The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-04
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1908.
WHAT TO EAT.

If there is any subject about which there is greater diversity of opinion than there is about human diet, we have yet to learn of 1t. Doctors differ about diseases and their remedies. pol tticians differ about politics. women wrangle over the demands of fashion and even the preachers differ about re- ligion. but all of them must take back seat when diet is before the board, for there are more divergent ppinions on that subject than any other.
 Here. for example is one honest and well meaning crank who will tell us that meat in any form Is deadly poi son to all humanity. and will cite in stances of great longevity of people who never touch flesh. Right in his face comes another man almost as old and rugged as Noah, who has kept himself filled with every variety of meat that Is or can be eaten and laughs at the vegetarian who is tottering to Hhe grave ere he reaches old age.
 It is the same way with the bread i've eat How often do we read the solemn assurances of the wise men that fine wheat bread is one of the most deadly enemies that we can eat. and another who will eat nothing but wheaten bread and everything else that can be manufactured of flour. and hard ly knows what sickness Is. One con- demns pies and pastry and another eats pies three times a day .and an occas- acnal slice between times and never experiences any bad results One scien- aist tells us that he can prove that any and all kinds of malt. vinous or dis titled drink is a deliberate way of com mitting suicide. while others point to Themselves as perfect specimens of physical health and strength, and tell ns that they drink when and what they please and never feel any bad results.
 what's the use of it all? Tn case of sicknes we should to a large extent be governed by the advice of our physl- clans. but to the well man this con- ainual difference and wrangling is all a source of worry. Diet" as a con- temporary puts it. lis not an exact science ,any more than Is medicine. Surgery is, but there are many things that surgery does not cure. Beside. 1t as pleasanter to be treated with pud- uings and claret than with scalpels. If some unity of purpose and plan were secured in the investigation of the claims of diet. 1t would result in a bet ter increase of knowledge on the sub Beet than we gain from individual and unrelated observations. If the hospital authorities, for instance. would test the effect of coffee on patients of all class es, and people who are not patients. in all countries and climates and seasons, we should know whether 1t Is permitted 10 us to drink 1t or feed 1t to the swine. ms some would have us do. So with meat diet, fish. starchy foods. alcohol. fruit. salads. and what not"
 Why should we continually worry and ba worried over what we shall eat and drink? If we go back. say one cen .urv we find a robust, healthy race of nAople who ate what they pleased, ate st when they saw proper and as much rf if as they had desire for and were -.au They didn't think it necessary to ,onsult A work on diatetlcs before eat ,n1 and each was a law unto him nelf on diet. If we are healthier race than they were we fail to find the evil asnce of 1t, and we know we have much xnora worry over 1t. Less science. more common sense and be temperate in all things, will beat fads and fancies.