Year: 1873

BY chemical analysis it is found that
fish contains a greater proportion of
phosphorus than any other class Of ami
NAL food, and therefore must be consid-
cred the richest "brain food" In land
animals the phosphorus is contained for
the most part in the bones, in combina-
ton with lime, us phosphate, while the
muscle is rich in fbrin, etc But, on
the other hand, the various genera of
fish, ath, u sh not abonnding in fibrin,
are much richer ia phosphorus; and this
element, as general rule, varies accord
mgly as the fish is lively or slow in its
movements and habits. Upon this diff
ference depends, III great measure, the
relative value Of different kinds; Those
containing the greatest proportion of
phosphorus. and consequently those of
the most rapid movement, commanding
the greatest prices. Thus the salmon, a
fish of remarkable agility in its move
ments, and its nearest relative, the trout,
are among the most expensive of the
varieties in our market, while the less
active kinds command but inferior
prices. But an exception to this rule,
due only to ignorance or prejudice, is ex-
emplitied in the New England farmers
of the last century, who were often
bound by legal obligations not to feed
their apprentices more than three meals
week upon salmon. as it was plenty,
and therefore, hit only for those who
were too poor to obtain anything else.
The same wo thy farmers are wont to
consider oysters a mere luxury for the
epicure, and they were generally associ-
ated with champagne, late suppers and
high living generally. But in our sea-
port towns they are undoubtedly among
the cheapest, and by no means the least
nutritious articles of diet, although we
have recently seen it asserted that they
contain no nutriment. We have also
seen philosophers who contended that
cheese was only a luxury, and contained
none OF the elements of nutrition, being
ignorant of the chemical fact that the
casein OF the cheese and the tibrin of
meats are almost the same, and are both
resolved by constructive assimilation in-
to muscle.


Those nations who eat fish with one
meal each day are undoubtedly the most
active in intellect, and the most capable
of brain labor without exhaustion or IA
tigue. Even those savage tribes who
subsist in a great measure upon fish, no
doubt possess very active, quick minds,
although they are uncultivated and ig-
norant; and other causes may also tend
to keep them III deplorable and de-
graded condition. But when once civ
n al, hoo ,f
Icytthyophayi become quick and active
in intellect, even to put to shame the
more stolid beef eaters of our inland
towns of Christian lands. Not only is
such phosphate food conducive to the
activity of the brain, but it promotes
fecundity and increases the ability to
endure cold, fatigue, ETC.; and while
the facilities for obtaining it are con-
stantly increasing, it would be well for
the rising generation were they made to
partake OF and to realize it as second
only i'll many respects to the staff Of
life; and the husband and father who
occasionally takes half day from his
legitimate business to fill his basket
with delicious fish, should not be con-
sldered as a mere sportsman" but a
good provider" for his family of those
things which are of vital utility. We
would advise every one of our country
friends who have streams or ponds upon
their premises to stock them with some
kind Of fish most suitable to them, and
those who have the facilities for making
artificial streams or basins to do so and
pursue the same course, that they H. ed
no longer be dependent upon distant
fish markets and on fish which have been
picked, smoked or dried, when it is de-
sirable to employ nutriment of this de-
scription.-W. A. WETHEnBEE, NJ. D.,
in Heratd Of Heath.