The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-17

called dinner and festival where there was moth
ing, not even vegetables, to eat and string of
toasts without much as cold water to drink them
with. The festival, which was announced ct Q dol
lar per head was abandoned either because persons
could not be found to purchase tickets for dinner,
consisting exclusively of vegetable food because
the whole thing was regarded as humbug by
the citizens of New York, who could not be
induced to attend under any circumstances.
The prime movers were DR.. T. Nichols, of the
Cold Water Cure, and Dr. William A. Alcott,
the president both having books to sell, and prac-
tce to acquire upon the vegetarian plan. Professor
Muzzy it seems is also doctor; and the greater part
Of his speech consisted of extracts from his diary,
showing how successful the vegetarian system has
been in his hands, in curing chronic diseases of the
digestive organs, and producing good health in
general.
We have no doubt that, if the homeopathists held
a meeting, they could show equally conclusively
that their system of intnitessimal doses Of medi-
cine is "a more excellent way;'' and the allopa-
thists would prove both wrong, and demonstrate the
necessity ofpert wine, porter champagne, beefsoup,
chickens, Wild fowl, and other highly nutritious
concentrated food as absolutely necessary for nva
ids, with. in the of the dyspeptic special pro-
vision against the Of vegetables, causing in
diges ~, / u q cy and other ailments. Doctors
thus differing, and each praising his own nostrum,
like the currier who maintaned that here moth
ing like leather, who will undertake to decide which
is right and which is wrong!
If doctors disagree,
Disciples then are free.
It appears to us that men, like the lower animals,
find out the food that is most suited to them; and
30 hast sda ha 0tr in
Decd if man, with reason to direct him, in addition
to his natural instincts as an animal, should not
have discovered, since the beginning of the world
till the present time what kind Of food is most pro-
per for his use till Cheyne or Graham enlightened
him on the subject.
Like most other isms, they appeal to the Bible
that much perverted book-by which it is attempted
to sustain every kind of doctrine that was let
loose in the four quarters Of the world Even the ad
vocates of womens rights quote the Bible in therfa-
vor though all other persons fordinary understand
rg find the whole tenor Of the scriptures against
them One of the texts quoted by the Vegetarans is
edo not kill; Tin the original it is Commit not homi
eide" or "do no murder;'') and this, they hold is
prohibition against killing animals, though the very
same code directs animals to be killed in sacrifice,
and gives minute directions to what kind of ami.
mails should be eaten and what not, such as swine.
This was under the Mosaic law but under the
Christian code the restriction to unclean ami
mails was removed, and man was permitted to eat
whatever he pleased. St. Peter tells US how, when
he was hungry, and fell asleep, he saw in vision
vessel descending from heaven, with oil manner of
beasts and fowls of the air, and voice said to him.
Rise, Peter, kill and eat" And when he objected
tne voice said, " What God hath cleansed that call
not thou common" The Bible, therefore, does not
afford any support to the Vegetarians either in the
Old Testament or the New, and some Of them con-
scous of this 60 back to the Garden of Eden where
they say the first pair lived upon fruits alone. We
also read that they had no garments. The Bloom
ers have taken one step in that direction. Do the
vegetarians propose that we should 60 absolutely
naked
The idea put forward by some Of the speakers, Of
men being ethsrealized by the exclusive use Of ve
getabe ood till they lose all grossness and be like
The angels, or Adam and Eve, in a state of limo
cence, is most happy and original way Of bringing
about the millennium; butt unfortunately for the
gument, horses and which live upon grass and
gran and eat animal food, do not appear to be
making much progress towards becoming pure spirits
Again, this aspiration gives fat contradiction to
the claim Of the Vegetarians for their avorte food
which they say supplies as powerful thews and
muscles, and as large bones and as copious flow
Of blood animal food; SO that instead Of bringing
men almost to the condition of disembodied spirits
it makes them greater animals than does any other
kind of nutriment
But fthe Bible does not sustain them they have the
authority of long list of names, from P thagoras
who believed in the transmigration Of souls, and
fca ha ant oh ha bo
his father, and Diogenes the cync philosopher, in
his tub, whose bottom it was said could not bear
very close examination, down to Horace Greeley,
who, according to report, eats in private, pork 80
fat that the stomach Of an Icelander could
hardly digest it. Curious enough, Lord BY
ron is classed among the vegetarians. Vegetable
food, if he lived on it, did not appear to have
much influence on his licentious habits, his dark
passions and miAnthropic character, nor even N
preserving his health Certain it is that he drank
wine pretty freely, which is strictly prohibited by
the vegetarian theory, being regarded than
even animal food. No doubt, many of the other
authorities adduced will be found TO be equally vsri-
table. But why do these gentlemen not quote the
long list Of distinguished men, ancient and modern,
vhs used animal food, with other gifts of the gods
and did not find it to interfere with their bodily
health, or the development of their intellectual
powers?
The truth is, that no general rule can be laid
down, and the propriey ola particular kind of food
depends on variety of circumstances, climate,
constitution, and habits. In very hot climates ma
ture points out and supplies in abundance fruits
and farinaceous food, as the chief sustenanse
of man In extremely cold climates, on the other
hand, those fruits not to be found, because
they not fit to sustain animal life in such lati-
tudes; and animal food and even the most fat and
oily substances, are found necessary to maintain
the vital heat In moderate climates, both ANNA
and vegetable food, and fruits, are used with nd
vantage, the proportion Of each depend
ing on the sedentary or active habits
each individual. his constitution thu atatn q