Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-08-26
.A Raid o. Hyr,sn..,

to DR.. Beardtarticle in Appleton's Journal,
recently re-publlshed In the COMMERCIAL.
His reply Is as follows:--
Philosophers, Philanthropists, Reformers
Of all persuaslons, and Physicians of all
schools, have expended much talent in teach
ing the people Hygiene, according to their
respective lights; but, now, for the first
time In human history, we nave an attempt
to write hygiene down. We suspect the
red0ubtable champion of anti-hygiene will
iind hard road to travel but his founder
lngs are amusing, If not Instructive. With
this prelusive flourish we approach the sub
ject.
In dPpleton'S Journal of Popular Lit
erdture, Science, and Art, for June 26,
1863, is the first of series of articles on
Popular Fallacies Concerning Hygiene, u
by George NJ. Beard, M. ID. Article No. |
is entitled, ''Dietetical Fallacies." We know
not by what technicality to characterize it.
It presents no argument. 1t gives no logic.
It quotes no facts. 1t states no principles.
1t does not try to reason. 1t only asserts
and misrepresents. 1t seems to be sort Of
rant against Vegetarianism, combined with
asplurge in favor of unlimited eating. Per
Sc the article is unworthy of criticism. DE
fdcto it is beneath contempt. 1t is not,
therefore, sohdt 1t is, but t0here it is, that
induces us to notice it.
APpteten's Journal has a large circula-
tion.. 1t processes to take high ground as
an educational and literary periodical. Its
influence cannot but be great on the opinions
and habits of many of its numerous readers ;
hence errors on the intellectually important
subject OF Hygiene, however absurdly ut
tered, through its colums, must of necessity
have disastrous influence.
We have been Obliged to notice that near
ly every daily newspaper, weekly journal,
monthly magazine, which has been started
in New York, Philadelphia, or Boston,
within the last twenty years, has sought
popularity and patronage by pandering to
the preJudices and depraved appeteuces of
the masses. Perhaps this is the only way to
make the business pay; and so fashion and
habit are made the standards of truth, as
Olive Logan makes them the criterion Of
propriety in dress. On the Temperance
question, the Dress question, the Tobacco
question, the Diet question, the Medical
question, and all of the progressive and re-
iormatory problems of the day, new literary
aspirants for popular favor almost invariably
either take both sides, 80 as 10 please every-
body little and offend nobody very much.
or else go dead against the reform, SO as tt,
be with the majority.
Dr. Beard, so far as we can Judge from
his opening, seems to have been employed
to write the health reformers down. Per-
maps, however, his poison carries its own
antidote; for, like most unfedged scribblcrs
who seek distinction and bread and butter
at penny-a-lining, he so overdoes his part,
SO exaggerates his statements and fabricates
his history, that the half critical reader can
hardly fail to see that his whole performance
IS merely for effect-theatricai. Reduced
to logical review, his article is a tissue of
baseless assumptions and fragrant misrepre-
sentations. Some of his assertions are posi-
tive falsehoods, and some of his rhetoric so
cnildishly extravagant that we wonder how
the publisher could admit them without
modifying and pruning, even If he wished
10 XIII OF the health reformers, and annhi-
late Hygiene altogether for there is such
thing as telling lie so preposterously as to
destroy its vitality. keep probability in
view"
After asserting the general proposition
tilat most persons eat too little, both in guam
tity and variety (where in the name of a cold
potato has the doctor lived p, he tells us that
when we do not eat enough, 'disease now
steps in, attacks and carries by force some
IMPORTANT citadel OF the body, and death fol-
lows"
Such language may be termed figurative,
or bosh, or highialnlin, or twadie, or what
any one pleases. In either sense, there is no
sense IN il; but ii demonstrates one thing
neyond all controversy and that is, that DR.
Beard dues not know what disease is. Sup
pose person should bleed 10 death. of
wound received in the jugular vein 7 Would
1t not be ridiculousl, silly for physician 10
talk of disease attacking The citadel of life ? |
Not whit less absurd is il for DR.. Beard. |
when person dies of starvation, to barney
about disease stepping in, &c.
The next proposition the doctor presents |
IS in the following Words Ia the second |
place,i is iallacy to suppose that vegetable |
Iood is healthier and easier of digestion than |
ANIMAL" For ''healthier" we presume he |
means more wholesome and by .'digestion" |
he probably means solution in the stomach.
These are the only senses in which his Ian |
5uage has any meaning at all, and in these
'enses, all there is to say will not require
many words. Some articles of animal food |
ire more readily dissolved in the stomach
han some articles of vegetable food are but
nee versa is also true. Some articles of |
vegetable food are ''healthier" and .'easIer"
han some articles of animal food.
DIR. Beard asserts, thirdly: Comparative
Inatomy, physiology, experience, our natural
ppetites, and the history of the world, all
how us that man should have mixed diet
# flesh, fish, fruits, and vegetables" This
not true; indeed, every naturalist who has
tudied comparative anatomy in reference ia
his question, without single exception, has
eelared that man is naturally frugrivorous.
Dr. Beard says, again. 1.-THE truth is,
hat egetables-pOtatOes, turnips, carrots,
tc.-are not only less digestible than fresh
eef and mutton, but they are also less nutri-
Ious" Perhaps DIR. Beard does as well as he
nows, in placing the most nutritious kinds
animal food in comparison with the least
utritious kinds of vegetable food, ,and saying
othing about the most nutritious kinds of
egetable food. We take pleasure, therefore
, being able to inform DIR. Beard that Veg
larians regard the grains rs the most nutri-
ous kinds of vegetable food, and that all
hemists and physicians of responsibility in
ne scientific world agreethat grains-wheat,
ye, corn, &c.-ar three or four times as .
utritiOus as the best animal food.
DR.. Beard gives the readers of Appleton
ne following rule of practical dietetics
Each individual must find out, for himself,
that he can indulge in, and what he must
,rego." 1t is perfectly clear that if each
cannot find out for himself, he can
ever learn anything of DR.. Beard. A phy-
clan ought to know what is the proper
,od, drink, and air, for human being, as
luch as to know what is the proper medi-
inc. Wonder if the doctor ever tells his
atient that he must find out, for himself,
hat medicine he may take, and what he
ant bear?
The following passage is srandiloquently
artling: 'Hideous doctrines have been
lught on this subject; !" whereat we can only
iaIvel exceedingly and say nothing.
Then the doctor astonshes us thus can
ther fallacy in regard to diet is to suppose
lat the natural appetite is not the best guide ,
J to the quantity and quality of our food"
ow, we must be permitted to say, in all ,
nssible seriousness, that we have never !
nown nor heard of this position being
oubted. All Health Rcformers, all Vege-
lrians, and all other persons, ''literate and
literate," so far as we have ever read,
fought, or imagined, have supposed, and ,
D suppose, that the natural appetite is the
est guide. The anly difficulty is in finding ,
lie natural appetite.
The New York Citizen (Democratic) is !
realty disguised at Pendeton's nomination,
I'd asserts that Ohio "need not send any i
slegates to the next Democratic National
onvention until she has redeemed herself
ON Republican rule" Il adds: at NAV