H. Jackson having a thorough knowledge of the inhabitants, took upon himself the trouble of setting the watch; and he being of the most invincible incre- dulity, was well qualified for the purpose. When it was known that Nanny had been under watch for forty hours, and was challenging the investigation, great numbers of people, merely from curiosity, came to offer their service, so that there was not the least difficulty in procuring a sufficient number for the pur- pose. The principal care that remained to Mr. Jack- son, was the matching of people of different qualifica- tions together, in such a manner, as to afford a greater security, and that the watch should be constantly and faithfully kept. In order to which, such as man and wife, brother and sister, &c. W'ere never suffered to attend at the same time, nor any persons that were likely to be influenced in her favour.* The watch was generally changed every four hours, and for further satisfaction, placards were stuck up in different parts of the town, announcing, " This is to maintain, that Ann Moor has taken no nourishment since Teusday afternoon at three o'cloek, and is truly and constantly watched. All persons are hereby chal- * As a further satisfaction to the reader, a list of names of the persons who attended the watch, is given at the end of this narra- tive. 21 lenged to disprove the fact, and may watch for them- selves, during the further period of time that shall by medical consultation be determined to establish the same." On Teusday the 13th of September she was remov- ed to the house of Mr, Jackson, who was a most de- cided objector to the woman's veracity, and who suf- fered her to come to his house merely that the impos- ture, as he thought it, might be brought to light, and the woman meet the exposure and punishment due to her hypocrisy. Thus by going there she lost, had it been a cheat, the only and last opportunity of self- defence. Separated from the persons who had been suspected of aiding her in the imposture; surrounded on all sides by enemies, and in the house of one as 'much or more so than any of the rest—what resource had she?—none. An exposition was inevitable, had she been an impostor. Nothing but the consciousness of her own innocence could have urged her to challenge such an investigation. It was thought by many, that Nanny would go into fits on her removal, but not the least symptom was dis- covered ; she bore it much better than could have been expected, and appeared very cheerful and talkative. The watch began to sit on the afternoon of her re- moval, at three o'clock; her pulse at that time were very weak, and about 68 in a minute; her spirits wrere also a little depressed. The day after, she had a slight fever, which was probably occasioned by taking cold in passing through the open air on her removal; it caused her pulse to be considerably increased. Dur- ing the first three days of her examination she swal- lowed about an ounce and half of water, but Mr. T« 22 happening to come into the room whilst she was swallowing some, and observing the misery it gave her, and the violent rising of the wind resisting its pas- sage, he dissuaded her from taking any more. She followed his advice, and found every effect for which she drank the water, answered by wiping her mouth out with a moistened rag, and has never ventured to swallow any liquid since. At the time of the investi- gation she usually rendered about a pint of urine in two days, which was of a strong offensive smell. Her pulse were from 72 to 82 in a general way, but have at particular times been both higher and lower than that number, yet always as strong and with as much regularity as people in health. Micturition took place sometimes towards the latter end of the watch, only once in two or three days or more, and in less quanti- ties, giving her considerable pain. She continued evi- dently in better health than at the time of her removal, and has (except now and then) made water and perspir- ed freely as persons in health do; and only for a few inconveniences, might be said to be in perfect health herself. On Thursday afternoon, the first week of the watch, Mr. Birch, surgeon, at Barton-under-Needwood, visit- ed her, at which time a very minute examination of her body took place, and having since seen her myself, I agree with both that gentleman and Mr. Taylor, in pronouncing her form to be the most wonderful phe- nomenon ever witnessed. She is certainly the most emaciated creature that ever existed, though she has less of the facies hipocratica* than is common to con- * Facies hipocratica, is, when the nostrils are sharp, the eyes hollow, the temples low, the tips of the ears contracted, the fore- head dry and wrinkled, and the complexion pale and livid. 