code: public void fatal( final Object message )
      {
          if( m_delegate.isFatalEnabled() && message != null )
          {
              m_delegate.fatal( message.toString(), null );
          }
      }
docs: Log a message object with the FATAL Level.
  
  <p>
  This method first checks if this category is <code>FATAL</code> enabled
  by comparing the level of this category with FATAL
  Level. If the category is <code>FATAL</code> enabled, then it converts
  the message object passed as parameter to a string by invoking the
  appropriate org.apache.log4j.or.ObjectRenderer. It proceeds to
  call all the registered appenders in this category and also higher in
  the hierarchy depending on the value of the additivity flag.
  </p>
  
  <p>
  <b>WARNING</b> Note that passing a {@link Throwable} to this method will
  print the name of the Throwable but no stack trace. To print a stack
  trace use the {@link #fatal(Object,Throwable)} form instead.
  </p>
  
  @param message the message object to log