Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-26
THE VEGETARIAN CREED.
Why Its Professors Believe In Bill o
Fare without Meat.

Why Its Professors Believe In a Bill OF
Fare without Meat.
One of the causes which have led people
to reject the doctrine of vegetarianism is
the idea that it is inspired by pietism, reli-
gious convictions and monastic mortifca-
tion. But this is a grave error, for the
rational vegetarianism of today is entirely
scientific and dictated by the sole desire to
follow a system conforming to the laws of
nature. 1t has science on its side, and only
the force of habit is opposed to it. The
muscles become soft, the size diminishes,
humanity degenerates and is kept in work
inI order only by sedatives and tonics. The
numerous maladies Of the stomach and the
iutestines, from simple catarrh to the most
serious diseases Of the organs, are often due
to our appetite for meat and other stimu-
lants.
Vegetarianism, we are told by DR.. Bon
nejoy, does not consist solely in vegetable
food, but is based on three dietetc axioms.
The general rebuilding power lies in ce-
reals, seeds, vegetables, tubers, fruits, eggs,
milk and the derivatives. The food, the
air and in general everything that is intro
duced into the body should show absolute
purity, freshness and entire absence Of fall
Bifications, mixture and authorizations even
in the smallest quantities. 1t is necessary,
as far as may be possible, for each one to
manufacture his foods and drinks at home
in order to reach the desired results
These are the principal dogmas of the
vegetarians Man is not intended to eat
meat. His jaw is made to grind grains
and fruits. His hands are made to gather
them. The Darwinian theory does not per
nit us for an instant to doubt the frugiv-
orous nature of man. His intestinal canal
is also proof. In the lion this is three
times as long as the body; in man, seven
or eight times as long.
The human body is a machine which, to
be kept in good working order, should be
nolrished according to scientific rules and
not at the desires of our fancies. Four
classes of substances are necessary for the
maintenance of life-the albuminoids, the
carbohydrates, the fats, the minerals. Now,
meat contains but three of these, while the
vegetables contain all four. Vegetable food
is also necessary for our intellectual life,
for, as Moleschott has said, without phos-
phorus there is no thought. That phos-
phorus contained in vegetable food is al
most double the quantity-contained in ami
NAL food But these are not all the advan-
tages of vegetarianism. Those who believe
that meat give the rose color to the cheeks
and lips must be shown their error, for as
Professor Mussa has shown, the amount Of
iron oxide contained in the vegetables is
much greater than that found in meat.
However vegetarianism is not too pre-
sumptuous with regard to it's wonderful
powers. Its doctrines demand at the same
time the constant and intelligent practice
of all sorts of hygienic rules. 1t calls to
its aid pure air, light, heat or cold, water,
exercise and, commencing with alcohol,
the condemnation of all stimulants. in
these conditions it is difficult to say which
would prove more beneficial, the renuncia-
tion of meat or the application OF well
understood hygiene. 1t is, however, indis-
putable that vegetarianism, at its best,
comprises in it's accessories many things
which make it worthy of general sym
pathy.-Dr. de Neuville in Review OF Re
views