A CHILD'S REMARKABLE FAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CHILD'S REMARKABLE FAST.

FIVE DAYS AND NIGHTS WITHOUT FOOD. Ax extraordinary narrative is told by a correspondent in the British Medical Journal. On July 17 two children, aged respectively four and a-half and five years, left their homes at one o'clock. Some hours later the eldest boy returned home, and stated that he had lost his companion, and knew nothing as to what had become of him. Search was made about the neighbourhood in every direction. Policemen and villagers turned out, and closely examined every wood and road and lane, but after t lie lapse of some days the search was given up in despair. However, on the Sunday morning following (July '2"2nd) some young men and boys were having another look round the fields, when, at about 10 a.m., one of them thought he heard some groaning in a field of wheat near to him. and on going there, found the little boy sitting on the ground, not so very far from the pathway. He was sitting upon his coat, with his little trousers drawn down over his feet. and crying out, " Mother ! mother ! I am so hungry !" How long he had been in that spot and in that condition of attire is not known, and he is too young to give much explanation. When found he appeared to be in a semi-conscious state, and did not seem to know those around him. but after some hours he recognised his mother and brothers. With suitable treatment the child lias completely recovered, without any subsequent illness which might be induced b}' starvation or exposure to wet and cold for the long period of five days and nights, counting from the dinner hour on Tuesday until 10 a.m. on the Sunday following. During this time, as far as anyone knows, the child had nothing to eat except the heads of growing wheat, while he sucked water off the wheat and grass about him. Curiously enough, the child had out with him a small tin box without any lid, and he states that he tried to catch rain-water in it, but could not get any ; the wheat, being very high, probably prevented him doinjj so, and also most likely kept him fairly dry. In appearance the child did not seem much the worse for his prolonged fast, and seemed as plump as an ordinary child.