Low back-sacral-pain quite intense when maneuvering into different positions, but 
most intense when in a bent-over position and trying to straighten up. (Much gas is 
present most of the time throughout my fast.) Five diarrheal episodes with clot-like material present. Very bad night. Terrible insomnia and restlessness. Not much sleep. Awakened during night for three bouts of diarrhea. (The average person, by this stage 
of the fast, has ceased to have B.M.s--not tr ue of those with severe, chronic, ulcerative 
colitis.) Blood pressure 118/78. Monday, September 7, 1964 --Fast, 5th day: Weight 134 pounds; a loss of 2-1/2 
pounds from yesterday and a total loss of six pounds after four days of fasting. Low 
back pain much eased. Tired, weak, and sluggish, but feel fine mentally and in good spirits. Blood pressure 115/72. Tongue quite coated. Breath and taste very foul. True 
desire for food absent, but talked much about  it and could taste, in my mind, whatever 
I imagined. Slight increase in thirst, although water is beside me and I drink only 
when thirsty--never forced. (There is so me dehydration when fasting, but depending 
on the productivity of the fast, our own senses determine how much water is needed. There were some days when a total of two glasses satisfied me and there were other 
days I used a total of two quarts.) About four poor B.M.s. with much gas. Not much sleep--bad insomnia and restlessness. Two trips to lavatory during night. Friday, September 11, 1964 --Fast, 9th day: Weight this morning 128-1/2 pounds; a 
loss of 1/2 pound from yesterday and a total loss of 11-1/2 pounds after eight days of fasting. Blood pressure 110/68. No headache. (I had no headache the entire length of 
the fast; however, many people may develop one, especially if they had been drinkers 
of coffee, tea, alcohol, cola drinks or users of tobacco, condiments, and other 
indications of "gracious living." There ar e many crises that may develop during 
various phases of 1st fast; headache is just one. Some others are nausea, vomiting, aches, and pains, just to mention a few. Usually the deeper one goes into a fast and the 
more toxic wastes he eliminates, the more  tendency toward various crises, which all 
come to pass. Fair day. Insomnia and much intestinal gas during the night. Sunday, September 13, 1964 --Fast, 11th day: Weight 126-1/2 pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 13-1/2 pounds after ten days of fasting. The 
bowel infection I brought with me has gradually succumbed to the body's defense 
mechanism--feel better generally and fever is gone. Similar day as yesterday, except my nose and, mainly, my feet have become cold. It is quite annoying and I ask for a 
hot water bottle. (Cold feet are not uncommon during a fast. Many people experience 
this phenomenon in one degree or another. My feet remained cold for the remainder 
of the fast, but the hot water bottle helped a great deal.) Occasional hiccoughs all day. Monday, September 14, 1964 --Fast, 12th day: Weight 126 pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 14 pounds after 11 days of fasting. Blood pressure 90/64. Not quite as tired, weak, or  lethargic. Slight increase in energy. Morale fine, especially when I receive letters from home. Bowel activity all day. Restlessness and insomnia gone, but I sleep only at intervals of several hours or less. (Sleeping became a frustrating problem during the fast, since most of the time is spent 
resting in bed and napping at intervals all through the day. This made it quite difficult to fall asleep--I was all "slept" out.) I try not to nap during the day and go to sleep as 
late as possible. I think a lot about my family and how they're getting along. I have their picture on my bedside table. Tuesday, September 15, 1964 --Fast, 13th day: Weight 125-1/2  pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 14-1/2 pounds after 12 days of fasting. Continued bowel activity with much gas formation throughout intestinal tract. Some 
weakness, but I feel more alert and in good spirits. (I feel much better at this point than when hospitalized 1-1/2 years ago and forced to eat a high-protein diet three 
times a day plus a nighttime snack. This was too much food, improperly combined 
and too difficult for a weakened digestive system to handle. It continued to overwork 
the colon, which needed the physiologic rest now being given.) No insomnia, but sleep sporadic. Wednesday, September 16, 1964 --Fast, 14th day (2 weeks): Weight 125-1/4 pounds; 
a loss of 1/4 pound from yesterday and a tota l loss of 14-3/4 pounds after 13 days of 
fasting. Several B.M.s. with mucus, pus-like material containing some blood. Average 
day, except blood pressure is 84/60. Dr. Gross enters my room and asks me if I am 
going to fast all day. I stare at him rather surprised, until he laughingly tells me that 
today is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Being Jewish, I have fasted 
every year on this holiest of days. I have lost track of time here and forgotten about this day, the ironic thing being that I have already been fasting for two weeks. I tell 
Dr. Gross I am accumulating a 14-year advance reserve for future Yom Kippurs. (As 
of this writing, at 46 years old, 12 years and many long fasts later, my one-day Yom Kippur fasts are "snaps" because the cleane r the internal environment of the body, the 
easier the fast. This is why I find it so fascinating and even humorous--my friends and 
relatives should forgive me--when I observe Jewish people at the end of Yom Kippur 
day in various throes of agony such as headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness, and 
even helplessness. A truly healthy individual finds a one-day fast very comfortable 
and the rest it affords the body very beneficial.) Thursday, September 17, 1964 --Fast, 15th day: Weight 124-3/4 pounds; a loss of 
1/2 of a pound from yesterday and a total loss of 15-1/4 pounds after two weeks of 
fasting. Blood pressure 90/60. Basically same day as yesterday. The days have been 
sunny and mild, so I've been sitting outside when I'm up to it, occasionally ambling 
over to the solarium for short periods of sun "au naturel." I'm quite bony now--
somewhat resembling a concentration camp inmate, but not quite that bad. It is a rather strange feeling to see myself in the mirror, but as time progresses I shall look 
worse before I look better. I remind myself  of a science fiction movie I once saw 
entitled "The Incredible Shrinking Man." The subject of food preoccupies our 
thoughts and conversations, but no true hunger or desire to eat. Sunday, September 20, 1964 --Fast, 18th day: Weight 124 pounds; no loss from 
yesterday. Blood pressure 90/66. More mentally alert today. Not as tired or weak. Tongue very coated-have been scraping it each morning. Breath and taste are quite 
foul with much salt coming through tongue and mucous membranes of the mouth. Can't seem to quench thirst. Occasional B.M.s, very foul and consisting of pus-like 
material. Sporadic sleep. We are able to fast for long periods of time, particularly while resting, because our 
bodies live off our stored reserves which we all have in varying degrees. The body has 
its own wisdom and takes only what it needs from these reserves, no more and no less. Weight loss is also controlled and rationed by this wisdom. Contrary to 
"popular" belief, the body doesn't go into ketosis or acidosis (a low alkalinity of the 
blood) from the breakdown of fat, thereby causing death. True, there is some ketosis, 
but again the body's own innate wisdom keeps this under control. None of these 
things I've just touched upon happen by chance. None of these things occur haphazardly. There is an order based on natural laws-- physiology-- whereby our 
bodies, when left unmolested, automatically and efficiently govern themselves and strive to maintain biochemical balance--homeostasis. Monday, September 21, 1964 --Fast, 19th day: Weight 123-1/2 pounds; a loss of 3/4 
of a pound from yesterday and a total loss of 16-3/4 pounds after 18 days of fasting. Blood pressure 94/78. If I include the 30 pound deficit from the illness when I began 
the fast, then the total weight loss becomes 46-3/4 pounds. Thirst decreased. No headache or vomiting and very little nausea or other untoward reaction thus far. Several fetid, pus-like B.M.s. Comfortable day. I experience an amazing phenomenon 
this 19th fast day: a new surge of energy, no weakness or tiredness, legs have strength 
