Brooke Martin
The 18th-century Polish soldier Charles Domery and Tarrare, a French contemporary, were known for their insatiable appetites. Domery, who served in the Prussian and French armies, reportedly ate everything from candles to cats and up to five pounds of grass per day. Tarrare, who was turned out by his parents, swallowed live animals and apples during freak shows and later became a courier, swallowing messages and walking them across battle lines. While the cause of their extreme hunger remains unknown, modern doctors suspect that polyphagia, an intense desire to eat due to an underlying medical condition, may have been a factor. Similar cases have been observed in animals and humans with biological growths in specific brain regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names | Charles Domery, Tarrare |
| Place of Origin | Domery: Poland; Tarrare: France |
| Period | 18th century |
| Appetite | Insatiable |
| Food Choices | Cats, dogs, raw meat, grass, rats, medicines, candles |
| Behaviour | Happy and cheerful, danced, smoked |
| Medical Condition | Polyphagia |
| Brain Abnormalities | Inflammatory cells on the hypothalamus |
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What You'll Learn
Charles Domery's insatiable appetite
Charles Domery, born in Poland in 1778, had an insatiable appetite. From the age of 13, he had an unusually large appetite. He joined the Prussian Army in a war against the French but constantly complained about the lack of food. The Prussians put him on extra rations, but the food quantity still couldn't satisfy him. He then switched sides to the French, but his hunger remained unsatisfied. French officers reported him eating all available food, followed by all available cats, and up to five pounds of grass per day.
When the British captured him in 1799, they were shocked by his voracious appetite. He was put on rations ten times larger than those given to any of his fellow prisoners, but he remained hungry. He ate the prison cat and at least 20 rats, and regularly consumed the prison's candles. He also ate the leftover medicines of prisoners in the camp's infirmary. His rations were increased until he was granted the rations of ten men each day.
The British doctors then decided to experiment on him to test the limits of his hunger. In one such experiment, he was fed 4 lbs of raw cow's udder at 4 am, which he ate without hesitation. At 9:30 am, he was given 5 lbs of raw beef, 12 large candles, and a bottle of porter, all of which he consumed. At 1 pm, he was given another 5 lbs of beef, a pound of candles, and three bottles of porter, and he ate and drank it all. Throughout the experiment, he did not defecate, urinate, or vomit, and his pulse and skin temperature remained normal. The doctors observing him saw no signs of mental illness and considered him to be of normal intelligence.
The cause of Domery's appetite remains a mystery, although it is suspected that polyphagia, an intense desire to eat due to an underlying medical condition, may have been a factor.
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Tarrare's hunger and suspected crimes
Tarrare was a Frenchman who went from performing in carnivals to becoming a spy and, eventually, a suspected murderer. He was turned out by his parents and participated in freak shows where he swallowed live animals and gulped down whole apples. He also ate pet cats and dogs. When a 14-month-old child disappeared, Tarrare was suspected but never convicted. He was driven out of the hospital and died of tuberculosis a few years later.
Tarrare's hunger may have been caused by a biological growth in certain areas of his brain. Research has shown that when a cat's amygdala (the centre of emotions and motivation) was destroyed, it kept feeding until it became obese. Similarly, when a human man developed inflammatory cells on his hypothalamus (the part of the brain that deals with hormones), he became endlessly hungry and ate until he was obese. Tarrare's insatiable hunger, or polyphagia, may have been caused by a similar condition.
Tarrare's condition can be compared to that of Charles Domery, an 18th-century Polish soldier with a voracious appetite. He served in the Prussian and French armies and was eventually captured by the British. Despite being put on rations ten times larger than usual, he remained hungry and ate the prison cat, at least 20 rats, and the prison's candles. Doctors observed no signs of mental illness in Domery and noted that he remained in good health despite his extreme eating habits.
Domery became the subject of medical experiments to test the limits of his hunger. In one experiment, he consumed 16 pounds of raw cow's udder, raw beef, tallow candles, and four bottles of porter without defecating, urinating, or vomiting. The cause of his appetite remains unknown, but it is suspected that polyphagia, an intense desire to eat due to an underlying medical condition, may have been a factor.
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The biological causes of polyphagia
Polyphagia, or hyperphagia, is a condition characterised by an intense desire to eat, often due to an underlying medical condition. While the exact biological causes of polyphagia are not yet fully understood, there are several theories and factors that have been proposed to explain this phenomenon.
One theory suggests that polyphagia may be related to abnormalities in specific areas of the brain. For example, research has shown that damage to the amygdala, the centre of emotions and motivation in the brain, can lead to excessive eating and obesity in cats. Similarly, a human case has been documented where the development of inflammatory cells on the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that regulates hormones throughout the body, resulted in insatiable hunger and obesity. In addition, stimulation of the hypothalamus in rats led to increased feeding behaviour, suggesting that disruptions or alterations in these brain regions may contribute to polyphagia.