23 sumptive patients.—There is no appearance of any entrails in the abdomen, or lower belly; all the parts appear to be drawn up and lost under the breast-bone and ribs. The spine may, without much pain to the woman, be easily felt by pressing your hand upon the abdomen. The aorta, or great artery which rises im- diately out of the left ventricle of the heart, may be pressed towards the spine, and by holding the integu- ments across it, with the thumb and finger, its pulsation and circumference may be easily perceived. She measures round the hips 30 inches, round the loins (without compression) 26| inches, and over the breast 28f inches. The watch continued until the 27th of Sept. that day being the sixteenth which she had been constantly attended day and night. It was now the fourteenth month of her total abstinence from all food, and the thirteenth day of her being without even water, and she said, that she felt herself stronger and better than she had been for more than a week back, and remained as chatty and cheerful as ever. In the afternoon of Thursday the 29th, continuing well, she was removed to her former habitation. From this time she continued much the same as she tiad been during the investigation, except a gradual diminution of her strength. On a visit which I made in March,* this present year 1809, I found her in • Sinee my visit in March last, some trifling alterations have taken place, which I will briefly relate:—She has now (July 1809) no kind of evacuation whatever, except by insensible perspiration; she cannot with ease lie down in bed, therefore is always in a re- clined posture! In my former pages, I have omitted the circum- stance of her taking snuff, in which she indulges herself pretty freely. Her spirits continue much the same, and she is equally talkative and cheerful. 24 spirits and health, much as usual, though her strength was considerably diminished: she has not power now to move her legs without assistance, and all the parts of her body below the hips appear to her as if they were dead. On raising herself up (which she does by the strength of her arms) these parts give her a sen- sation, as if some heavy substance was fastened to her. The quantity of urine had also considerably lessen- ed ; the length of time between the periods of micturi- tion gradually increased, so that when I saw her last, it had not taken place for sixteen days; and was then involuntary, and in such small quantities as scarely to be perceived. She has almost continual gatherings in her head, which she thinks in some measure is the cause of a perpetual head-ach, that she is afflicted with. It is remarkable, that these kind of abscesses which form in her head, are always preceded by shivering fits, resembling the ague, from which indication she can foretel their approach. She has for some time past discontinued the use of moistened rag, which she used to w7ipe her mouth with, as she never fe^ls any occasion for it. Her mouth has always a sufficiency of saliva to keep it in a proper state of moisftre, but never so much as to occasion her to swallow. She cannot endure people in the room who have taken the smallest quantity of malt or spirituous liquors; the fumes of their breath affect her in such a manner, as to cause a giddiness in her head like that felt by a person in liquor, attended with violent sickness and illness; yet the fumes of smoaking tobacco do not in the least a^ect h<.:'-, 25 Thus it appears, that she has not taken the least par- ticle of solid food since June 1807, nor any kind of liquids since October 1808. I have now given all the particulars that are worthy of notice, from the beginning to the present period of her existence. Such an extraordinary instance has never been before established with proofs so undeni- able. This is a living fact, which continues to excite the greatest curiosity. To account for the means by which the animal func- tions are carried on in this woman, is a task which al- most sets physiology at defiance. All the opinions that can be brought forward concerning it, are but con- jectural: the following probably may be as rational as any that have been yet adduced. From the ex- tremely emaciated state of her body, and the length of time she has been without any kind of aliment, it is impossible that she can have any internal source, from whence a supply of the necessary juices can be obtained. Air seems to be the means by which life is still maintained, as she cannot endure without a fresh current of it continually admitted into her room, for which purpose the chamber window is always open, even in the coldest weather. It is well known, that the atmosphere is not a simple substance, but composed of different principles which may be analyzed. 