I have confined my remarks entirely to the question of abstinence from food. The other supernatural gifts, the possession of which is claimed, would, if considered, have extended the limits of this little volume beyond the bounds which were deemed expedient. At some future time I may be tempted to discuss them. In the meantime it is well to call to mind that a proposition (see [Appendix]) which I made solely in the interest of truth was disregarded, ostensibly with the desire to avoid publicity, when in fact the daily press had for weeks been filled with reports in detail, furnished by the friends of the young lady in question, of the marvellous powers she was said to possess.
A portion of this essay, which bore upon the matter discussed, has been taken from another volume by the author, published several years ago, and now out of print.
William A. Hammond.
43 West 54th Street,
March 1st, 1879.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| I | Abstinence in the Middle Ages | [1] |
| II | Abstinence in Modern Times | [6] |
| III | Abstinence from Food, with Stigmatization | [31] |
| IV | The Brooklyn Case | [48] |
| V | The Physiology and Pathology of Inanition | [59] |