Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-13
NJ | s c E L L A N Y
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Is MAN OMNIVOROUS

Messrs. Editors With your consent,
| would direct the attention of your read
ers To- the consideration of this subject, as
one of no medium importance. Whatev-
er will tend to the foil development OF
mans physical nature anc mental powers
is of the utmost value for him 10 acquire.
Doubtless the ancient axiom, know thy
sell, !" originated from a perception of the
Intrinsic value Of such knowledge. Your
paper, am happy TO fad, is devoted to To-
formation OF this character. 1t nobly takes
stand against scholastic jargon and col
legiaie diclation, and boldly procIaims the
secrets of science in popular language. and
places knowledge within the reach OF the
humblest denizen. Let there be light"
and none but fools and hypocrites need
fear; nay, man shall rejoice 10 its bright
efdlgence.
| But, IS man omnirorouS? Much has
been said and written in mystic language
by medical men on this question /; aud,
when doctors disagree, who but the people
are 20 decided Let us,lherefore, make the
inquiry In a simple, common sense way,
and see if he subject is within our com.
prehension.
The animal kingdom is divided into
three kinds of eaters-the carnivorous, tine
omnivorous and the frugivorors. One of
the arguments in favor OF the affirmative Of
the question placed al tle head of this ar
ticle, is
Nuns capability.-He is so formed
that he can and does adapt himself 10 his
diet whether it be human flesh, as ealen
by cannibals, train oil oy the Esqimaux,
roast beef by the English, or simple rice
by the Brahim. Hence it is urged. mans
omnvorousness is evident from his known
capabiIity 10 live on animal, vegetable, or
mixed food. But, some fifty years ago,
man was classed amongst the carnivorous
eaters, and if such an argument as the
above had been advanced, its advocates
would probobly have replied that
CarairorOus Animals haze The Same
CIpobiiity.-All flesh-satrg animal ,eaf,
also, more or less vegetables and fruit !;
and even vegetable eating animals have
been made 10 live on flesh. Baron Gu
vier says" A lamb, which was fed for
some time ON flesh, by ships crew; re-
fused It's natural diet at the end OF the
voyage. There are numerous instances
Of horses, sheep, oxen and even wood-plg-
cons having been taught to live upon flesh
until they have loathed their natuarl al
ment" the capGbiltty of living. there
fore, upon any peculiar Diet is no proof al
all Of natural adaptabilily; that can be
more correctly discovered by compare
| tive examination Of the structure, physiol-
ogv and instinct of animals Again, the
hog und rat are the only indspu,ed omniv-
orous animals-and must it be granted
that man is naturally SO great slave to
sensualism, that he is to be classed with
these gross animals, as omniyorous
Rather, BY far. lei US be named with The Ii
on, The tiger. or the dog, than degrade hu-
man nature by coupling Man with Hoo.
Let US, however. cancidIy investigate
the matter without prrjudice, and with a
sincere 6esireto arrive at he truth. Let
US see whether there is any thing in the
anatomy or physiology of man, that, by
careful comparison, classes him with
those animals instinctiyely subsisting on
carniyorous food, or that assimilates him
|
70 the omuivoruos animals.
II is not Necessary TO prove that through
| out all nature there are evidences ofdesIgn
Means are adapted to ends. There is NO
superfuity. The purposes and plans o.
the Creator are consistent. uniform and IN.
changing. Unvtialed instinct is even
/, more to be relied on, tnan human reason
The accompaniment of an Uniform diges
tire structure in diversity Of animals
i ,Oih an uniform instinctire sus.enGnce
: clearly demonstrates a laD of nature lcitl
regard 10 the diet of such digeslice struc
/. twrs in tOhatsrer animals found. II, from
y an examination OF the structure and oper
o atoms Of the digestive apparatus of man,
s should appear to correspond with that Q
q carnlvorous or flesh ealing animals,
would be evidence OF purpose or design G
a similarity of subsistence-it would prov
y that he is carnivorous. II the formation
y corresponds TO the omnvorous then ma
m must be classed as an omnivorous ANNA
II, however, it corresponds with the fru
givorous,it must be admitted as evidence
'r purpose or design on the part Of the Gre,
sr tor, of mans subsisting wholly on fruit
: and vegetables. as is done by frugivorou
animals.
: The digestive apparatus consists. brie
: ly, Of teeth. jaws. saIivary glands, the gu
is let or esophsgus, being the pipe leadin