with no weakness (previously, walking was slow-motion), can rise from a sitting or 
lying position without light-headedness and am unusually mentally alert. The more toxic load thrown ofd by the body, the clearer the mind and all senses become. These 
last three or four days have been quite a period of detoxification through the pus-like 
rectal discharges and copious amounts of horrible tasting excretions from the tongue, 
mucous membranes, and salivary glands. Tuesday, September 22, 1964-- Fast, 20th day: Weight 122-1/4 pounds; a loss of 1 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 17-3/4 pounds after 19 days of fasting. Very 
little gas and only one B.M. during the night. No hunger, but my mind is flooded with 
thoughts of many succulent and delicious foods this entire day and evening, but for 
some strange reason all through this fast my mind continues to see, smell, and taste 
hot dogs and beans (one of my favorite dishes when I was a boy). I think of my wife and children each day and anxiously wait for mail to come from home each day. I 
eagerly look forward to several nights during the week when I allow myself the 
luxury of a long-distance telephone call so I may talk to my wife and hear her voice. I 
also think about my practice and whether or not it is still afloat, but periodic letters 
from my good friend, Dr. Newton Karp, assure me he is keeping it solvent. That puts 
my mind at ease because all my expenses are continuing. Thursday, September 24, 1964 --Fast, 22nd day: Weight 122 pounds; a loss of 1/4 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 18 pounds after three weeks of fasting. Blood 
pressure 88/64 with good pulse quality. Feel wonderful physically, mentally and 
spiritually, except for a slight weakness which is understandable at this stage of the game. Mild light-headedness if I sit or sta nd up too quickly. Thick, foul drainage from 
the sinuses all day, resulting in the clearest breathing I've had in years. Two liquid bowel actions today. Dr. Gross checks us in the morning and again in the late 
afternoon or early evening. His home is just a few hundred yards away. I have been 
asking him to give me some idea how much longer it would be until my fast would be 
broken. (I didn't realize at the time that the more serious problems usually require a 
longer fast. Dr. Gross knew he would prefer a long fast, if possible, for me. He knew that to break the fast now, when I'm progressing, would not be in my best interest. Yet 
he understood my impatient nature and took me through the remainder of the fast by 
degrees and subtleties. In other words, I would ask him when the fast would be 
broken and he would say something to the effect that since it's mid-week, let's wait 
until the weekend. Then when the weekend would roll around, I'd pose the question again and he would give me some logical excuse or reason for fasting a few more 
days. This is the way he guided me and it helped because psychologically it divided my fast so I would not have to envision long weeks ahead.) Friday, September 25, 1964 --Fast, 23rd day: Weight 121-1/2 pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 18-1/4 pounds after 22 days of fasting. Blood 
pressure 90/65. Slight fuzziness in the head. One B.M. containing some type of 
unhealthy tissues from the intestinal tract that the body is finally breaking down and casting out. Very comfortable day, but I don't look forward to the long night ahead, 
because of being in bed most of the time and taking naps. Furtherm ore, I find fasting 
to be one long 24-hour day with no breaks, such as when one is eating three times a 
day. I stay up late, read a little until the book drops out of my hands, and then try to 
get to sleep at one o'clock in the morning. Then I wake up wondering how long I have slept, look at my watch and see it is only 10 or 15 minutes later. So I concentrate 
intently, fall asleep, and wake up thinking the sun will soon be up. But I glance at my 
watch again and it is perhaps only a half-hour later. This is the battle I fight almost 
every night during my fast. I'm thankful for my little radio. Saturday, September 26, 1964 --Fast, 24th day: Weight 121-1/2 pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 18-3/4 pounds after 23 days of fasting. Blood 
pressure 100/60. More salt being excreted through my mouth--causes mild stinging of 
the tongue. A wonderfully comfortable day, the only annoying problem being the 
almost complete dryness of my tongue and mouth with a slight pasty-like mucus. True 
hunger and desire for food absent. Almost no in testinal gas. Several small, fetid, pus-
like rectal discharges. I'm amazed at how fine I feel generally. In fact, this is the best I 
have felt thus far. I feel as though I could continue the fast indefinitely. The further I 
get into the fast, the cleaner the mind and body become as deep-seated poisons and 
wastes are eliminated. This produces profound changes. (From here on I experience 
unusual clarity of mind, increases in visual acuity, hearing, and smell, greatly increased mental endurance, and an extreme general awareness. For example, I 
brought with me a variety of crossword puzzles, books, and a chess set. Ideally, one 
should refrain from anything that taxes any of the senses and burdens the mind during 
a fast; that also includes television. howeve r, a little occasional light reading does help 
pass the time. During the early stages of my fast and even before fasting I could do a crossword puzzle or two, work out a little problem with my chess set, or read to my 
tolerance, which would be about 20 to 30 pages. But from this point deep in the fast, 
until its termination, amazing things happen: as a fairly decent chess player, I now 
become unbeatable; as a good crossword puzzle solver--but always finding it necessary to use the dictionary for such words as xerus or xat, etc.--I now have instant 
recall of words that I would ordinarily have to look up in the dictionary; and my mental endurance allows me to read not just double or triple the number of pages I 
mentioned before, but entire books of 200 to 300 pages without tiring. I don't do these 
things to set any records; nor do I do them to pass any endurance tests. In fact, I don't 
make all these things a daily routine because I don't want to jeopardize my chances 
for a successful fast. I only cite these examples to show some of the marvelous, positive benefits that can accrue from a fast .) The comparative inactivity of the colon 
at this point is a blessing. Sunday, September 27, 1964 --Fast, 25th day: Weight 120 pounds; a loss of 1-1/4 
pounds from yesterday and a total loss of 20 pounds after 24 days of fasting. Blood 
pressure 90/60. Very little gas formation. Se veral small, liquid B.M.s. I can describe, 
in one word, the way I feel at this point-healthy! Weak as I am, I can feel health 
coursing through my body. But within this weakness I feel a tremendous inner strength. It is difficult for me to describe  this feeling because one must experience it 
to understand. Thoughts of food preoccupy my mind. The monotony of routine annoys me. Slept at intervals. Monday, September 28, 1964 --Fast, 26th day: Weight 119-3/4 pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 20-1/4 pounds after 25 days of fasting. As I 
get deeper into the fast, I find myself having more and more positive thoughts and a 
feeling of well-being. There seems to be a profound inner calm. Through this experience, so far, I have learned a wonde rful self-discipline. Today was similar to 
yesterday. Missing my family is what bothers me most now. I think of my children 
often. I think of my wife and the joys we shared together before I became sick. I want 
very much to be home with them. I feel myself getting better with each passing day. I'm going to make it! There is no doubt in my mind. I actually tremble with 
anticipation. Tuesday, September 29, 1964 --Fast, 27th day: Weight 120-1/4 pounds; a gain of 1/2 
pound from yesterday. I could not believe that after 26 days of fasting and living off 
my stored reserves there would be a weight ga in. It just couldn't be possible. I went to 
three different scales, but each gave the same reading. My blood pressure today is 96/66. I'm eliminating so much "junk" from my system that the foul taste keeps me on 
the brink of nausea. In fact, there are times I find it necessary to take a half of a grape 
