arked loss of breath, the heart-murmur
had nearly disappeared, and water by the gallon seemed to have been
absorbed.

On the fifteenth day there was a desire for food, that was taken with
relish through the enlarged throat without difficulty; the water pockets
had become emptied, and the lids so thin and light as to reveal no
fatigue in reading. Thence on one meal a day became the rule; and since
there have been five years without any recurrence of the
conditions--five years of remarkable general health and girl-time relish
for her daily food.

How often has the cutting down of the daily food by the old and weak
been condemned as too severe an ordeal to be safe! For this woman there
have been these acquired years of nearly perfect health, and the end
will be in the natural, easier death of old age.

The following is inserted as additional evidence of Nature's power over
disease, and that brain-workers may go on with their labors with
increasing power while waiting for natural hunger in cases in which
hunger is possible:

Rev. C. H. Dalrymple, of Hampden, Mass., has just completed a
fast, of which he says, February 5, 1900: "My fast continued
thirty-nine and one-half days. My appetite came on me about 9
o'clock at night, and I thought I would wait until the next
day; but two boiled eggs and some dry toast would not retire
before my presence. I have never had such an assault upon my
will power as that imagined egg and toast made on me. I was
finally compelled to surrender. My tongue had been clearing up
that day, and the next day I was hungry at noon. I have not
missed a first-class appetite at noon since. My tongue has kept
clear and my taste has remained sweet. I have had no chills nor
fevers this winter, nor cold in any form. I have made no
allowance for my sickness and have never worked harder. My flesh
came back rapidly, and now I think I must weigh about fifteen
pounds more than last summer. _I gained strength beyond all
question about three weeks before my appetite returned. I would
work all day long finally._ It was good to get well."

Mr. Ritter conducted over twenty cases, some being able to carry on
their usual avocations. I give the most important ones: Mr. A. H.,
forty-five days; Miss B. H., forty-two days; Mrs. L., thirty-eight days;
Mr. L. W., thirty-six days; Miss L. J., thirty-five days; Mrs. M.,
thirty-one days; Miss E. S., twenty