27 parts of oxygen and 75 of azote constitute atmos- pheric air, which is the common recepticle of all that can be reduced to vapour at the various degress of tem- perature and pressure, containing an assemblage of mineral, vegetable, and animal matters, from the earth. c 26 Water,* in particular, is absorbed in great quantities, and remains in a state of vapour, which is impercep-, tible to the eye. Indeed the air is never free from some portion of it, which may be known by taking a glass tumbler that is perfectly dry, into a warm room, and putting therein some cold water from the pump, you will immediately see the water which was contain- ed in the air, condensed and fall upon the outside of the glass. Chymists have ascertained that hydrogen is the basis of animal fat (or rather oil, while the body is living, as its caloric or heat preserves it in a state of fluidity). Therefore when we consider the quantity of hydrogen that abounds in the atmosphere, as well as the large portion contained in water, is it not probable that the woman (by some process of the animal eco- nomy, produced by means of hydrogen) collects from the decomposition of both, a sufficient quantity of ani- mal oil to preserve the body in existence ? • Water is composed of 85 parts of oxygen and 15 of hydrogen. 27 Names of the Persons who composed the Watch. Mr. Thomas Allen Elizabeth Tipper Miss Davenport Mr. John WoodrufFe — H. Jackson Susanna Smith Miss H. Butler Mr. Charles Allen Miss M. Tabberer Mr. J. Jackson, Jun. — Barker Miss M. Cox Mr. W. Greatorex Ann Yates. Mr. J. J ackson, Sen. Mrs. Ann Jackson Mrs. Dodsworth Mr. T. Greatorex Hannah Gascoin Mr. Robothara Ann Dorraan Mr. Herbert Allen Miss M. Jackson Mr. Swan, Sen. Miss M. Twogood Mr. R. Hanson, Sen Miss R. Twogood Mr. George Hanson John Gaseoin Mrs. Greatorex Mr. Pratt Sarah Coates Mr. Hitchcock — R. Smith Hannah Greatorex Miss S. Cox Mr. S. Higgin — W. Swan Mrs. Pratt Samuel Robinson Sarah Ford Mr. H. Swan, Jun. Elizabeth Leedham Mr. Wetton Mrs. Arthurs Mr. VV. Hanson Miss R. Cox Francis Stretton Jane Mottram Mr. T. Arthurs Miss M. Lort Mr. C. Dodsworth Mrs. Martin Mr. Jackson — S. Jackson — Eason — R. Hanson, Jun. Sarah Wright Mr Cockran John Ford Miss E. Knowles Mrs. Emery Joseph Madkin Mr. R. Emery . Mrs. Chamberlain Mr. Emery Hannah Wain Mr. Edward Kilburn Ann Owen James Tipper Ann Clarke Thomas Tipper Mr. Lort Mrs. VVooley Mr. VV. Holbrook Mrs. Archer — Hatchett Thomas Scotton Mr. Eley Miss Moor Mrs. Cooper Francis Leedham Mary Mingan Miss E. Butler Mr. Lees Miss Langley William Allen Mary Beeson James Pratt Mrs. :-jherratt Dan. Greatorex Elizabeth Scotton Thomas Salt Sarah S.alt Anthony Buxton Sarah Coates John Wain John Cooper. Mary Swain Mr. J. Wooley Mrs. Jackson Mr. J. Holbrook Mrs. Hitchcock Mr. John Higgin Miss Knifton John Stonestreet William Yates Miss E. Sheatnons Mr. Shipton Mrs. Slatham James Hall Mary Taylor Thomas Hanson Peter Bawn Elizabeth Tipp Emma Ford Charles Allen. 28 The following are exact copies of the two statements alluded to in page 14, under the latter of vhich are placed a few occasional remarks. " To the Editors of the Medical and Physical Journal. 11 Gentlemen, " Though I have declined the practice of my profession, I shall ever consider it my duty to pro- mote its interests, and to contribute the mite which Providence may put in my way for the good of soci- ety, and the advancement of science. I trust I am solely actuated by this principle in eliciting, through the medium of your liberal miscellany, the opinions and theories of my medical brethren, on the remark- able facts which I have been engaged to ascertain. There is now living in the village of Tutbury, in Staffordshire, a woman named Ann Moor, in whom nature appears to have established a mere circulating recumbent life, without the usual essential of nutrici- ous juices. It appears from her asseverations, which I am compelled to admit on the subsequent testimony of actual demonstration, that this striking variety of constitution has been the work of many years. The consistency of her whole narration, as to the main fact, is itself a forcible evidence of her integrity. But I have taken pains to give it all the confirmation that a human circumstance could admit, or the most determined incredulity suggest. All the persons for- merly about her, have been removed, and she has been taken to the house of a most decided objector to her veracity; and two persons in succession have watched day and night. Placards have been stuck up, main- taining these facts ; and the sceptical invited to witness or take part in the investigation. " It has been announced in the Derby paper, and the medical men of that place acquainted with it, both by letter and personal interview. But as to evidence, I need net affirm further, than