and brush it across my tongue to prevent vomiting. At this point, I can taste some of 
the drugs being eliminated through the mucous membranes of my mouth, the most 
predominant being phenobarbital. Wide awake and alert. Have been going outside to sit in the sun at intervals. I have incentive. When I perspire, it is not salty. I also notice 
that if perspiration from my forehead runs into my eyes, there is no stinging or 
irritation. This evening, Dr. Gross introduced me to a man who had just arrived at the 
Manor. He had suffered a heart attack six m onths prior to coming here and his doctors 
gave him up, but he found out about fasting, et c., and decided to give it a try. The man 
was afraid to fast. He didn't believe anyone could survive without food for any great 
length of time and this is why I was introduced to him; so he could see someone who 
has been fasting for four weeks and is not only alive, but recovering health. This 
meeting helped him make a decision to fast--and the results were nothing short of 
fantastic. (In another section I'll mention some of the dramatic cases I observed and followed up over the years, so you can understand the amazing recuperative powers 
that reside within us if the conditions of health are supplied.) Thursday, October 1, 1964 --Fast, 29th day: Weight 118-1/4 pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 21-3/4 pounds after four weeks of fasting. Blood pressure 85/60. Tongue remains heavily coated. Breath and taste extremely 
foul, almost to the point of nausea, as the body is still eliminating its toxic load. No 
hunger. Only one B.M. today, which was foul and pus-like. Much belching associated 
with vague, all-over chest discomfort and discomfort in my neck and throat when I 
swallow. This is known as a "crisis" of which there can be few or many different types during a fast. Must be careful on rising to a sitting or standing position since 
light-headedness is yet a factor. (One morning, for example, there came a loud 
knocking at my door. It awakened me and I jumped right out of bed to answer the 
door. I blacked out immediately, but before I hit the floor I caromed off the walls like 
a billiard ball on a table as I fought to stay on my feet. That was one thing I didn't repeat.) This chest discomfort is accompanied by a rather persistent cough. I note this 
because there is a lessening of muscle control and a weakness of the diaphragm and 
other muscular units which aid in coughing. This makes coughing quite difficult and 
is a strange sensation, since it requires great  effort and then the cough really does not 
come out as a cough but as a forced expiration. Friday, October 2, 1964 --Fast, 30th day: Weight 117-1/4 pounds; a loss of 1 pound 
from yesterday and a total loss of 22-3/4 pounds after 29 days of fasting. Blood pressure 82/56. The chest, neck and throat discomfort greatly eased, but the weak 
coughing phase continues. Still have some bowel activity after all this time. Felt 
wonderful today. Very alert. Since time weighed heavy, I found several ways to make 
it pass more quickly. First of all I would think of food, which was on my mind 
constantly. I was able to close my eyes and visualize many dishes. I could, in these visions, smell and taste them. (I also conjured up some recipes which I thought could 
be used when I returned home. And you know something? We use these vegetarian 
recipes at home to this day.) The point of this daydreaming is that time would pass. While I'd mentally concoct these dishes, the hours would slip away. I'd glance at my 
watch thinking 10 or 15 minutes had elapsed, but in reality it would be an hour or so. Slept poorly. I'd drop off to sleep, awaken and assume I slept for several hours, but 
when I checked the time it would be maybe 5 minutes or 20 minutes later. This is the way it went for me most of the time. Saturday, October 3, 1964 --Fast, 31st day: Weight 117 pounds; a loss of 1/4 pound 
from yesterday and a total loss of 23 pounds after 30 days of fasting. Blood pressure 102/60. Discomfort in neck and throat when I swallow, which gradually subsides at 
night. Periodic coughing continues with an occasional sneeze added, but both have a 
very weak intensity, similar to slow motion. A most unusual experience. Several usual 
B.M.s. (Another game I played to pass the time and at least break up, my day into 
three parts was called "watch the others eat." It was most successful and satisfying. I would look forward to breakfast, lunch, and supper for those whose fasts had already 
been broken. Then I would gape at the people eating, watching every bite, every 
chew, and imagine myself in their place and mentally experience the taste of each 
piece of luscious fruit or vegetable or whatever they were eating. Then I would sit 
back, relax, and look forward to the next meal.) Slight fuzziness in my head accompanied by a slight general weakness, but otherwise I feel mentally sharp with a sensation of physical and mental well-being. I feel wonderful and have had a most 
comfortable day. I have enjoyed most of the evenings because from my window I can watch the sun lower itself beyond the Hudson River, caress the mountainous foothills, 
and finally slip out of sight, leaving a warm glow hovering in the western sky. Then 
darkness comes and the sky is ablaze with stars of such magnitude as I had never seen 
back home where the city lights block out this heavenly artwork. Sunday, October 4, 1964 --Fast, 32nd day: Weight 115-1/4 pounds; a loss of 1-1/4 
pounds from yesterday and a total loss of 24-1/2 pounds after 31 days of fasting. Blood pressure 98/58. Mild discomfort in neck and throat, but lessening. At last, no B.M.s. today. A most comfortable day. I feel alert and wonderful. Small, multiple 
warts and other skin blemishes have completely disappeared or are disappearing. All 
facial pimples are completely gone and have been gone for quite some time. Coughing and sneezing greatly diminished. Just  could not lie in bed today; too much 
pent-up energy and emotion. For the first time in years, I feel alive! I had to get out or I'd bust. In my weakness I feel a tremend ous inner strength. Took a slow, slow walk 
about the grounds. Visited the gymnasium, which was donated by a woman who had 
fasted here and recovered from arthritis. To one side of the gym was a beautiful 
flower garden. Further along, I discovered a pond stocked with large goldfish. The 
water was ice-cold, the pond being spring-fed. The area is heavily wooded and an occasional rabbit goes skittering between the trees. There is a continuous symphony 
which is given by the wide array of birds by day and crickets, frogs, and owls by 
night. The majestic Manor house, with its three stories and Ionic-like columns, 
occupies a central area on the slope of a hill overlooking the mountains and Hudson 
River in the distance, and giving all viewers a front row seat to the most spectacular sunsets. A short distance away from the main house are the "units," which are six self-
contained motel-like rooms for those who might prefer more privacy. The air smells 
clean and fresh and there is a certain quiet so necessary, so vital, for fasting and 
obtaining peace of mind. Monday, October 5, 1964 --Fast, 33rd day: Weight 114-3/4 pounds; a loss of 3/4 of a 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 25-1/4 pounds after 32 days of fasting. Hurrah! No B.M.s today. Discomfort in chest, neck, and throat gone. Coughing and 
sneezing stopped. More elimination through mouth causes nausea due to terrible taste. Fleeting sensations of hunger. Usual weakness and faintness present but otherwise am 
alert, sharp, and feel wonderful. Odd sensation to look into the mirror and see what's looking back at me. What happened to that handsome devil that once looked back? One good gust of wind and someone could tie a string on me and have the first human 
kite. Dry heaves during the night with some bile coming up. Very nauseated. Tiring 
and exhausting-night--so little sleep. My skin has marvelous tone, texture, and color. Tuesday, October 6, 1964 --Fast, 34th day: Weight 112-3/4 pounds; a loss of two 
pounds from yesterday and a total loss of 27-1/2 pounds after 33 days of fasting. Blood pressure 76/50. No true hunger, but some desire is present. No bowel activity. Slept at intervals. Similar day as yesterday. Few dry heaves with bile, but felt better 
after. One of the first occurrences on a fast is the diminution of sex drive, with 
