We thus see, that as far as these experiments are instructive, they present a reproof to the prevailing impression in our country, and show, that in the instances under comparison, at least, in which we have not the least reason to doubt the fair- ness of the conclusions arrived at, we have the more carnivorous Englishmen surpassed in height, weight, and strength, by the frugal and abstemious Scotchman ; he again being surpassed by the simply fed Irishman, whose frame has, most probably, been built up upon the simplest of all vegetable products. It might here be proper to inti'oduce statistics in relation to the practical evidence of the members composing the present Vegetarian organisation. Suffice it, however, to say, that these afibrd arguments for the adoption of the practice, notwithstand- ing the difficulties which have to be encountered in the transi- tion from artificial and erroneous habits of life to those even which are healthful and most in accordance with nature. The general experience is, that to the man in health the system is productive of more health and endurance ; whilst from the greater number of individuals who seek refuge in the Vegetarian practice from the various iUs of long continued dyspepsia, the evidence is, for the most part, at least, that health is improved, and ultimately completely regained in the carrying on of the system. The evidence which has been derived from the experience of the present limited number of the Society, is also of great value, in showing the comparative exemption from * “ Chambers’ Information for the People," pp. 68, 69, and 61. 36 INTEODUCTION. the attacks of illness, and the increased facilities in recovering with far less of the ordinary appliances of medical treatment ; and this, notwithstanding the difficulties necessarily besetting those who seek to depart from the prevailing practice of society, resulting, in many cases, in very defective arrangements, in regard to the practical carrying out of the system, for want of the knowledge intended to bo conveyed by the present work. Having endeavoured to show that fruits, roots, and grain, are the natm-al food of man ; what are the true nutritive quali- ties of food ; that certain vegetables are more nutritive than the flesh of animals ; that the origin of aU nutriment is in the Vegetable kingdom ; that the cost of the principles of matter to form a given weight of the flesh, blood, and bone of the human system, if derived from the flesh of animals, is at least twenty- three times the expense of the same amount of flesh, blood, and bone formed from certain kinds of farinaceous food ; that on an average, the various articles comprised in a Vegetarian diet are more digestible than a corresponding average of the preparations from the flesh of animals ; that the consumption of flesh induces a heightened pulse, tending to premature old age, and death ; that flesh is tainted in numerous instances with various diseases ; and lastly, having met several objections, and given a brief account of the experience of nations and individuals in all time, it will now be our duty to endeavour to unite this body of fact and experience with the principle that the Vegetarian system is established in the natural constitution of man, as comprised in the instincts of an animal natm-e, mth the endo\vments of the intellectual and moral being.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

We thus see, that as far as these experiments are instructive, they present a reproof to the prevailing impression in our country, and show, that in the instances under comparison, at least, in which we have not the least reason to doubt the fairness of the conclusions arrived at, we have the more carnivorous Englishmen surpassed in height, weight, and strength, by the frugal and abstemious Scotchman ; he again being surpassed by the simply fed Irishman, whose frame has, most probably, been built up upon the simplest of all vegetable products. It might here be proper to introduce statistics in relation to the practical evidence of the members composing the present Vegetarian organisation. Suffice it, however, to say, that these afford arguments for the adoption of the practice, notwithstanding the difficulties which have to be encountered in the transition from artificial and erroneous habits of life to those even which are healthful and most in accordance with nature. The general experience is, that to the man in health the system is productive of more health and endurance ; whilst from the greater number of individuals who seek refuge in the Vegetarian practice from the various iUs of long continued dyspepsia, the evidence is, for the most part, at least, that health is improved, and ultimately completely regained in the carrying on of the system. The evidence which has been derived from the experience of the present limited number of the Society, is also of great value, in showing the comparative exemption from * “ Chambers’ Information for the People," pp. 68, 69, and 61. the attacks of illness, and the increased facilities in recovering with far less of the ordinary appliances of medical treatment ; and this, notwithstanding the difficulties necessarily besetting those who seek to depart from the prevailing practice of society, resulting, in many cases, in very defective arrangements, in regard to the practical carrying out of the system, for want of the knowledge intended to be conveyed by the present work. Having endeavoured to show that fruits, roots, and grain, are the natural food of man ; what are the true nutritive qualities of food ; that certain vegetables are more nutritive than the flesh of animals ; that the origin of all nutriment is in the Vegetable kingdom ; that the cost of the principles of matter to form a given weight of the flesh, blood, and bone of the human system, if derived from the flesh of animals, is at least twentythree times the expense of the same amount of flesh, blood, and bone formed from certain kinds of farinaceous food ; that on an average, the various articles comprised in a Vegetarian diet are more digestible than a corresponding average of the preparations from the flesh of animals ; that the consumption of flesh induces a heightened pulse, tending to premature old age, and death ; that flesh is tainted in numerous instances with various diseases ; and lastly, having met several objections, and given a brief account of the experience of nations and individuals in all time, it will now be our duty to endeavour to unite this body of fact and experience with the principle that the Vegetarian system is established in the natural constitution of man, as comprised in the instincts of an animal nature, with the endowments of the intellectual and moral being.

Vegetarian cookery