8. Do you consider that you were definitely harmed? If so, in what
way?
9. Have you ever been examined by any regular physician since the
cure? If so, give name and address.
10. Are you willing that your name and address should be quoted
for the benefit of others?
The total number of fasts taken was 277, and the average number of days
was 6. There were 90 of five days or over, 51 of ten days or over,
and 6 of 30 days or over. Out of the 109 persons who wrote to me, 100
reported benefit, and 17 no benefit. Of these 17 about half give wrong
breaking of the fast as the reason for the failure. In cases where the
cure had not proved permanent, about half mentioned that the recurrence
of the trouble was caused by wrong eating, and about half of the rest
made this quite evident by what they said. Also it is to be noted that
in the cases of the 17 who got no benefit, nearly all were fasts of
only three or four days.
Following is the complete list of diseases benefited--45 of the cases
having been diagnosed by physicians: indigestion (usually associated
with nervousness), 27; rheumatism, 5; colds, 8; tuberculosis, 4;
constipation, 14; poor circulation, 3; headaches, 5; anæmia, 3;
scrofula, 1; bronchial trouble, 5; syphilis, 1; liver trouble, 5;
general debility, 5; chills and fever, 1; blood poisoning, 1; ulcerated
leg, 1; neurasthenia, 6; locomotor ataxia, 1; sciatica, 1; asthma, 2;
excess of uric acid, 1; epilepsy, 1; pleurisy, 1; impaction of bowels,
1; eczema, 2; catarrh, 6; appendicitis, 3; valvular disease of heart,
1; insomnia, 1; gas poisoning, 1; grippe, 1; cancer, 1.
There follows a brief summary of some of the most interesting cases. A
number of longer letters will be found in the Appendix.
Mrs. Lulu Wallace Smith, 324 W. White Oak Ave., Monrovia, Cal. Age 28.
Fasted 30 days for appendicitis and peritonitis, diagnosed by four
physicians. "Yes, indeed, I have definitely been benefited by fasting.
My stomach is not distressed after meals, I have regular evacuations
of the intestines, which I had not had since I was seventeen. I feel
perfectly healthy and look the same."
William N----. Syphilis, with advanced ulcers in throat. Physicians
declared the case hopeless. Complete disappearance of symptoms after
four day's fast, but they gradually reappeared, and longer fast
intended.
Dora Jordan, Connersville, Md. Indigestion, extreme nervousness,
neuralgia in its worst form. Fasted thirty days; did most of cooking
for a family of five, was at no time tempted to eat. "I am no longer
troubled with the old diseases, and weigh more than ever before. After
my fast I felt as happy and care free as a little child."
C. L. Clark, Greenville, Mich. Nervous, poor digestion. Fasted nine
days. "I have been wonderfully benefited, and am a rabid convert.
Alas, for the poor mortal who shows the faintest spark of interest in
my fast--I hand him the whole works, lock, stock and barrel! I feel
a new power and new incentive in life. Whenever I see a sick person,
I feel like telling him that for all he knows to the contrary, good
health has been and may be only eight or ten days away and waiting for
years for him to claim it."
T. S. Jacks, Muskegon, Mich. Twenty days, followed by shorter fasts,
for stomach trouble, diagnosed by Dr. M---- as cancer. "He advised
me to be operated on. Since my fast, three years ago, I have had no
trouble with my stomach. I am entirely cured, and am enjoying fine
health."
Gordon G. Ives, 147 Forsythe Bldg., Fresno, Cal. "Have fasted a good
many times since 1899, to cure catarrh of stomach, constipation,
deafness of four months' standing, neuralgia, etc. Duration, from
one to sixteen days. Never failed in accomplishing a cure. Benefit
continued until I had over-eaten for a long time. Complaints were never
diagnosed by regular physicians, as I got on to them in 1894. Use my
name if it will help the truth."
Mrs. Maria L. Scott, Boring, Ariz. Reports case of husband, who fasted
seven days for constipation and deafness; had been obliged to take
enema daily for several months. Complete cure.
Mrs. A. Wears, De Funiak Springs, Fla. "Age forty-two, subject to
severe colds and sore throat all my life, chronic catarrh of head and
throat, in bed two winters with bronchitis and asthma. Did not take
complete fast. My catarrh is much improved. I feel perfectly well and
enjoy life so much more than I did before the fast."
Mrs. Mae Bramble, Alba, Pa., R. F. D. 70. One fast of thirty days,
another of three days; nervous prostration the first time, appendicitis
the second time. "The first complaint was diagnosed, the second was
not; as I am a professional nurse, I understood the symptoms myself."
Complete and permanent cure. "I have never had a return of the nervous
trouble, and am well of the other complaint. It is five years since the
first fast."
M. E. Beard, Corning, Cal. Fasted nine days for scrofula. Had been
diagnosed. Complete cure, permanent since 1908. Age forty-seven. "Five
years ago I broke down. Physicians never could tell me what ailed me. I
kept busy during my fast physically and mentally; worked over the cook
stove and outdoors. Felt no weakness."
Joseph L. Lewis, Hatfield, Ark. Fasted three days, and then four days.
"During the last ten days have felt better than at any time during the
last seven years."
Monroe Bornn, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Fasted seven days on three
occasions, for liver trouble. "I had been treated by three physicians.
I consider that I was completely cured. I have been examined by
regular physicians since the cure."
E. B. Bayne, White Plains, N. Y. Sends record of fasts taken by two
people, Mr. and Mrs. A. Mr. A. fasted for rheumatism, which had caused
kidney and bladder trouble of years' standing, and iritis; fasted five
days and then four days and was completely cured. Mrs. A. Neuralgia and
catarrhal deafness. Completely cured. "Finds that exposure to draughts
has no effect upon her whatever, heretofore she would catch cold upon
the least exposure."
Mrs. Charles H. Vosseller, Newark, N. J. "I don't agree with you or
Bernarr Macfadden in not recommending fasting for tuberculosis. My case
was diagnosed by Dr. B. G----, New Brunswick, N. J. I fasted nineteen
days and was completely cured; I received no harm, and have been
examined since by a physician. I weigh 114 lbs. now and before my fast
weighed 100 lbs. I never felt better in my life than I do at present.
Do not know that I have a pair of lungs."
In connection with the above tabulation of results, it should be
specified that it does not include any of the cases quoted elsewhere in
the book; it includes some of the letters given in the Appendix, but
not all. Thus it will appear that there are many more than 277 cases of
fasting recorded in this volume. The reason that I did not summarize
in the tabulation all the letters I have received is, that I wished to
give only those which were sent to me in answer to my definite series
of questions, so that I might be sure of getting the unfavorable as
well as the favorable reports. Recently a well-known physician who
edits a magazine of health came out in vehement opposition to the
fasting cure, maintaining that we hear only of the cases which are
successful, and do not hear of the disastrous failures. In reply to
this, I wrote to him suggesting that he publish my series of questions
in his magazine, thus giving his readers an opportunity to make me
acquainted with the unsuccessful cases. This, however, the physician
declined to do.