eventual cessation of it. (Interesting to note, however, is that this sex drive is one of 
the last things to return after the fast is broken, but eventually it returns, and when it does--watch out world! It's likened to putting a high voltage battery in a used car.) Wednesday, October 7, 1964 --Fast, 35th day (5 weeks): Weight 111-1/4 pounds; a 
loss of pounds from yesterday and a total loss of 28-3/4 pounds after 34 days of fasting. Blood pressure 82/50. No B.M.s. Tongue appears a little clearer. Breath and 
taste not quite so bad. Feel wonderful and alert. Desire to eat is stronger. I note some 
amazing changes after five weeks of fast ing: Tartar and plaque gone from teeth; 
gums, which were red and bled easily, are now pink and do not bleed after a vigorous 
brushing; after six years of severe diarrhea a nd intestinal spasms, a slight prolapse of 
the rectum occurred (dropping or sagging of the lower end of the large intestine so 
that each time a B.M. is tried, a portion of  this intestine protrudes through the rectum 
into the outside world and must be pushed back in). This situation is now corrected--
so I suppose one could say the problem with the rectum has been rectified; and, of 
course, that grapevine of internal and external hemorrhoids are now gone, broken down by the body's own marvelous mechanism. ( It's been 12 years since this writing 
and there have been no recurrences of any of these problems.) Now if this hell-on-
earth, this ulcerative colitis could be resolved, this would be truly a miracle--the 
miracle for which Corinne and I have prayed. I'm hoping, with all the strength in me, 
that these benefits from my fast can be maintained. Only time will tell. (There's still a long, hard road ahead; but one lesson I shall learn along the way is that you cannot 
buy health--you must earn it!) My fast is supposed to be broken tomorrow and I look forward to that as much as a child anticipates a Christmas morning. Thursday, October 8, 1964 --Interruption of fast: Weight 110 pound loss of 1-1/4 
pounds from yesterday and a total loss of 30 pounds after 5 weeks of fasting. My 
anticipation came to an end when a small cup of clear, freshly made vegetable broth 
was brought to my room. Several tablespoons only, but I didn't enjoy it as I had expected. My mouth was still pasty and with a bad taste. An hour or two later I had 
several more tablespoons of the soup and it  seemed to bloat me. I couldn't understand 
it. (Long fasts are broken very carefully, sometimes with small amounts of diluted, fresh-squeezed orange juice or small amounts of freshly made carrot and celery juice 
or tomato and celery juice. The particular needs or situations of each individual is 
taken into consideration. For example, in my case, citrus wasn't given because of my 
past history and Dr. Gross did not want to take a chance with any fruit acids irritating 
the colon. This way, with the broth, I still received some food value--vitamins, minerals, protein, etc.--and the broth was very easy on the digestive apparatus. I was 
like a newborn infant eating for the first time.) Small amount of carrot and celery 
juice added at intervals during the day. Some abdominal cramps and indigestion 
throughout the night. Didn't feel well. Much diarrhea and discomfort. My entire system feels out of whack. I feel weak all over. Food became repugnant. Friday, October 9, 1964 --Fast, 36th day: Dr. Gross advises me to fast a while longer 
as my body was not ready to have the fast broken and accept food. Each individual is different and some require a shorter fast, while  some are in need of a longer fast. (The 
body has its own wisdom in letting us know when it's time to break a fast--if we have 
fasted long enough, that is. A few of the signs are: a genuine return of hunger, 
clearing of the foul breath, disappearance of  the rotten taste with resultant appearance 
of a sweet taste, and a clearing of the tongue which gradually takes on a clean, pink 
look.) No weight change. Feel more comfortable not eating at this time. Sunday, October 11, 1964 --Fast, 38th day: Weight 109-1/4 pounds; a loss of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 30-3/4 pounds after 37 days of fasting. Blood pressure 88/52. Some bowel activity again today. Light-headed and a little weak 
physically, but resting in bed helps the most. Mentally, very sharp. Have been in a different room for the last few weeks and sh are it with several men. I've enjoyed this 
because having people to talk to has helped pass the time. There's an excellent view of 
the dense wooded area as I lie gazing out the window. I notice the leaves beginning to 
change colors. Very homesick today, so  I telephoned home. Just hearing Corinne's 
voice was the pick-me-up I needed. She was quite shocked to find out I was still fasting, but understood why after my explanation. She encouraged me to have faith. Never did she discourage me or instill any negative thoughts in my mind. (Sure, 
things were rough with so little income, her teaching duties, raising the children, and 
managing everything at home, but we both had an ultimate goal and it was all the 
experiences we shared in striving for and attaining that goal that has brought us as 
close together as two people can possibly be.) Monday, October 12, 1964 --Fast, 39th day: Weight 109 pounds; a loss of 3/4 of a 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 31 pounds after 38 days of fasting. Blood 
pressure 84/56. Light-headedness very prevalent. Most of the day spent in bed, resting 
all senses. Bowel action stopped. I can't really explain it, but there are great changes 
taking place. I can feel it. I notice a calmness, an inner peace which seems almost 
spiritual. There is no negativism; only positive thoughts come into mind. I feel there is 
nothing I can't do. The word "impossible" does not exist at this point. Tuesday, October 13, 1964 --Fast, 40th day: Weight 108-3/4 pounds; a loss of 1/4 
pound from yesterday and a total loss of 31-1/4 pounds after 39 days of fasting. Blood 
pressure 82/56. Hands, feet, and nose have been quite cold, but thank goodness for the 
hot water bottle which has become a most welcome bed partner. Tongue very heavily 
coated. Saliva has become thicker and is coupled with an extremely rotten taste that 
causes a constant nausea, which predisposes to periods of vomiting and dry heaves. Even the rubbing of a squashed grape across my tongue does not relieve the taste or 
nausea. No bowel activity or gas. Strange feeling of well-being. Slept fairly well. Wednesday, October 14, 1964 --Fast, 41st day: Weight 108-3/4 pounds; no weight 
loss from yesterday. Blood pressure 82/56. Water consumption has been varying up to 
two quarts daily, but never forced and only when thirsty. Sincere desire for food is more prevalent. My highly developed senses, mentioned previously, are sometimes 
annoying. My eyesight has become rated as 20/10, which is better than normal in that 
I can see at 20 feet what the normal person can see at ten feet. (This of course was not 
annoying, but the senses of hearing and smell occasionally caused problems: I could 
perceive the slightest sounds, perhaps a half block or block away, that would continually disturb my rest, such as someone walking down the front steps of a house 
or walking on gravel or twigs down the road or someone coughing or sneezing or just 
talking some distance away. The sense of smell was probably the cause of most of the 
irritations because I could pick up, like a sensitive detection device, noxious odors in 
the air. I detected car fumes from down the highway, burning of the autumn leaves, which nauseated me, various "stinking" cooking aromas from several homes in the 
area, and the worst offender of them all--c igarette smoke. I could smell it from people 
walking down by the highway hundreds of feet away and I knew when someone on 
the premises was cheating and sneaking a smoke because it would gag me. I would 
report these incidents of on-the-premises smoking and sure enough Dr. Gross would 
ferret out the culprit and all hell would break loose.) Thursday, October 15, 1964 --Fast, 42nd and last day (6 weeks): Weight 108-1/4 
pounds; a loss of 1/4 pound from yesterday and a total loss of 31-3/4 pounds after 41 days of fasting. Blood pressure 90/60; teeth very pasty. Saliva seems to flow a little 
freer, but there is so much being eliminated through my mouth now, I find the terrible 
taste gags me into periodic dry heaves. My impatience to break the fast is wearing on 
