# Emil Weilshäuser

Emil Weilshäuser (31 July 1827 – unknown) was a German publisher, writer, translator, and activist. He was a leading figure in the early German vegetarianism and anti-vivisection movement and published and translated a number of English-language works on vegetarianism into German. He also authored several works on the subject, including a vegetarian cookbook, which went through several editions. Weilshäuser served as President of the Vegetarian Society of Germany from 1882 to 1885 and was a member of the British Vegetarian Society and Victoria Street and International Anti-Vivisection Society. Additionally, he advocated for women in medicine. He was also associated with the Lebensreform movement.

## Biography
### Early life and education

Emil Weilshäuser was born in Oppeln, Silesia, on 31 July 1827, as the sixth child in a family where his father was a printer. Educated at the local gymnasium, he learned printing in his father's office. His eldest brother, Gustave, a lifelong vegetarian who died in 1890, was a strong influence.$^{:484}$

### Conversion to vegetarianism

Weilshäuser became a vegetarian after a butchered calf fixed their dying gaze on him. In May 1844, his brother lent him Wilhelm Zimmerman's Der Weg zum Paradies ("The Way to Paradise"), which solidified his commitment to vegetarianism. Despite early opposition from his father, reading Gustav Struve's Mandaras' Wanderungen ("The Wanderings of Mandaras") and Jean-Antoine Gleizes's Thalysie further reinforced his beliefs. Weilshäuser translated Thalysie into German but struggled to find a publisher.$^{:484}$

### Emigration and career

In 1850, Weilshaeuser emigrated to Texas with fellow Silesians but returned the following year due to the challenges of maintaining his vegetarianism. From 1855 to 1862, he ran a printing office in Neustadt, Silesia. After several failed business attempts, he retired with a modest income, realizing his true talent did not lie in business.$^{:484}$

### Involvement in vegetarian and anti-vivisection societies

Weilshäuser became a member of the British Vegetarian Society in October 1852, with his declaration signed by James Simpson, serving as a Foreign Corresponding Secretary. Weilshäuser was also an Honorary Corresponding Member of the Victoria Street and International Anti-Vivisection Society (later the National Anti-Vivisection Society). In 1870, Weilshäuser published a pamphlet, translated from English, which criticized vivisection.
Weilshäuser later returned to Oppeln. He attended the inaugural meeting of the Vegetarian Society of Germany in May 1869. Following the death of Eduard Baltzer, he served as president and remained in the post for three years.$^{:484}$
In 1888, Weilshäuser wrote to the British Vegetarian Society, congratulating them on reaching their 41st anniversary.$^{:416}$ In 1907, he again wrote to them, commending them on reaching their diamond jubilee.

### Contributions to vegetarian literature

Weilshäuser published several influential works in the German vegetarian movement between 1855 and 1861. His most notable work was the twelve-volume Familienbibliothek: Gesundheit, Wohlstand, und Gluck ("Family Library: Health, Wealth, and Happiness") containing translations of major treatises on vegetarianism and hygiene by prominent authors such as O. S. Fowler, Lydia Fowler, R. G. Gammage, Sylvester Graham, William Horsell, F. R. Lees, T. L. Nichols, A. Nicholson, James Scholefield, John Smith, Laroy Sunderland, and F. Towgood.
The first use of the German word for vegetarianism ("vegetarianismus") in a book is attributed to an 1855 work published by Weilshäuser, Was ist Vegetarianismus?, a translation of William Horsell's What is Vegetarianism?. An appendix, published in 1856, contained recipes from Vegetable Cookery by the English cookbook writer Martha Brotherton. In 1871, Weilshäuser authored a vegetarian cookbook, containing an extensive collection of recipes. It went through several editions, with later ones containing illustrations. In 1886, he authored a book arguing for vegetarianism from a scientific perspective, Wissenschaftliche Zeugnisse zu Gunsten der vegetarianischen Lebensweise ("Scientific evidence in favor of the vegetarian lifestyle").
In 1876, Emil Weilshäuser, along with others, including Theodor Hahn, co-published Der Vegetarianer: Zeitschrift für naturgemäße Nähr- und Lebensweise ("The Vegetarians: Newspaper for a Natural Way of Eating and Living"), a German-language periodical dedicated to the promotion of vegetarianism and natural living. The magazine, which ran from May 1876 to December 1877, was one of the earliest publications of its kind, offering readers 12 issues per year that explored topics related to natural nutrition, lifestyle, and the ethical considerations of a vegetarian diet. Published in both St. Gallen, Switzerland, and Berlin, Germany.$^{:340}$

### Advocacy for women in medicine

In 1868, Weilshäuser brought the debate in England and America about allowing women to be doctors to the wider public in Germany, with his paper "Weibliche Ärzte fü Frauen" ("Female Doctors for Women"). In his speech, he quoted English physician Dr. James Edmunds at the opening of the Female Medical Society in London, predicting the reaction of German opponents to women studying medicine: "Although fulfilling our desire would honor the insight of highly civilized nations, as with any new reform, the voices of opponents can multiply from the toad pond of old prejudices.".

### Death

The date and location of Weilshäuser's death is unknown.

## Legacy

German historian Wolfgang R. Krabbe [de] considers Weilshäuser the "most important propagandist [of the vegetarian idea] before 1866".

## Selected publications

* Was ist Vegetarianismus? Eine Beleuchtung dieses Universal-Princips (translation of William Horsell's "What is Vegetarianism?"; 1855)
* Weibliche Aerzte für Frauen, Mädchen und Kinder Ein Wort zur Beherzigung für alle wahren Freunde des socialen Fortschritts ("Female Doctors for Women, Girls, and Children: A Word to Heed for All True Friends of Social Progress"; with Russell Thacher Trall; 1868)
* Gesundheit, Wohlstand und Glück ("Health, Wealth and Happiness"; Vol. 2., 1868; Vol. 3, 1870)
* Vegetarisches Kochbuch ("Vegetarian Cookbook"; 1871; 1883; 1896 illustrated edition)
* Wissenschaftliche Zeugnisse zu Gunsten der Vegetarianischen Lebensweise ("Scientific Evidence in Favour of the Vegetarian Lifestyle"; 1886)