Another potential biological cause of polyphagia is abnormal blood glucose levels. Individuals with polyphagia may experience rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels, leading to intense hunger and an increased drive to consume food. This theory is supported by the observation that individuals with polyphagia often exhibit a preference for sugary or high-calorie foods.
Genetic factors may also play a role in the development of polyphagia. Certain genetic variations or mutations could influence appetite regulation, energy metabolism, or hormone production, all of which could contribute to excessive eating behaviour. However, the specific genetic components involved are still being investigated, and our understanding of the genetic basis of polyphagia remains limited.
Additionally, polyphagia can be a symptom of several medical conditions, including endocrine disorders such as Cushing's syndrome or hyperthyroidism, which can disrupt the body's hormone balance and lead to increased hunger. Lesions or tumours in the brain or gastrointestinal tract can also cause polyphagia, as they may affect the normal functioning of these systems, including the regulation of hunger and satiety signals.
While the exact biological causes of polyphagia remain to be fully elucidated, it is likely that a combination of genetic, neurological, and physiological factors contribute to this complex condition. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of polyphagia and develop more effective strategies for its management.
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The men's physical reactions to eating
The physical reactions of Charles Domery, the Polish soldier with an insatiable appetite, were monitored by British doctors and researchers. Despite consuming vast amounts of food, including raw meat, rats, cats, and candles, Domery showed no signs of vomiting, defecating, or urinating. His pulse remained regular, and his skin temperature did not change. Notably, he did not exhibit any outward signs of ill health; his eyes were described as lively, his tongue clean, and his muscles normally formed. Doctors observing him noted that he was of normal intelligence and did not display any signs of mental illness.
During one experiment, Domery was fed 4 lbs (1.8 kg) of raw cow's udder at 4 am, which he ate without hesitation. At 9:30 am, he consumed 5 lbs (2.3 kg) of raw beef, 12 large candles, and a bottle of porter. For lunch at 1 pm, he ate another 5 lbs of beef, a pound of candles, and three bottles of porter. Despite the enormous quantity and unusual nature of this diet, Domery's physical reaction was one of contentment, and he was described as being in "particularly good cheer" upon his return to his quarters at 6:15 pm. He danced, smoked his pipe, and drank another bottle of porter.
The cause of Domery's extreme appetite remains a mystery, although it has been speculated that polyphagia, an intense desire to eat due to an underlying medical condition, may have played a role. Modern doctors have also suggested that biological growth in certain areas of the brain, such as the hypothalamus, could lead to similar uncontrollable hunger.
Tarrare, a French contemporary of Domery, also exhibited unusual eating habits. He participated in freak shows, swallowing live animals and whole apples. Tarrare once ate a 14-month-old child and was driven out of the hospital, eventually dying of tuberculosis. While Tarrare's physical reactions to his extreme diet are not as well documented as Domery's, it is clear that both men suffered from insatiable hunger that drove them to consume whatever they could.
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The men's mental states
Charles Domery, also known as Charles Domerz, was born in Poland in 1778. From the age of 13, he had an unusually large appetite. He served in the Prussian and French armies and was eventually captured by the British in 1799. Despite being put on rations ten times larger than those of his fellow prisoners, he remained hungry and was recorded as having eaten the prison cat, at least 20 rats, and the prison's candles. He also ate the medicines of those prisoners who refused to take them.
Doctors who observed Domery saw no signs of mental illness and, although illiterate, he was considered to be of normal intelligence. His eyes were lively, his tongue was clean, and his pulse was regular. He showed no outward signs of ill health and had no adverse effects from eating the medicines.
However, one source mentions that a human man who developed inflammatory cells on his hypothalamus—the part of the brain that deals with hormones throughout the body—became endlessly hungry and ate until he became obese. This may provide some clues as to why Domery felt starved despite consuming large quantities of food.
Tarrare, a French man who lived around the same time as Domery, had a similar insatiable appetite. He roamed the countryside, participating in freak shows during which he swallowed live animals and gulped down whole apples. He also worked as a courier during a war with Prussia, swallowing messages and walking them across battle lines. Tarrare was suspected of murdering a 14-month-old child and was driven out of the hospital. He died of tuberculosis a few years later.
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Frequently asked questions
Charles Domery was a Polish soldier with an insatiable appetite. He reportedly ate everything from cats to candles as a prisoner of the British in the late 1700s. The cause of his extreme appetite remains a mystery, although it is suspected that polyphagia, an intense desire to eat due to an underlying medical condition, may have been a factor.
When Domery was captured by the British, they attempted to satisfy his appetite by increasing his rations. However, this proved insufficient, and he continued to eat non-food items such as candles and rats. The British doctors then conducted experiments to test his eating capacity and tolerance for unusual foods.
Tarrare was a Frenchman who participated in freak shows and swallowed live animals. He was driven out of the hospital and later died of tuberculosis. While there is no record of him being studied by doctors, his condition resembled that of Domery, and he is suspected of eating a 14-month-old child.
