Tarrare: The Eccentric Appetite of an 18th Century Frenchman
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Tarrare
Tarrare, an enigmatic figure from 18th-century France, is renowned for his extraordinary and uncontrollable appetite. While many of us experience hunger, our bodies eventually signal us to stop eating. However, Tarrare appeared to be an exception, never feeling satisfied and reportedly consuming anything he could find, including bizarre claims of eating a baby.
Despite the intrigue surrounding him, very little is known about Tarrare’s life, including whether that was indeed his true name. Born around 1772 in Lyon, France, he exhibited an insatiable hunger even in childhood. By his teenage years, he could consume an astonishing quarter of a cow in just one day, a weight roughly equal to his own. Coming from a humble background, his overwhelming food needs forced him to leave home.
To sustain himself, Tarrare joined a motley crew of pickpockets and sex workers who survived through begging and theft. Eventually, he managed to improve his circumstances slightly by becoming a performer for a con artist, who used Tarrare’s eating prowess to attract crowds and sell dubious products.
Section 1.1: Tarrare's Distinctive Performance
Tarrare’s performances captivated audiences as he consumed vast quantities of food—along with unusual items like live animals and stones—much to the astonishment of onlookers. One of his signature acts involved rapidly devouring a large basket of apples, leaving spectators in disbelief.
His appearance further contributed to his allure. At 17, he weighed approximately 100 pounds and was noted for having an extraordinarily large mouth. His eating habits led to a striking physical condition; when not eating, his stomach skin sagged in folds, and after consuming food, it would distend like a balloon.
Tarrare's eating habits also induced significant physical reactions. He was known to sweat profusely and suffer from an unbearable body odor that intensified post-meal. In an era where personal hygiene was lacking, his stench was reportedly so overpowering that people preferred to keep their distance.
Section 1.2: The Challenges of Excessive Hunger
In 1788, Tarrare became a well-known street performer in Paris, showcasing his extraordinary eating skills. He was willing to try anything, even items unsuitable for human consumption. Snake meat was particularly favored, but he was always on the lookout for something that would shock the crowd.
However, his unusual appetite led to health complications. On one occasion, he suffered an intestinal blockage due to one of his bizarre meals, which required medical intervention. In a strange attempt to express gratitude to his physician, he offered to eat the doctor’s watch, but was firmly warned against it.
Chapter 2: Military Life and Experimentation
The first video, "Tarrare, the Hungriest Man in History," delves into Tarrare's extraordinary life and explores the depth of his insatiable hunger.
Tarrare's time in the French Revolutionary Army proved to be a disaster. While he excelled in performing additional tasks for extra food, his allotted rations were far from sufficient. He resorted to scavenging in trash heaps and latrines, and even broke into the medical tent to consume whatever he could find.
Eventually, he was granted quadruple rations, but this only seemed to whet his appetite further. Two doctors began to observe him, conducting various experiments to understand his condition. They found that he was apathetic yet would eat anything placed before him, including live cats and puppies, demonstrating an unyielding obsession with food.
The second video, "Episode 149: Tarrare: The Man Who Ate Everything," further explores the life of this strange individual, detailing his bizarre eating habits and the implications of his insatiable hunger.
The military discovered that Tarrare's unique ability to swallow small objects could serve as a means of communication, using him as a covert messenger. Unfortunately, his luck ran out when he was captured by the Prussians during a mission and, after enduring deprivation and torture, he divulged critical information.
After this incident, Tarrare, disillusioned with military life, sought help for his condition. Despite various treatments, his excessive appetite remained unabated. His behavior became increasingly alarming, as he was caught drinking the blood of patients and attempting to consume corpses.
Ultimately, suspicion grew when a 14-month-old child went missing, leading to accusations that Tarrare may have been involved.
In 1798, at the age of 26, he succumbed to tuberculosis. An autopsy revealed a stomach riddled with ulcers and a notably enlarged stomach, liver, and gallbladder