that it has not left an individual in the place unsatisfied, and remains at this 29 time a notorious fact, that continues to invite the inqui- ry, and challenges disproof before all the world. She had been declining in health a long time, and thinks she had not been an hour free from pain in her left side for nine years previous to her first attack of Anorexy ; which she imputes to her washing out the linen of a person affected with scrofulous ulcers; in consequence of which she lost all desire of food, and yielded her work on> the 4th of November, 1806. From that time till March, the amount of sustenance taken did not ex- ceed the ratio of | ft per diem, her strongest drink being tea, but without milk or cream; whatever she took, recalled to her imagination the strong smell of corruption, which at first disordered her; and the slimy matter which she frequently vomited up from the mere recurrence of the idea, seemed to have the appearance and scent that had offended. " In March, 1807, she was afflicted with strong fits, which usually left the cramp in her stomach; to reme- dy which she drank boiling hot gruel, which, though it scalded her lips, had no disagreeable effect on her stomach; and any thing of inferior heat gave a sense of cold, and caused rigors. She first took to her bed for a continuance, on the 14th of April 1807. " On the 20th of May following, she attempted to swallow a bit of biscuit, which was immediately reject- ed with dreadful vomiting, and blood. " In the latter end of June, she took the last sub- stance she ever swallowed, being a few black currants. Her lust evacuation, (e recto) was by diarrhoea, and took place on the 3d of August. Since which time, she has fallen off also in the quantity of fluids, omiting to take any (at times) two days together. Her common tea has been once varied for onion tea. Her strength she allows to have decreased, but her spirits and mental energy never have, though she is frequently taking cold from the slightest causes. Nor is her head ever free from pain. 30 " In the course of the first three days of the inves- tigation, she swallowed in the whole about ^ i ft of water; but happening to step into the room while she was swallowing it, the extreme misery of deglutition, and the violent rising of wind resisting its passage to a degree that almost seemed to threaten suffocation, induced me to dissuade her from taking any more, while the experiment that was to vindicate her vera- city continued. She has followed my advice, and finds every good effect attained from the occasional cleansing her mouth with a moistened rag; as the for- mer object had been only to relieve her of a sickly iaintish taste in the mouth. There has lately been a slight appearance of the menses, which she had thought completely to have ceased. She renders an average of a pint of urine in two days, which is very offensive, and of a high colour; and her skin is always moist. But the greatest phenomenon is her extreme emaciation, though she has less of the facies hipo- cratica than is common to consumptive patients, and is remarkably cheerful and urbane, possesses a far greater stock of ideas and intelligence than is to be found commonly in her sphere of life. Her circum- ference, measured round the loins, is 204 inches, across the chest 28$, and across the hips 30 inches. There is scarcely the trace of any viscus to be felt in the abdomen; the bladder, uterus, and its appendages, are sunk beneath the arch of the pubes, and every thing else (that might be) is drawn up under the ribs, so that it cannot be perceived. From the lowest rib, the integuments, descending to the ossa illii form an empty cord-like folding, and at the umbilicus the fla- cid parietes abdominis may be readily rubbed over the lumbar vertebrae, and no kind of substance felt to intervene. The grand trunk of the aorta may be traced by the finger from the place most immediately under the ensiform process of the sternum, where the loose integument is drawn down upon it, nearly to its bifur- 31 cation. It may be drawn a little from its situation over the spine, and thus by holding the skin across it with my thumb and finger, I have been able to make it appa- rent to the bye-standers, as they thus saw both its shape and pulsation. " The watches have been faithfully kept, and (what- ever may have wrought the difference if it exists) she says she thinks she is better and stronger than she has been these six months, and is certainly improved in health since her removal; her pulse has kept the standard of health, with daily exacerbations. She sleeps well, and enjoys a remarkably serene and happy mind. Her voice is strong, and holds out the full female exercise of that faculty. Her muscular power is such, that she can