New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-01-09
,Er. Grn,.an,, Second Lecture.

Mr. S. GRAHAM, in his Lecture on Saturday
evening discussed mainly the fitness of Animal
Flesh as portion of the Food of Man. Premis-
ing that the statements, arguments and scientific
demonstrations on this point enboded in his large
work on The Science of Human Life, had never
been conuovertcd by any Medical Scientific
writer, he refuted the vulgar assumption that Man
cannot ice on vegetables alone, by reference to
che estabh she'd fact that at period in the HIS
tory of tie World hare one.half the Human
Race been hobitual fesh-eaters; while those most
addic;ed to such food are VIGOROUSLY the most
stupted, deforrned, feeble and short-hved races OF
men.
The argument attempted to be drawn from Physl-
oogy was met by tho authority of Baron Cuvier, the
very first Naturalist the world has known, who has
decided after profound investigation, that Man IS
not naturally or properly tiesheating animal.
On The same side arc arrayed Dr.. John Bell OF
Philadelphia, whose recent work is recognized by
the profession u. of high authority, Prof. huzzy
Or. John C. Warren, and many Of our most emf
nent physicians. No Medical man of the first class
has maintained the contrary.
TIE common argument maintains that men must
have been made to cat flesh because they do eat
it. This logic would prove that Whatever is, is
right in sense liberal enough satisfy the most
depraved and criminal. But Mr.. Graham showed
by facts that, not Man alone, but the Cow, The
Sheep, may be so pamPered with substances Ut
trrlv foreign To their nature and destructive TO
thsir we.being that thay shall utterly reject and
spurn their natural and hcalthful food. An in
stance was given in which sheep, taken on beard
a vessel for food, became pet with the sailors,
and was fed by them from their nesses until it
would eat salt beef with the highest relish. As
they could not think of eating such tavorte and
could no longer be troubled with it, they finally put
it ashore on one of tha Isles OF the Pacific, luxu
riantly covered to the waters edge with the sweet
est grass; but not moutktul would it est; 1t
seemed utterly unconscious that il ever had eaten
or could cal grass, and so remained till the ship
left it. The imnlinence of starvation could alone
bring it back TO the food of nature.
Mr. Graham urged that vegetable food was,
obviously and according to all Physiological expe-
rience and authority more conducive TO health TO
strength, 20 enduring vigor and longevity, than q
diet composed in good part of flesh. II was more
readily ard thoroughly assmilated by the human
system did not conduce to disease, and was every
way more innocent and salu,ary. Above ALL it
promoted the highest Development of The Intel
lectual as well as Physical powers, and was espe-
cialiy favorable to buoyancy OF spirits and glad
activity OF mind and body. The chronic diseases,
headaches, eanuI horrors, suicide, SO prevalent
amongst Us, have their origin in Physical depravty
and perverson they viii cease when Man has re-
turned 10 the simplicity and purity Of Nature.
Mr.. G. desired all 10 understand that, while he
knew Flesh-eating TO be injurious 10 Mans phys-
cal we-beirg. be did consider it the only or
even the greatest error of our popular dietelic
HABITS; he would have ii regarded test Of
right living. Over-egting was worse than moderate
Flesh-eatiug; q more universal and perhaps more
pernicieus error. Better eat moderately of the
lean fibre OF healthy animals than ear gluttoneusly
OF vegetable food only. He would not even insist
that all who cat flesh should break it off instantly
and entirely; might be better 10 break off gradl-
ally, rejecting first the grosser portion Of animal
food, then eating flesh but once day; then every
other day. and so on til the habit asd the desire
of ilesh-eating shall be conquered altogether. But
TO all be would say, Eat moderately, Eat simply,
Eat as veur judgement and rot your appetite
shall prescribe, and learn TO eat for the sake of
nouriskulent, and for the qualification of lust
Could our dietetc habits be firmly established on
such principles, the greedness of Gain the slavery
Of Toll the bitterness of Went, and the now uni
versal collision OF interest and effort founded in
Avarice and Sensual Appetite, would be banished
from among men
Mr.. Graham delivers his Third aad last Lecture
en- III Health and the means of preventing and
curing it, at the Society Library this evening We
believe every one who prizes Health or feels the
want OF !, will find this Lecture richly worth
heaIing ard needing.
q We refer our frsends who are need OF Overshoes
TO the advertisement OF Mr. D. Hodgensa No. 81 Maiden