me. I know it is pending. I know how I feel, because even with all that is going on, 
there is a stronger desire for food. Dr. Gross visits all of us at least twice each day and is usually nearby if needed, since his house is just a few hundred yards away. He 
came in this afternoon and dropped a subtle hint of a good possibility of breaking the 
fast tomorrow because of certain signs I was exhibiting. Since those of us who are 
fasting have extremely foul breath because of the elimination of our toxic loads, I 
asked Dr. Gross how he could tolerate coming into a room containing three or four of us and breathe the rank air. He laughed and said, "It's perfume." He was serious, 
because when he detects this "aroma" he knows our bodies are working and one of the 
little miracles of nature is taking place. The bright, warm autumn day dwindles into 
evening. I knew I'd have trouble sleeping tonight because of the anticipation of eating 
tomorrow, so I stayed up quite late, hoping to tire myself enough to fall asleep. I weighed myself before going to bed a nd found I'd dropped another 1/2 pound from 
this morning (now 108 pounds), making a total loss of 32 pounds after six weeks of 
fasting. As I glance at myself in the mirror, sans clothes, I can't shake off the sad, but 
morbidly humorous thought that if Hollywood was to make a movie of the inmates of a German concentration camp, I could get the lead role--no contest! I had fasted six weeks. It was still rather difficult for me to believe; to believe that 
weak as I was, I felt better than I had in years. Now the "real" test was coming, but 
there were yet many hurdles to leap. Chapter 6 -- Breaking The Fast  
   I was to remain at the Manor four weeks more to learn how to eat all over again, just 
as new foods are carefully introduced into the digestive system of a newborn infant 
until he or she can eat whole foods. For this reason, I'll stay with my diary a while to give you an idea of just such a step-by-step progression. Friday, October 16, 1964 --1st eating day: I know I slept well, because the sun got 
up long before I did and caressed my face through the window, hinting that I should 
awaken. The thick, pasty coating on my tongue is almost gone and my tongue is 
becoming a normal pink color. But the most surprising occurrence is the disappearance of the foul breath and rotten taste, this taste now ranging from neutral 
to actually fresh and sweet. I have a tremendous desire to eat. It isn't long before Dr. Gross comes scurrying into my room to personally deliver a small bowl of clear 
vegetable broth and to also feed me the first spoonful because he feels so proud of my 
accomplishment. This time I enjoy it, allowing the taste to linger a while. That one tablespoonful is a seven-course banquet all rolled into one. The taste is fantastic. (This 
is the way it is after a fast, whether soup, orange juice carrot and celery juice, or 
whatever is used to break the fast. The body is so clean and the taste so unperverted, 
that the simplest of foods provides a flavor  which is indescribable to one who has not 
fasted. At the time I don't think anything equals it.) I sip the soup very slowly, fighting the temptation to gulp it all down at once. Lunch is another small bowl of the 
clear vegetable broth. Mid-afternoon I receive four ounces of fresh carrot and celery 
juice, which I take slowly. Supper is a small bowl of a mixed vegetable soup with some of the vegetables pureed. Later in the evening, about four ounces of fresh carrot 
and celery juice. A very comfortable day, not only physically but psychologically as 
well, now that I'm eating. The thrill and enjoyment of eating cannot be expressed in 
words. Slept a little better. Saturday, October 17, 1964 --2nd eating day: Wake up feeling alive and vital for the 
first time. My tongue is completely pink and smooth. Weight 110-3/4 pounds; a gain 
of 2-3/4 pounds after one day of eating. Blood pressure 86/60. Very hungry. Breakfast: pureed zucchini squash soup. Lunc h: two very ripe bananas, mashed. Mid-
afternoon snack: cup of pureed tomato-veget able soup. Supper: four ounces of carrot 
and celery juice and a mashed banana. (All foods eaten, with the exception of a dry, 
no-salt, no-chemicals-added cottage cheese, are fresh natural foods grown from the 
ground, unadulterated, unprocessed, and unchemicalized. Nothing is canned or bottled. This includes all fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. The nuts and seeds--
pumpkin or sunflower--are unsalted and unroast ed. The diet is vegetarian and no meat 
is ever used. I'll explain all this in a subsequent chapter.) The way my fast is being 
broken is not necessarily the way someone el se might have their fast broken, because 
each person is an individual and has different needs and idiosyncrasies. Many fasts are broken on such things as orange juice, carrot and celery juice, and various 
vegetable juices. My situation is rather unique in that I have been forbidden by my 
past doctors to eat anything with roughage. It has been over six years since I've had 
any of this type of food. The purpose of this fast is to allow healing so this type of food may be eaten and handled by the body. Had five B.M.s of varying looseness 
between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.    Sunday, October 18, 1964 --3rd eating day: Wake up hungry and feeling strong and 
alert. Able to arise from any position without light-headedness. Weight 112-1/2 pounds; a gain of 1-3/4 pounds from yesterday and a total gain of 4-1/2 pounds and 
Blood pressure 90/60. It is a delight to awaken with a relish for food and to look 
forward to the rest of the day. Breakfast: two baked apples. A semi-formed B.M. after 
breakfast. Lunch: pureed tomato-vegetable soup, small cup of dry cottage cheese. (Nuts--ground at this stage--would be prefer able, but because of the severe damage to 
my large intestine, Dr. Gross was being very conservative at the beginning. Eventually, miracle of miracles, I shall be ab le to properly digest nuts as a source of 
concentrated protein.) A semi-loose B.M. after lunch. Feel marvelous today. Able to 
take a longer walk. Tremendous feeling of energy and well-being. Not bothered by 
gas in stomach or intestines all day. This is the first time in the six years of medical treatment I am "gas-free." Supper: blended, steamed acorn squash and a baked potato. A B.M. after supper and again at 10:00 p.m. (The cycle of peristalsis--intestinal 
motility--is still very much stimulated by the intake of food. This gradually lessens, 
although in my case it will take several years; but I'm patient. After all, what else have 
I to do but regain health? Nothing else matters without it.) Sleep was at intervals, but 
improved. Tuesday, October 20, 1964 --5th eating day: Weight 115-3/4 pounds; a gain of 1-3/4 
pounds from yesterday and a total gain of 7-3/4 pounds after four days of eating. Breakfast: four baked apples and a mashed banana. Lunch: pureed steamed peas and 
two baked potatoes. Supper: pureed steamed asparagus, pureed steamed carrots, and 
two baked sweet potatoes (yams). Some indigestion present all evening. Six B.M.s 
today, with some mass to them, usually following after each meal. Spent most of the day resting in bed. I take occasional walks, but enjoy most talking with the people 
here. They are from all walks of life, religi ons, and races. We all have one thing in 
common and that is we are all sick in one degree or another and are trying to regain our most precious possession--health. Of course there are many people who have 
good health who come here periodically to fa st, rest, re-charge their batteries, so to 
speak, and maintain their health. But even wi th all this camaraderie, I wish more than 
ever to be home. I've spent most of the la st few weeks resting in bed. I've watched 
summer pass, the leaves change into glorious splashes of color and then say goodbye to their summer home in the trees as they, flutter to the ground. Autumn is in the air 
and the days are mild, but the mornings and evenings are crisp. I love to take walks 
now that the leaves are fallen. I love the sound of brittle leaves crunching deliciously 
beneath my feet, although it makes me more homesick as I'm reminded of the long 
walks Corinne and I take in autumn. Sleep is sporadic, but deepest in the early 
morning hours. Wednesday, October 21, 1964 --6th eating day: Weight 117-3/4 pounds; a gain of 2 
