Fruits and Farinacea the Proper Food of Man

PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE FIRST EDITION.

THE views advocated in the following pages differ so widely from those generally held by writers on dietetics, and are so diametrically opposed to the habits and customs of society in this country, that I am by no means sanguine of making many proselytes; but what will man not attempt, when fully convinced that he is laboring in the cause of truth? If perfectly satisfied that he has arrived at a correct and important result, opposition will only redouble his ardor in supporting and spreading the doctrine he has espoused. His steady perseverance in its defence will frequently expose him to the charge of enthusiasm or egotism; these, in fact, seem almost necessary to the man who would successfully advocate any new or not generally received opinion: every one is warm in what he considers a good cause; and he who observes the majority of society indifferent to the truth which he believes himself to possess, can scarcely avoid displaying the characteristics of the egotist.

By defending a fruit and farinaceous diet among my own friends, I have frequently incurred similar charges; I cannot, therefore, expect to be more leniently treated by literary and scientific critics. Perhaps, also, I may be accused of presumption, for daring to controvert points upon which physiologists are so generally agreed. It is very far from my wish to convey an impression that I place either my talents or acquirements on a par with those of the many learned and scientific discoverers who have written upon the subject, and whose views differ from my own: yet men of indifferent abilities have sometimes, by a steady and persevering attention to evidence, arrived at truths which have escaped the notice of more powerful intellects;

and "so limited is the human capacity, that the most exalted genius, and the deepest powers of investigation, have not been able to raise their possessors above the errors and prejudices of their age, on subjects which have not been made the peculiar object of their reflection." I therefore hope that my investigations will not be found so devoid of interest as some may at a first glance suppose; nor my deductions so wide of the truth as a reference to the long-established dietetic habits of my countrymen may seem to indicate: but whatever judgment the public may pass upon the opinions here advocated, at least it will be a satisfaction to feel that I have written with a sincere desire of benefiting society in general; and more especially its members who suffer from dyspepsia and other diseases. He who undertakes to bring a new or neglected subject before the public, finds it exceedingly difficult to adopt the best arrangement of which it will admit; and the probability is, that he will not defend his views with that clearness and force which, when more generally canvassed, might be brought to their support. Hence arguments which may appear forcible and conclusive to a person whose attention has been long and steadily directed to the subject, and who has viewed it in all its bearings, may be totally inadequate to produce conviction in others who have thought little about it.

Perhaps," as has been well observed, "the best mode of leading another to the apprehension of truth, is to show how we ourselves were convinced and, in the announcement of a new discovery, it is always well to explain how we were first impressed with the idea, and afterwards proceeded; for nature always tells her own tale best, and in the most impressive way by so doing, we in some measure place others in a similar position with ourselves, and enable them to judge through the same evidence which has convinced us." In accordance with this remark, I may briefly state, that I read an Essay on "Manifestations of Mind," about ten years ago, to the members of a small Literary Society, and attempted to trace the phenomena of sensation, from the lowest up to the highest forms of animated being. After the reading of the paper, and an interesting discussion on the similarity of structure in the organs of sense, and the resemblance of the nervous and cerebral development, in the superior classes of animals, to those of man, the following question occurred to me :-" Is man justified in slaughtering animals for his food; seeing that, by means of a beautifully-organized structure, they are rendered exquisitely sensible both of pleasure and pain?"

The answer I mentally returned to the inquiry was: "If the flesh of animals be necessary to the health, happiness, and longevity of man, then

the law of self-preservation will warrant his taking the life of animals;— provided he be guilty of no cruelty, and cause no unnecessary pain to the animal which he sacrifices to supply his wants; but if upon further inquiry it should appear that the life of man can be preserved, his health and strength maintained, his pleasure and happiness continued or rendered more pure and satisfactory, and the period of his mortal existence unabbreviated or prolonged, by a diet of which the flesh of animals forms no part,—then would neither wisdom nor benevolence sanction the horrid cruelties that are daily perpetrated, in order to pamper the perverted appetites of man." Believing the subject to be one of great interest, I determined to investigate it impartially, and resolved to adopt practically whatsoever should appear to be the plain dictates of nature. After carefully consulting the writings of Moses, traditionary records, comparative anatomy, physiology, chemistry, general history, and private experience, I arrived at the firm conviction, that the flesh of animals is not only unnecessary, but decidedly prejudicial to man's health and well-being. I therefore discontinued it, as an article of diet; and, persevering in spite of the fears and remonstrances of my friends, I was soon rewarded with better health and more real enjoyment than I had experienced during many years.

Having derived incalculable advantages from a strict adherence to a fruit and farinaceous diet, and being fully satisfied (after a long and patient investigation of evidence) that it is well adapted to all constitutions, in all climates fit for the residence of man, I can no longer resist the importunity of my friends to publish the result of my experience and inquiries.

Throughout the whole of these investigations I have preferred expressing my sentiments in the language of authors eminent for talents and scientific pursuits, rather than in words of my own; which must be my excuse for the many disconnected sentences and sudden transitions to be found in the work. On a careful perusal of the whole, I find much to be dissatisfied with ;-arising, in a great measure, from the many interruptions that have occurred during its composition; and I would gladly have re-written it, had not my avocations forbid the attempt. I therefore solicit the indulgence of the public towards its faults and imperfections.

For much valuable information on the points I have discussed, I am indebted to the works of Drs. Lambe, Grant, Carpenter, Southwood Smith, Prout, Bird, Roget, Pereira, Dick, and Müller; Professors Liebig, Lawrence, and Mulder; Baron Cuvier, Mr. J. F. Newton, and many others; more especially to the "Lectures on the Science of Human Life," by Mr. Sylvester Graham, of North America; which I would earnestly recommend to all who feel an interest in the subject.