Natural death results from a gradual consolidation of
the structures of the body. In infancy the proportion of
the fluids to the solids is much greater than in adult life.
This relation is constantly changing. The elasticity of
youth as the structures harden is succeeded by the firm-
ness and stiffness of age. Since our bodies are formed
from the materials taken into the stomach as food and
drink, does it not follow that the' character of food exerts
an influence beyond aught else in determining the period
when natural death shall take place. The exciting, stim-
ulating food and drink we daily use — served hot — the
heating, pungent condiments, all have a tendency to dry
and harden the tissues of the body, while food devoid
of these, renders the tissues elastic, and the entire body
active and supple to a surprising degree even in advanced
life.
We have been " living to eat ; " shall we not in the
future *' eat to live ? "
This question, and the one of substitutes, naturally
assumes formidable proportions, as the cook considers
her special domain is to be no longer the receiving tomb
of every thing which moves ; and that animals, or some
of their products, even the internal organs, with their
coverings, and every available atom, of once living
creatures, from the tips of their ears to the ends of their
toes, have formerly entered as toothsome dainties, into
the composition of'nearly all culinary preparations.
WHY A HYGIENIC DIET. 3 1
Be not disheartened ! With fruits, nuts, grains, vege-
tables, so abundantly stored with nutriment, so prolific
in variety, why need we consume dead flesh, in which
lurks poison at best, and disease difficult of detection by
the average consumer. In natural foods we can see the
imperfect and decayed, and reject them, without the aid
and expense of numerous " inspectors."
A great wail may go up from the butcher, the baker,
the grocer, that ** we are spoiling their business." But
when we have lessened the demand for meats, white
bread and condiments ; we shall have created a demand
for larger supplies of fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables, and
wholesome preparations of the same ; feeling sure that,
with increased health, these will more than compensate
for the losses sustained through the diminished sale of
harmful products. When our intelligence reaches the
point where we refuse to purchase adulterated food, we
shall be supplied with pure articles. When our necessi-
ties require the productions of the earth for the million,
they will be produced in such quantity, and sold at such
rates that the very poorest among us, even the little half-
starved waifs who are often seen picking up garbage
from the street and consuming it, shall be able to pur-
chase all they need from clean, attractive rooms. And
here the great problem of how to feed the poor comes
into view, and can best be solved by those who give
special attention to the hygienic, vegetarian dietary.
When the humane world grasps this problem, and
carries it to enactment we shall witness the salvation of
the body, and through this, the soul, of weak, suffering,
degraded humanity, which now, with its wan and weary
face, its pinched, starving, and almost naked forms meets
32 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
US at nearly every corner in our large cities, to say nothing
of the dependent ones nearer home, even at our doors,
who might be independent, comfortably fed, housed and
clothed, if this food problem were properly understood
and practiced.
A better quality of food carefully and healthfully pre-
pared would be the stepping stone to a more cleanly,
orderly life, which would rise from its present filth, pov-
erty and degredation, and be educated .for beneficient
activities, thus effectually banishing vice and crime with
all its attendant inharmonious conditions.
THE FAT OF THE LAND. 33
CHAPTER III.
THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Page 10
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Natural death results from a gradual consolidation of the structures of the body. In infancy the proportion of the fluids to the solids is much greater than in adult life. This relation is constantly changing. The elasticity of youth as the structures harden is succeeded by the firmness and stiffness of age. Since our bodies are formed from the materials taken into the stomach as food and drink, does it not follow that the character of food exerts an influence beyond aught else in determining the period when natural death shall take place. The exciting, stimulating food and drink we daily use — served hot — the heating, pungent condiments, all have a tendency to dry and harden the tissues of the body, while food devoid of these, renders the tissues elastic, and the entire body active and supple to a surprising degree even in advanced life.
We have been " living to eat ; " shall we not in the future *' eat to live ? "
This question, and the one of substitutes, naturally assumes formidable proportions, as the cook considers her special domain is to be no longer the receiving tomb of every thing which moves ; and that animals, or some of their products, even the internal organs, with their coverings, and every available atom, of once living creatures, from the tips of their ears to the ends of their toes, have formerly entered as toothsome dainties, into the composition of nearly all culinary preparations.
Be not disheartened ! With fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables, so abundantly stored with nutriment, so prolific in variety, why need we consume dead flesh, in which lurks poison at best, and disease difficult of detection by the average consumer. In natural foods we can see the imperfect and decayed, and reject them, without the aid and expense of numerous " inspectors."
A great wail may go up from the butcher, the baker, the grocer, that ** we are spoiling their business." But when we have lessened the demand for meats, white bread and condiments ; we shall have created a demand for larger supplies of fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables, and wholesome preparations of the same ; feeling sure that, with increased health, these will more than compensate for the losses sustained through the diminished sale of harmful products. When our intelligence reaches the point where we refuse to purchase adulterated food, we shall be supplied with pure articles. When our necessities require the productions of the earth for the million, they will be produced in such quantity, and sold at such rates that the very poorest among us, even the little halfstarved waifs who are often seen picking up garbage from the street and consuming it, shall be able to purchase all they need from clean, attractive rooms. And here the great problem of how to feed the poor comes into view, and can best be solved by those who give special attention to the hygienic, vegetarian dietary.
When the humane world grasps this problem, and carries it to enactment we shall witness the salvation of the body, and through this, the soul, of weak, suffering, degraded humanity, which now, with its wan and weary face, its pinched, starving, and almost naked forms meets
US at nearly every corner in our large cities, to say nothing of the dependent ones nearer home, even at our doors, who might be independent, comfortably fed, housed and clothed, if this food problem were properly understood and practiced.
A better quality of food carefully and healthfully prepared would be the stepping stone to a more cleanly, orderly life, which would rise from its present filth, poverty and degredation, and be educated .for beneficient activities, thus effectually banishing vice and crime with all its attendant inharmonious conditions.
CHAPTER III.