lation, by whatever produced;-whether any increase of nourishment is actually afforded to the system or not.' The feeling of strength produced by stimulation, therefore, is no proof that the stimulating substance is either nourishing or salutary, nor even that it is not decidedly baneful."* Yet how many are deceived by the temporary sensation thus produced? It 254. "Dulong found, that the quantity of oxygen lost during respiration, and not replaced by carbonic acid, amounted (on an average), in the case of herbivorous animals, to one-tenth of the volume of that which was replaced by carbonic acid; in the case of carnivorous animals, it amounted to from one-fifth to one-half." was also ascertained by the experiments of Dr. Fyfe, and confirmed by the observations of Mr. Spalding, in his own person, that in the same individual, while animal food is taken, a larger quantity of air is required for respiration, and a greater proportion of oxygen is consumed, than when vegetable aliment is employed. It may be inferred, also, that the greater the quantity of animal food eaten, the greater is the quantity of oxygen consumed by the lungs, in a given time. The respirations, also, are more frequent in a given time, when the individual subsists on animal food, than when he lives on vegetable aliment. "These facts show", says Dr. Craigie, ‡ "that the sustenance of the frame by means of animal diet, causes a more violent and laborious action * GRAHAM'S LECTURES. Vol. II. P. 96. MULLER'S ELEMENTS OF PHYSIOLOGY. Vol. I. P. 326. of the lungs, than the sustenance of the same frame by means of vegetable diet. Hence, persons living on animal food breathe laboriously, and are less capable of fatigue." These facts have been sufficiently explained (200); and it has been shown that, under a farinaceous diet, a considerable amount of oxygen is separated from the food, whereby a less amount of atmospheric air for respiration becomes necessary. Hence, also, the advantage of vegetable food in cases of phthisis, because it is of a milder and less stimulating nature, than an animal or mixed diet; and the lungs have much less labour to perform (362). 255. The processes of assimilation and nutrition, also, on a flesh-diet, are more rapid, and attended with a greater expenditure of vital power, and waste of organized substance, than in the use of pure vegetable aliment: hence those who subsist principally on the former, suffer much more distress from hunger, when deprived of their accustomed meals, than they do who subsist on the latter. This is one important reason why-all other things being equal, and the system being fully established in its habits -they who subsist on a well chosen vegetable diet, can endure protracted labour, fatigue, and exposure, without food, much longer than they who subsist mostly or entirely on flesh-meat. For as the transformation of the tissues takes place more slowly on the former diet, and as the true sensation of hunger depends upon the general wants of the system rather than upon the emptiness of the stomach, the appetite for food does not recur so frequently on well chosen vegetable aliments; nor is the craving for food so acute, as upon a more stimulating diet. The more stimulating the food, the sooner does the demand for it return. 66 256. That even grass and other herbaceous substances, are quite adequate to produce great physical force and vigour, when the alimentary organs are in direct relation to the food to be assimilated, we may learn from the horse, the elephant, the rhinoceros, and many other herbivorous animals, whose great muscular power is well known; and that fruits, roots, and grain, are also competent to supply considerable muscular energy, is sufficiently evinced by the orang-outang. Allemand, the Dutch professor of Natural History, had received many vague and unsatisfactory accounts respecting an animal of this kind; and was induced to write to Mr. May, a captain in the Dutch naval service, stationed at Surinam. This gentleman found him exactly similar to one which he had brought from Guinea, except in size. He was nearly five feet and a half high; and very strong and powerful. Mr. May had seen him take up his master (a stout man) by the middle, and fling him from him for a pace or two; and one day he seized a soldier, who happened to pass carelessly near the tree to which he was chained; and, if his master had not been present, he would actually have carried the man into the tree." * Dr. Abel gives an interesting account of the cruel capture of one of the red, or Asiatic orangs; and informs us that, after receiving five balls, and vomiting a considerable quantity of blood, and when nearly in a dying state, SIR W. JARDINE'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. "Mammalia." Vol. I. P. 58. he seized a spear made of supple wood, which would have withstood the strength of the stoutest man, and shivered it in pieces in the words of the narrator, he broke it, as if it had been a carrot. It is stated, by those who aided in his death, that the human-like expression of his countenance, and piteous manner of placing his hands over his wounds, distressed their feelings; and almost made them question the nature of the act they were committing.* 257. But we are not dependant upon illustrations from the inferior races of animals, to prove that vegetable food is not inconsistent with muscular strenth and vigour; for Ancient and Modern History abound with striking demonstrations of the fact; and innumerable instances of personal experience, at the present period, ought to convince the most sceptical. We have already seen, that the antediluvians enjoyed good health and strength, and lived to advanced periods of time, on vegetable diet; and, since the flood, we have many examples to the same effect. 258. "Cyrus, who raised Persia from an obscure, rude colony, to one of the most powerful and most splendid empires that the world ever saw,-who performed more extraordinary marches, fought more battles, won more extraordinary victories, and exhibited more personal prowess and bodily power of effort and endurance, than almost any other general that ever lived, subsisted (from childhood) on the simplest and plainest diet of vegetable food and water; and the Persian soldiers who went with him through all his career of conquest, and shared with him all his hardships, toils, and dangers, and on whom * Ibid. P. 85. he always placed his main dependance in battle, and with whom he was able to march thousands of miles in an incredibly short time, and conquer armies of double the number of his own, were (like himself,) trained from childhood on bread, cresses, and water; and strictly adhered to the same simplicity of vegetable diet, throughout the whole of their heroic course; without relaxing from the stern severity of their abstemiousness even in the hour of victory when the luxuries of captured cities lay in profusion around them." The Persians of the present day are very abstemious, and use little animal food. Pilau, or rice stewed with various ingredients, forms their favourite dish. The chief luxury of their table, consists in a profusion of the best of fruits; yet is the physical character of the Persians said to be fine, both as to strength and beauty. 259. In the most heroic days of the Grecian army, their food was the plain and simple produce of the soil. The immortal Spartans of Thermopylæ, were (from infancy) nourished by the plainest and coarsest vegetable aliment; and the Roman army, in the period of their greatest valour and most gigantic achievements, subsisted on plain and coarse vegetable food. When the public games of ancient Greece-for the exercise of muscular power and activity in wrestling, boxing, running, &c.were first instituted, the athletæ, in accordance with the common dietetic habits of the people, were trained entirely on vegetable food. Those who were destined to this profession frequented, from their tender age, the Gymnasia or Palastræ; which were a kind of academies 66 |