East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-04-06
NUMBER 243.

Influence Of Fcod uron tho Intellect.
Very few well informed persons dis
pute the fact that the nature of food
taken by man has an influence upon
his brain on mental power. 1t is un-
questionable that certain kindsof food
are injurious 10 beasts, and produce
or tend to induce disease; and this pc
culiarity has a proportionato evil ef-
feet upon the animal part Of man.
Other matter taken into the system
for refreshments or luxury, snch as
drink on narcotics, has some influence
upon the character Of those who par
take Of it. National traits and char
acteristics are thus developed, and we
SEQ Germans and IIollanders heavy,
slow thinkers, solid rather than bill-
liant, and given to sluggishncss ratl-
or than bodily activity Can not tho
cause OF this be found in tho quantity
of beer, tobacco and highly seasoned
cooker VIII chis consumed ly the peo-
pie; and may we not trace some OF the
prominent traits of the French char
acter to the quality of the diet and
drink they subsist ON {? Whatever con-
clusion we may arrive at (for the quos-
ton is an open one, and susceptible of
much discuss;on), We may not venture
to dispute tho results ofactual exI ori-
ments on this subject, made by learn
cd physicians somc account of their
researches we append herewith
In the excellent work of Pref. Mo-
lcschott, Of Zurich, Lehtre der Nahrw.g-
mttel FIR das JoA, the influence Of
diet on the intellect is dwelt upon at
great length. 4" 1t is well known
fact" says this philosopher, ''that
changes of food have transformed the
wild cat into the domestic fire-sido
companion, from carniryerous ami
NAL with short intestines- Il h"e, IL
grndnnlIy hoaoming accustomed TO
other food, become transformed into
another being, enabled by,a long in
testinal canal to digest vegetable food,
which in it's naturrl state it never
touches. Food, therefore, makes tl.o
most rapacious and perfdous animal
in the world an inmate with man,
agreeing with children, and rarely, ex-
cept to a close observer, revealing it's
former guileful character. Are We,
then, to wonder that tribes Of mon
become ardent phlcgmatic, strong or
feeble, courageous or cowsrdly,
thoughtful or ilnintelligent, according
to tho different kinds of ailments they
take If food is transformed into
blood, blood into nerve and muscle,
bone and brain, must not the ardor OF
the heart, the strength Of tho muscles,
the frmnoss of the, body, the activity
Of the brain, be dependant upon the
constituents Of food? Again, III treat
ing Of tile diet of the artist, II litera-
ry man, the author states that ga well
baked bread and lean meat, combined
with young Vegetables and such roots
MS are easy of digestion and contain a
consider able proportion of sugar. fol m
a wholesome diet for thinkers and po-
cts; large quantity Of leguminous
seeds, heavy bread, rich gravy and
greasy meat, create those irritable,
morose and almost always slender
statesmen, who hayo permitted gloomy
thought and gloomy Imagination TO
eclipse all happier views of ilifo in
them, or that they have come. to con-
slider rods and fettcfs as the most in-
portant promoters and protectors Of
civilization. ."--Seieat!fc 4merierD