I'ASCIME 104 FASTING (2) Formerly as a support to the breast by women. (3) Formerly as a bandage round the legs, especially of women, from the ankle to the knee, serving as a protec- tion or a support to the legs of the wearer, a practice that was adopted in Europe in the Middle Ages. (4) As a bandage for enswathing the bodies of infants, as practiced by the modern peasants of Italy. In anatomy, a thin, tendon-like cover- ing surrounding the muscles of the linibs, and binding them in their places; a tendinous expansion or aponeurosis. The fasciae are named from (1) the position, as the anal and lumbar fasciae; (2) from some peculiar function, as the cremasteric; or (3) from some pecu- liarity, as the cribriform fascia. In architecture, a flat architectural mem- ber in an entablature or elsewhere; a band or broad fillet. The architrave in the more elegant orders of architecture is divided into three bands, which are called fasciae; the lowest being called the first fascia, the middle one the second, and the upper one the third. When there are only two fasciae, they are called the upper and the lower. The term is also applied to the board or strip over a shop front, on which the name, etc., of the owner or occupier is written. In astronomy, formerly the belt of a planet. In entomology, a broad, transverse band. In surgery, a bandage, roller, or ligature. FASCINE, in fortification, a cylindri- cal bundle of faggots or brushwood used in revetments of earthworks. When the limbs are stouter and longer than usual, it is called a saucisse or saucisson. In civil engineering fascines are used in making sea and river walls to protect shores subject to washing; or to collect sand, silt, and mud to raise the bottom and gradually form an island, either as a breakwater against inroads, or for purposes of cultivation, as in Holland. FAST, total or partial abstinence from or deprivation of food; an omission to take food. Also a time set apart to ex- press national grief for some calamity, or to deprecate an impending evil. Ethnic Fasts. — The old Egyptians, the Assyrians (Jonah iii : 5), the Greeks, Romans, and other ancient nations had most of them stated or occasional fasts, as have the modern Mohammedans, Hin- dus, etc. Jewish Fasts. — The Day of Atonement was the only fasting day enjoined by the law of Moses, but the Mishna speaks of four others, respectively commemorating the storming of Jerusalem by Nebuchad- nezzar, the burning of the Temple by Titus, the sack of Jerusalem by Nebu- chadnezzar, and the receiving by Ezekiel and the other captives of the news of the destruction of Jerusalem. There were also fasts proclaimed by royal or other authority on special occasions (I Kings xxi: 9-12; II Chron. xx: 3; Ezra viii: 2). For the spiritual and unspiritual way of keeping a fast, see Isaiah Iviii : 3. Christian Fasts. — No stated fasts are enjoined in the New Testament; they arose subsequently, the Lent fast taking the lead (see Lent). In the 3d century the Latins fasted on the seventh day. In A. D. 813 the Council of Mentz in its 34th canon ordered a fast the first week in March, the second week in June, the third week in September, and the last full week preceding Christmas eve. In the Episcopalian and Roman Catholic Churches the principal fasts of the year are Lent, the Ember days, All-Saints, the Immaculate Conception, Rogation days, and the eves or vigils before cer- tain festivals; as before Christmas day. Some of these fasts are common to both Churches. Modern Fasts. — Several times in the course of political events have different Christian governments proclaimed days of fasting and prayer. As a notable antitype of this custom may be mentioned the American National Thanksgiving, in which feasting and not fasting is the salient feature. See also Fasting. FASTI. Numa Pompilius (715 B, c. to 673 B. c), instituted the custom of mark- ing monthly records of the feasts, games, etc., observed at Rome, on tables of stone. These, preserved by the priests, became the calendar by which the course of pub- lic business and of justice was regulated. C. Flavius copied these fasti, 306 B. c, and exhibited them in the Forum; and they subsequently became a kind of abridged annals, recording the names of public magistrates and the most impor- tant political events. FASTING, in ordinary language, the act or state of abstaining partially or entirely from food. In medicine, loss of appetite without any other apparent af fection of the stomach; so that the sys tern can sustain almost total abstinence ior a long time without fainting. For a number of years a lively discussion has been carried on as to the length of time a human being could exist while volun- tarily fasting. Dr. Tanner, in New York City, fasted for 40 days without any ill- effects, and his fast found several imita- tors. Nothing of scientific value resulted from the experiment. Terence McSwiney, Lord-Mayor of Cork, Ireland, refused