pounds from yesterday and a total gain of 9-3/4 pounds after five days of eating. Blood pressure 96/60. Breakfast: four baked a pples and four mashed bananas. Lunch: 
pureed vegetable stew, pureed steamed green beans, and two baked potatoes. Supper: 
pureed mixed vegetables and two baked potatoes. Three B.M.s today with more mass 
and less looseness. Wonderful day. I continue to feel vital, alive, and gaining in strength. I anticipate and relish each meal and each morsel of food with a zest I have 
never known before. It is a sensation I wish  never to abandon or to have abandon me. Slept fairly. Up only once for trip to the "john," whereas in the past years I would 
wake at least five or six times a night to heed the urge. In fact, ulcerative colitis victims are usually annoyed most during the night, because the cramping and spasms 
constantly cause them to waken. But in th e morning as soon as they are awake, the 
slightest movement, because the colon is like a straight tube, causes repeated and 
hectic journeys to the bathroom until there is nothing left to evacuate. This just adds 
to the already depressing, enervating, and sometimes disgusting state of "existence" in 
which we seem to be hopelessly suspended. Thursday, October 22, 1964 --7th eating day: Weight 121-1/4 pounds; a gain of 3-
1/2 pounds from yesterday and a total gain of 13-1/4 pounds after six days of eating. Breakfast: eight baked apples and five bana nas. (This is the most I have eaten for 
breakfast at Pawling. This is actually too much food, particularly for one who doesn't 
need excessive stimulation of the intestinal tract, but in my case the appetite became 
ravenous and had to be satisfied or I'd have  become very nervous and tense. This only 
lasted about two weeks and then tapered off to a point where I needed only 
surprisingly small amounts of food to satisfy the body's requirements. This ravenous appetite has occurred on all my subsequent fasts because, as you can see by the rapid 
weight gains, I'm a fast rebounder and am able to utilize all my food. During the years 
of active ulcerative colitis, I had a malabsor ption problem, as most of those afflicted 
do, and whatever I ate would pass hurriedly through me and out again, many times 
unchanged and looking the same as it did when I put it in my mouth. So what happens over the years? Even though we colitis victims eat, we suffer from malnutrition 
because we don't digest and assimilate (absorb and utilize) the food. There were times 
when I ate so much at the Manor that Dr. Gross actually ran out of food and had to 
dash to the market immediately so the other people could eat.) Lunch: extra large 
bowl of pureed steamed celery and three baked potatoes. Supper: large bowl of pureed steamed green beans, large bowl of pureed zucchini squash, and two baked potatoes. Five, you should pardon the description, semi-formed and mushy B.M.s today. A very comfortable and enjoyable day. Friday, October 23, 1964 --8th eating day: Weight 122-3/4 pounds; a gain of 1/2 
pound yesterday and a total gain of 14-3/4 pounds after one week of eating. Blood pressure 90/60. Breakfast: two baked apples and, would you believe it, six bananas. Lunch: bowl of pureed steamed celery and two bowls of mashed baked potatoes and 
mashed steamed carrots (about five carrots and three potatoes). Supper: large bowl of 
pureed steamed peas, a whole avocado, and a small bowl of pureed brown rice. Comfortable day. Six "mix and match" B.M.s today. The "skeleton" appearance is gone and my face is pretty well filled in. It's a pleasure to peek in the mirror now and 
see that handsome devil returning. Sunday, October 25, 1964 --10th eating day: Weight 124-3/4 pounds; a gain of 1/4 
pound from yesterday and a total gain of 16-3/4 pounds after nine days of eating. Blood pressure 100/70. Breakfast: four baked apples followed a little later by a bowl 
of dry cottage cheese. Lunch: pureed steamed cauliflower, pureed steamed celery and 
carrots, and three baked potatoes. Supper: pureed steamed celery, pureed steamed butternut squash, and two baked potatoes. Exercised lightly in the gym. I plan to do 
this on alternate days. I take walks to my tolerance and at no time do I tax myself. Most of the time is still spent resting in bed. Four semi-loose B.M.s today. What a 
blessing compared to the 20 to 30 B.M.s a day in the latter stages of the illness, even while under medical care and being dosed and poisoned with so many drugs. Tuesday, October 27, 1964 --12th eating day: Weight 125-1/2 pounds; a gain of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total gain of 17-1/2 pounds after 11 days of eating. Blood pressure 110/66. Breakfast: seven baked apples followed by a little later by a bowl of 
dry cottage cheese. Lunch: pureed steamed cauliflower, pureed mixed vegetables, 
pureed steamed peas, and two baked potatoes. Supper: my first attempt at a meal with 
no purees, except for the raw salad. Pureed, raw, mixed vegetable salad (romaine 
lettuce, carrots, cucumber, celery, green pepper, and tomato), steamed peas, steamed carrots and celery, and two steamed potatoes. Ten B.M.s during the day and several 
during the night. (Despite these many B.M.s, I am absorbing nutrition from the food and putting on healthy weight.) Thursday, October 29, 1964 --14th eating day: History was made this morning! I had 
my first formed B.M. in six years. This may sound strange to those who have never 
had ulcerative colitis, but I laughed and cried at the same time. I could not believe it. I 
think I was as proud as the father of a new born infant. I called Dr. Gross and gave him 
the news. I also announced the event to some of my friends at the Manor and then I 
called home and told my wife. In fact, I wa s so elated that if I had a camera, I 
probably would have taken a photograph of " it" for posterity. (The importance of this 
was the fact that I was getting better, evolving health. True, this was not going to be a 
regular occurrence in these early years, but it was an indication of things to come--and they surely did.) Weight 126-1/2 pounds; a gain of l l pound from yesterday and a 
total gain of 18-1/2 pounds after 13 days of eating. Breakfast: six baked apples and 
three whole bananas. Lunch: vegetable soup (zucchini squash, tomato, celery, carrots, 
corn, green beans, and peas), steamed carrots and artichokes, bowl of natural (whole 
grain or brown) rice. Supper: pureed raw vegetable salad, steamed beets with the tops (the tops are very rich in amino acids, the protein building blocks), three steamed 
potatoes. So far, I seem to be tolerating the change toward increased roughage. I have 
not noticed any digestive disturbance or bowel irritation, except an occasional but decreasing incidence of indigestion since the introduction of the pureed raw salads. Eight semi-formed B.M.s, the greatest freque ncy occurring at night. For the next few 
days the routine was similar, the ultimate goal being a basically raw vegetarian diet--
live foods; a diet my past doctors, particular ly Dr. Kale, said I would never be able to 
eat. These days have been very comfortable and I feel wonderfully alive, much stronger, and have an anticipation and relish  for simple plain vegetarian fare. I feel 
little or no discomfort or spasms, which is the first time in the six years of this 
disease, regardless of past hospitalizations, drugs, treatments, etc. I notice very little 
need for water now. Sometimes go several days without it. This is due to the 
abundance of water contained in the raw fruits  and vegetables. In fact. the less cooked 
food, the avoidance of condiments, and overeating, then the less is the actual thirst for 
water. Of course vigorous physical exertion will increase the body's need for water. Sunday, November 1, 1964 --17th eating day: Today started out uneventfully, but it 
was to be a special day for me--a milest one. I was to have my first raw, whole 
vegetable salad in six years. It was to be  at supper. I remember Dr. Kale forbidding 
me to eat roughage because of the potential devastating effects to a damaged, 
debilitated colon. I was frightened. I didn't know how much healing had taken place or if I could tolerate this roughage wit hout serious consequences. However, the body 
does have extraordinary healing power when it is given the proper circumstances, 
which it had been given here at the Manor. Nevertheless, I spent most of the day 
