she was first brought to the asylum she was suffering from
melancholia, and was put under the treatment which all the
leading alienists had found most beneficial for persons
suffering from nervous disorders, viz., quiet, rest of mind and
body, and full, nourishing diet, carefully selected to produce
the best results. During the time she remained at the asylum she
improved both in bodily and mental health.

"Referring to the treatment she had received under Mr. Ritter's
supervision since leaving the asylum, Dr. Chase said he had
first heard of the system through a work published two years ago
by Dr. George S. Keith, of London, from which he first learned
of Dr. Dewey, who also uses the fasting cure. In all the cases
cited by Dr. Keith none had been afflicted with any mental
disorder. He looked upon the cases, however, as showing some
remarkable results, warranting a careful study. But it would not
do to adopt such a system without a most thorough examination.
As 'one swallow does not make a summer,' neither will one case
nor half a dozen cases cured by such a method prove anything. No
universal method can be adopted for treating disease. Hardly two
cases are alike. Cures also may be brought about in different
ways if the exact condition of the patient is understood.

"'Mr. Ritter says the patient lent herself very willingly to the
treatment, which was a great deal to start out with in her case.
But I am surprised that a young man with no medical knowledge
would do a thing like that. The treatment might easily have
resulted differently. If he had been a doctor, he would have had
that fact to sustain him in case he got into trouble. The case
might very well have resulted fatally, because the treatment was
so contrary to what would naturally be pursued by physicians in
nervous cases.

"'I do not ridicule the system. There have been cases which were
cured by ways not recognized by the general practitioner after
they had been given up. I am a firm believer that in selected
cases the fasting method would be efficacious, but I do not
believe in its general application.

"'Mr. Ritter is evidently an enthusiast, and apt to overstate
the points in favor of the method, neglecting those which tell
against it. It is too early yet to say what the outcome of Miss
K.'s case will be