The Mystery of Tarrare

In eighteenth-century France, a young man named Tarrare became notorious for an appetite that appeared to have no limit. Despite remaining remarkably thin, he could consume meals intended for entire groups, swallow objects and reportedly eat live animals. After performing on the streets of Paris, he joined the French Revolutionary Army, where military doctors began studying his extraordinary condition. But Tarrare's story soon became darker. The army attempted to use him as a secret courier, experimental treatments failed, and the disappearance of a young child resulted in a horrifying—but unproven—accusation. In this episode of Compact Mysteries, we examine the historical evidence, the disturbing medical reports and the theories that might explain one of medicine's strangest unsolved cases. Visit our website: Compact Mysteries Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #CompactMysteries #Tarrare #MedicalMystery #UnsolvedMysteries #StrangeHistory #HistoricalMysteries