conveniently raise and support herself in bed. Thus, Gentlemen, the watch sitting at the time that I write this (which must cease to-mor- row, as I engaged to see the woman safely returned to her habitation before I returned home) it is now the 16th day that she has been under the strictest scrutiny; and the thirteenth day that she has abstained from all fluids. She is now better in health than when the examination was instituted; and as far as from the corroborating testimony of this evidence her veracity may be admitted, the 14th month that she has subsist- ed altogether without aliment. " I have simply stated facts, which, in the hands of the exalted Lovers of Physiology that read your Jour- nal may be in the way of rendering that assistance to Philosophical Research, which will amply remunerate my labour. I would forbear myself offering any the- ory, being confident of my incompetence, and that even the pursuit of such an object would rather lessen the- validity in the eyes of men of science, of what might have been better established by a fair and unbiassed narration. But in committing this to your care for publication, I shall anxiously wait for instruction from 32 •thers, in the channel through which it has so often flowed to me. I am, &c. ROBERT TAYLOR." Lane-End, Staffordshire, Member of the Royal College of Sept. 28, 1808. Surgeons, London. " Further 'Account of the Case of Ann Moor, in a Letter addressed to Dr. Denman. " Sir, " Had Mr. Taylor told me of his intention to send an account of Ann Moore to you for immediate publi- cation,* I might have supplied him with some further information respecting her case.f But as he did not, and as I saw her daily during the time of his investiga- tion, and made my own observations, I take the liberty of sending you the following statement, requesting you to publish it, if you think it deserving of a place, in the Medical Journal. " When I was first informed of the situation of Ann Moor, I must confess my suspicion that the report arose from some fraudulent motive; one of those won- derful histories sometimes obtruded upon the public, • This does not appear to be correct; Mr Taylor certainly did inform Mr. Allen of his intentions, previous to his sending Ann Moor's case to the Medical Journal, and that too in the presence •f Mr. Bott. Mr. A. most probably has forgot this circumstance. t It is much to be regretted that Mr. Allen, if he is possessed of the further information which he speaks of, should keep it back ; as every circumstance relative to so extraordinary an afl'air must certainly be both interesting to the public and useful to science. Why then has he omitted to state these particulars of the case in question ? It is very evident that Mr. A's letter does not contain the least additional information, but on he contrary, is very far short of being so correct a statement as ihe former; from which considera- tion I am inclined to think, that such further information wa» never in Mr. A's possession. 33 which on examination are found to be void of truth. But I am now convinced, that the account of her extra- ordinary abstinence is perfectly true; because, she could not have carried on the deception without the as- sistance of many other people, and because many other persons, of whose understanding and veracity there is no reason to doubt, must have been the first dupes of any imposition. But the suspicion of any intention to deceive was out of the question, by her being put under the strict watch, for sixteen days, of several persons, two at least of whom were always present with her. " Ann Moor is about 58 years of age, of a slender make and fair complexion. She has been married many years and has had several children, the youngest of which is 12 years old. I have frequently attended her, but never observed any thing peculiar in her ailments. She was subject to pulmonic complaints, but the last time I attended her, before her present illness, was in February 1805; the medicines she took were merely intended to relieve constipation of the bowels. I saw nothing of her for two years previous to this illness; nor did I ever hear a word of the story of her washing foul linen, or of her swallowing scalding hot gruel, till I read of them in Mr. Taylor's paper. These we may allow to be somewhat exaggerated by a person who does not wish to deduct from the very extraordinary circumstances of her case; but with men of sense and judgment, they will not lessen the credibility of the most important parts of the account.