Page:Linda Hazzard - Fasting for the cure of disease.djvu/336



well. Among the latter was a loss of mental control that compelled the family of the patient to employ a keeper for the youth. About six months before death a fast of twenty-eight days was undertaken and successfully accomplished. The syphilitic sores were completely eradicated at its completion, and relief in general was such that the patient was enabled to dispense with his attendant and thereafter cared for himself. But some months later the signs of organic disease, including loss of mental control, again became apparent. From this time there was a copious discharge of watery mucus from the nasal passages and throat, and a constant, profuse exudation of sweat about the face and the head. The latter symptom was present in such degree that the hair of the patient dripped moisture continuously and his pillow needed changing every hour. Quantities of solid f eces and of catarrhal mucus appeared in the enemas, and for a month before death speech was impossible and no function could be performed without assistance. During the last nineteen days of life no food was ingested. The post mortem findings showed a brain, the right hemisphere of which was softened