Threadjack: Some people have sworn that they rid their bodies of gallstones by drinking varying amounts of olive oil, either straight or in grapefruit juice. Those “stones” in their stools a day or two later were actually the undigested olive oil itself, which solidified when it got a little ways into the small intestine and contacted bile.
The Great Eater of Kent is supposed to have eaten an entire sheep at one sitting. How many calories are in one standard sheep?
On Tarrare: I recently heard some speculation about another rare disorder he may have had, though I can’t remember the name of it; as I recall, the disorder causes the body to be unable to produce and/or store fat. This leads to the sufferer having a gaunt, sickly appearance, a bloated stomach, seemingly insatiable hunger, and severe digestive problems. It does sound like him.
As far as documented cases go. A now defunct restaurant in the town I grew up in had a food challenge that consisted of:
64oz chicken fried steak
8 scoops of mashed potatoes
2 pints of gravy
1/2 loaf of bread
salad
green beans
a double slice of chocolate cheesecake
I’m guessing it was around 20,000 calories and was won only one time by a smaller lady.
We have our annual shift dinner tonight. I’ll let you know.