Tarrare: The 18th-Century Man Who Ate Everything (Including Live Cats)

Tarrare, an 18th-century Frenchman, was infamous for consuming staggering quantities of food—and inedible objects—without ever feeling full. His bizarre condition baffled doctors and horrified onlookers, leaving a legacy as one of history’s most disturbing medical mysteries.

Who Was Tarrare?

Born in 1772, Tarrare exhibited extreme hunger from childhood. By adulthood, he could devour an entire bull’s liver in one sitting or swallow live cats, eels, and stones. His body emitted a foul odor, and his skin hung loosely despite his ravenous eating. Doctors diagnosed him with “polyphagia,” but the cause remained unknown.

Theories Behind His Hunger

• Brain Damage: Possible hypothalamus dysfunction affecting appetite regulation.
• Parasites: Tapeworms or other organisms draining nutrients.
• Psychological Disorder: Extreme pica (eating non-food items).

Tarrare’s autopsy revealed an enormously distended stomach and ulcerated organs, but no definitive answers. His case remains a cautionary tale in medical literature.

Could modern medicine solve Tarrare’s mystery? Share your theories with us!