* * It is easy to account for Mr. A's ignorance on this head, since he acknowledges that he had not seen the woman for two years previous to her illness; and when he did see her, the violent ex- pressions which he uttered against her were not likely to induce her to inform him of these matters, as she well knew that he would discredit every word she said. If Mr. A. will take the trouble to question her respecting these circumstances, he will find that there has not been any exaggoation made by Mr. T. but that he has merely related what came from her own lips, and which she still asserts to be facts —From the abundant opportunities Mr. T. had of making obseivations during the time of the investigation, and 34 ■*4 When the guard was set over Ann Moor for six- teen days, for the express purpose of detecting any fal- lacy, if any were practised, in the first four days she certainly took no one thing, except about two ounces of water, and in the remaining twelve days she took not a particle of any thing, either fluid or solid; nor from that time to the present 15th day of November, a period of eight weeks. She constantly begs not to be urged to take any thing, as the attempt to swallow gives her grievous pain, from (as she supposes) the wind in her stomach resisting its passage. Happily the poor crea- ture has not the least inclination or appetite to eat, nor any thirst. " She has passed no faeces since the month of August 1807, though a little wind now and then escapes. She has during that time voided her urine once in three or four days, and it has always a strong scent, and is of a high colour. Its quantity may generally be estimated at half a pint in twenty-four hours. u Ann Moor asserts, that for more than a year and a half, she has not taken any other nourishment than a little common tea without either milk or sugar; and this assertion is confirmed by the testimony of two young women who have lived with her. " Her countenance is fresh and animated, and her voice strong; and in the course of the sixteen days, when she was watched, I never observed her pulse to vary more than three or four strokes from 80 in a mi- nute. " The changes produced in the external appearance of Ann Moor, seem to be just such as might be ex- of hearing her repeatedly reJate every particular concerning her ill- ness, it is very improbable that he should state any thing erroneous respecting her; therefore whether Mr. A. was informed of them or not, his ignorance does not in the least degree lessen the truth of the facts. It is no difficult matter to develope the cause of Mr. A's unhandsome insinuations: but before he ventures to reflect (sine veritate) upon any person again, I would advise him, as a friend, to look well to the following sentence i—^ui alterum accusat delicti, eum if sum se intueri ofortet. 35 pected from mere wasting of the whole frame, particur larly of the contents.and integuments of the abdomen. The viscera and intestines are so shrunk as to occupy a very little space, some of them being scarcely percep- tible. So are the abdominal muscles also, yet there is no reason to doubt but that they are all in their natural situation; and the ease with which the descending aorta can be felt, and sometimes seen to pulsate, is, I apprehend, to be attributed to the emaciation of those parts by which, in a state of health, it is concealed. " Early in November she had a bad cold, with vio- lent fits of coughing, languor, a sense of weariness, and increased pain in her head, to some degree of which she is liable. Her pulse was then 116 in a minute, yet her tongue and fauces were clean and moist, and her skin soft and perspirable. She had not then voided any urine for a fortnight; and on applying my hand to the abdomen, perceiving the bladder distended, I proposed introducing the catheter; but she had no pain, and as- sured me she had often passed more than a week with- out voiding any urine, and did not fear but she should soon be relieved; and this accordingly happened soon after. " Now she is very much recovered from her cold, coughs seldom, and her pulse is tolerably strong, and not more than 80 in a minute. " Having related all the particulars of this, to me, unprecedented case, I must acknowledge my inability to explain them. It has been suggested, by an anato- mist of high reputation, that the case of Ann Moor may probably be explained, by supposing there is some dis- ease of the oesophagus or stomach, which prevents her swallowing. But, allowing this, physiology will have many difficulties to explain; particularly how, without any adequate support, the functions of life have been carried on. In Capt. Bligh's narrative of his passage from Otaheite to Batavia, there are many circumstances related which have some affinity to the present case. 36 " With your permission, I will from time to time send you an account of this poor woman's situation, or any material change of circumstance. I am, &c. J. ALLEN." Tutbury, Dec. 8, 1808. THE END. >. IlakestraW} printer;*' Me