anticipating eating that salad at supper. By the time supper was ready, I was running a fever of 100° and trembling because of the built-up anxiety. Dr. Gross personally 
brought in the salad and said he was honored to serve it to me because whatever had been accomplished this far, I had earned. The salad was in a small bowl and consisted 
of romaine lettuce, celery, cucumber, and shredded carrots. Dr. Gross instructed me to 
"take an hour to eat it." This was to be the first step in a more natural, raw diet. I did 
take an hour to eat that salad and then I sat back and waited for something to happen. To my surprise there was no explosion, no violent reaction. In fact, I felt comfortable. There was some indigestion during the night, but I had not eaten raw food in six 
years. (This indigestion occurred for the next couple of days and then subsided and did not recur.) Thursday, November 5, 1964 --21st eating day: Weight 131-1/2 pounds; a gain of 2-
3/4 pounds from yesterday and a total gain of 23-1/2 pounds after 20 days of eating. Blood pressure 110/66. Took a short, early morning jog and felt marvelous. I've been 
waking up at 6:00 a.m. feeling refreshed, rested, and raring to go. I feel alive and vital. Breakfast: four oranges and about four ounces of raw peanuts ground to a nut 
butter. Lunch: a half of a honeydew melon, two pears, three bananas, and a few dates. Supper: large raw vegetable salad, steamed  asparagus, and eggplant parmigiana stew. I notice an increased endurance in my reading ability--speed, concentration, etc. Visual and auditory acuity increased. Friday, November 6, 1964 --22nd eating day: Weight 134-1/2 pounds; a gain of 3 
pounds from yesterday and a total gain of 26-1/4 pounds after three weeks of eating. I'm anxious to go home. I'm ready to get back into the normal routine of life--to work, 
to play, to be with Corinne and my children, and to live again. Dr. Gross estimates a 
few more days here, just to see how I'll be handling the diet change toward the 
increased roughage. Breakfast: one whole grap efruit, two oranges, and four ounces of 
filbert nuts ground fine. Lunch: a half of a honeydew melon, one persimmon, grapes, and two bananas. Supper: large raw vegetable salad, steamed broccoli, and a bowl of 
whole grain rice. I have not had any desire to eat meat, nor have I had a desire for 
alcohol, tea, coffee, chocolate, tobacco, white bread, salt, white sugar and its products, processed and denatured foods, or anything else that breeds ill health. These things 
have, fortunately, been eliminated from my li fe, just as have all the drugs that were 
poisoning my system for so long. Saturday, November 7, 1964 --23rd eating day: Weight 134-3/4; a gain of 1/2 pound 
from yesterday and a total gain of 26-3/4 pounds after 22 days of eating. Blood 
pressure 110/70. Breakfast: three oranges and four ounces ground, raw peanuts. Lunch: a quarter of a watermelon, grapes, apple, and strawberries. Supper: large raw 
vegetable salad, steamed peas, and two bake d potatoes. During the past week or so, 
Dr. Gross has been taking me along for the ride on some of his daily errands. I've 
enjoyed getting out and seeing the beautiful countryside with the Hudson River ever 
in the distance. I look forward to these outings. We visited various historic places, but 
today was special. We visited the Roosevelt estate about nine miles toward the southern end of Hyde Park. I was even so bold as to pick a small bag of apples from 
the orchard. Sunday, November 8, 1964 --24th eating day: Weight 135 pounds; a gain of 1/4 
pound from yesterday and a total gain of 27 pounds after 23 days of eating. Breakfast: 
two grapefruits, three oranges, and four ounces of ground almonds (still quite a volume of food, but it soon begins to taper off). Lunch: grapes, two apples, one 
banana, and one avocado. Supper: large raw vegetable salad, steamed celery and peas, 
and one acorn squash. (I know the subject of B.M.s has been brought up throughout 
the book and it is hardly an exciting topic, but it is important since it bears a 
relationship to the return of normal function and healing of the large intestine, which 
medical opinion said could not regenerate. So  periodically, if you will, I'll give you 
progress reports on this part of my life.) Bowel activity varies at this point from one or two to six or eight per 24 hour day and ranges from some looseness to semi-formed 
and formed. Another interesting occurrence is the fact that celery, corn, etc., does not 
show up in the stools as undigested. When I had the active ulcerative colitis, many 
pieces of roughage foods would appear. This also occurs in so-called healthy 
individuals I've questioned. This only proves that not only has healing taken place, but 
function and strength in the intestinal tract has developed through the body's own 
ability. Monday, November 9, 1964 --25th eating day: Weight 135-1/4 pounds; a gain of 1/4 
pound from yesterday and a total gain of 27-1/2 pounds after 24 days of eating. Dr. Gross informed me this morning that I can plan on going home in a few days. I waste 
no time in making a decision to leave on Friday the 13th, just four days from today. I 
know the days will not pass fast enough now. Breakfast: one grapefruit, two oranges, and four ounces ground, raw cashews. Lunch: a chunk of watermelon, slice of 
cantaloupe, two apples, four peaches, and se veral dates. Supper: large raw vegetable 
salad, steamed zucchini squash, and two steamed potatoes. I notice the stools are not 
as foul as they were when I was so ill a nd when I ate meat. In fact, foul stools are 
characteristic of meat eaters because of the meat's putrefaction in the intestinal tract; 
while in vegetarians--particularly those who eat a predominantly raw diet--the stools 
are virtually odorless for the most part, indicating no toxic elements in the colon. (I beg your indulgence for this additional bit on bowels.) Tuesday, November 10, 1964 --26th eating day: Weight 136-1/4 pounds; a gain of 1 
pound from yesterday and a total gain of 28-1/4 pounds after 25 days of eating. Worked out a bit more vigorously in the gym this morning, followed by 30 minutes of 
cross-country jogging. (I was a cross-country runner in college and it was an 
exhilarating sensation to be able to get back  in the groove.) Breakfast: three oranges 
and four ounces of ground cashews. Lunch: half a cantaloupe, one plum, blueberries, 
and dates. Supper: large raw vegetable sa lad, vegetable stew, and a bowl of whole 
grain rice. I thought of the many friends I had made in the two and one-half months 
I've been here and of some of the dramatic  recoveries I witnessed. I am awed by the 
inherent and miraculous ability of the body to heal itself when it is left alone. Wednesday, November 11, 1964 --27th eating day: Weight 136-1/2 pounds; a gain of 
1/2 pound from yesterday and a total gain of 28-1/2 pounds after 26 days of eating. Blood pressure 110/74. Woke up at 6:00 a.m. full of energy. It's still a novelty to me 
to be able to wake up in the morning and actually look forward to each day and to life rather than to dread each day, to suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally and to 
wish for death Took a light two-mile cross-country jog this morning. Breakfast: one 
grapefruit, two oranges and three to four oun ces of whole peanuts. (From here on, the 
nuts and sunflower seeds, etc., are no longer ground. The teeth will do the work. The 
building up to these whole foods has been very gradual, but it was necessary to accustom the rejuvenated intestinal tract to the foods it was meant to handle. There are times when at home we make our own peanut butter because my boys love it and 
it's so superior to the store-bought, roaste d-out, and adulterated mess. Once you eat 
homemade raw peanut butter, you just can't go back to the commercial stuff.) Lunch: 
large raw vegetable salad, steamed yellow summer squash, and two steamed potatoes. Supper: vegetable soup, large raw vegetable salad, steamed green beans, and a bowl 
of whole grain rice. Slept much better. Thursday, November 12, 1964 --28th eating day: Weight 137 pounds; a gain of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total gain of 29 pounds after 27 days of eating. Blood 
pressure 112/74. Breakfast: two whole grap efruit and about four ounces of filbert 
nuts. Lunch: strawberries, grapes, apple,  and a whole avocado. Supper: large raw 
vegetable salad, bowl of steamed peas, asparagus, green beans, and a buckwheat 
groats (kasha) casserole. I get a little ner vous when I think of leaving tomorrow. I've 
been here two and one-half months now and it's  as if I've always lived here. (Over the 
ensuing years, Pawling Manor does become a home away from home.) I spent part of the day thinking back, all the way back, to the year 1958 when I first became ill. I 
relived that six-year nightmare under medical care, the transition period when Natural 
Hygiene was presented to me, and then the entire magnificent experience here--the 
six-week fast, the careful and methodical breaking of the fast, with the eventual 
attainment of the goal to be able to eat a basically raw vegetarian diet after the body had healed itself--something my doctors sa id was impossible. It's so difficult to 
believe what I've been through and that this  first phase of my rebirth (?) has passed. (One thing I've learned over these past 12 years is that whether it is good, bad or 
indifferent, "everything comes to pass.") Not much sleep. Too many thoughts of 
home, my wife, children, my practice, and a myriad of other important and even 
nonsensical items. Friday, November 13, 1964 --29th eating day: Weight 137-1/2 pounds a gain of 1/2 
pound from yesterday and a total gain of 29-1/2 pounds after four weeks of eating. Blood pressure 112/74. Breakfast: two oranges and about four ounces of whole 
almonds. Lunch: romaine lettuce and celery, one pear, one apple, a dish of dates, and figs. Supper: large raw vegetable salad, st eamed butternut squash, and a special treat 
since I would be leaving this evening; Mrs. Gross (Joy) made what was to be one of 
my favorite fancy vegetarian dishes in  the future--eggplant parmigiana (broiled 
eggplant, mushrooms, onions, green pepper, tomatoes, etc., topped with mozzarella cheese). This was a very emotional day for me. This was the day for which I had been 
planning and waiting, yet as much as I wanted to go home I had a desire to remain here. I must assume it was the security a nd dependency of being here and I knew this 
umbilical cord must be severed so I could be my own man again. I had learned a great 
deal from Dr. Gross about Natural Hygien e and myself, and I had enough knowledge 
of natural living to carry me through my day-to-day living when I returned to the proverbial rat race. Part of the day was spent packing and saying goodbyes to the many friends I had 
made in the past two and one-half months. I took a long walk through the countryside. I wanted to be alone, to think. The mid-November air was a bit chilly, but I didn't 
mind. It was great to be alive, to have health, and to be in one piece. The way I was 
feeling then, there could have been rain, snow, or sleet and it wouldn't have made any difference. When you have health, you can cope with anything and there's nothing 
you can't do when there's a positive determination. When you are ill, everything tends toward negativism; but when you have vibrant health, you exude an aura of 
positiveness. You become positive in body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Dr. Gross came to my room about 6:00 p.m. and had a last minute chat with me. (My train was scheduled to depart from Rhinecliff, six miles away, at 8:00 p.m.) He 
advised me to get right back into the swing of things when I returned home. I was to 
return to Pawling Manor next year and for succeeding years for subsequent fasts until 
I reach a maximum of healing and a high le vel of health. Right now I would say I'm 
50 percent to 60 percent better than when I first came here. It took many years to 
evolve disease and it would take a number of years to undo all the wrongs and evolve 
good health. There is no instant cure. Many people spend most of their lives and 
money seeking it, though; but it is not to be. You just cannot buy good health--you 
must earn it. You must work at it and build it; but it takes time, a little self-discipline, a little knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of natural living, and 
sometimes a perserverance that is unshakeable. There is no other investment one can 
make that will pay dividends as high. Dr. Gross also suggested I fast one or two days 
per week, say like Monday and Thursday. I was to keep in touch to report my 
progress or any problems as the need arises. (I have developed a rapport and a kinship with Bob and Joy Gross that will not only endure but will deepen as the years pass.) Time for leaving was almost here and Bob insisted he drive me to Rhinecliff to catch 
my train. This time I carried my own lugga ge; not like when I first arrived here and 
Joy had to carry my luggage and support me at the same time. Bob stayed with me, 
giving me some personal and confidential bits of advice until the train arrived. Bob and I shook hands. My eyes were beginning to  tear and I couldn't say much. I didn't 
want to get emotional, but it was showing. I could only utter a simple, "Thank You!" Then I boarded the train. I had taken a roomette again because I did enjoy the privacy and thought I might be 
able to get a good rest. The trip would take about 13 hours. I would arrive in Detroit at 9:00 a.m. I settled back and tried to keep my mind blank as I stared out the window 
into the night, but it was impossible. I tried reading and couldn't. Too many random 
thoughts darted in and out of my mind; thoughts of what was, what is, and what might 
be. I also had mixed emotions; I was depressed yet elated. But the closer I got to home, the more elation I felt. A few hours later I felt hungry, so I reached for the snack bag Joy had given me. It 
was totally unlike the "last supper" I brought with me two and one-half months ago. This time there was a luscious variety of fresh fruit. It was after midnight when I 
pulled down the bed, jumped in, and tried to fall asleep. But my mind was so active I 
couldn't sleep, so I just looked out the window and watched the little towns pass in the 
night.
Triumph_Over_Disease_by_Fasting_And_Natural_Diet_by_Jack_Goldstein.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        Low back-sacral-pain quite intense when maneuvering into different positions, but 
most intense when in a bent-over position and trying to straighten up. (Much gas is 
present most of the time throughout my fast. ) Five diarrheal episodes with clot-like material present. Very bad night. Terrible insomnia and restlessness. Not much sleep. Awakened during night for three bouts of diarrhea. (The average person, by this stage 
of the fast, has ceased to have B. M. s--not tr ue of those with severe, chronic, ulcerative 
colitis. ) Blood pressure 118/78. Monday, September 7, 1964 --Fast, 5th day: Weight 134 pounds; a loss of 2-1/2 
pounds from yesterday and a total loss of six pounds after four days of fasting. Low 
back pain much eased. Tired, weak, and sluggish, but feel fine mentally and in good spirits. Blood pressure 115/72. Tongue quite coated. Breath and taste very foul. True 
desire for food absent, but talked much about  it and could taste, in my mind, whatever 
I imagined. Slight increase in thirst, although water is beside me and I drink only 
when thirsty--never forced. (There is so me dehydration when fasting, but depending 
on the productivity of the fast, our own senses determine how much water is needed. There were some days when a total of two glasses satisfied me and there were other 
days I used a total of two quarts. ) About four poor B.
The pain was intense when maneuvering into different positions, but it was most intense when trying to straighten up.
What was the intensity of the pain in the low back and sacral area, and when did it occur?
13-1/2 pounds
How much weight did the author lose after 11 days of fasting?
The author did not experience true hunger, but had thoughts about food and could imagine the taste and smell of certain dishes.
What was the author's experience with hunger during the fast?
Dr. Gross advised the author to use a hot water bottle to alleviate the discomfort.
What did Dr. Gross advise the author to do to help with the discomfort in his nose and feet?
The author felt wonderful and mentally sharp, with a sense of inner strength and calmness.
What was the author's mental state during the 20th day of the fast?
Dr. Gross would give the author a subtle hint, saying something like "since it's mid-week, let's wait until the weekend" and then later say "since it's the weekend, let's wait a few more days."
What did Dr. Gross do when the author asked him when the fast would be broken?