Man's best diet, and twenty year's trial of it / by W. Couchman.

  • Couchman, W. (William)
Date:
[1873?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Man's best diet, and twenty year's trial of it / by W. Couchman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The first question which any intelligent and rational man should ask him¬ self, on his pilgrimage to an eternal home, should be—For what purpose am I here ? What end had the Omnisicient in view when He placed me here ? Does he make just and eternal laws for my guidance ? Am I accountable for my acts, and does my everlasting destiny depend upon my actions ? Should I live for myself alone, or will my trying to make others happy not only tend to my own happiness, but be following our Divine Master’s example who went about “ doing good?” Surely man is a spiritual and an account¬ able being, and should live up to the standard that his heavenly Father has intended for him. Mr L. N. Fowler says:—“The question becomes exceedingly important what kinds of food naturally develop particular physical and mental powers? To obtain a satisfactory answer should be the wish and endeavour of every human being. We ought to labour to understand the subject thoroughly, that we may know exactly wkat influence particular modes of living are calculated to exert upon us. An unnatural appetite is always accompanied with impaired digestion, and impaired digestion robs life, so far as palate is concerned, of its purest and its richest luxuries. The gratifica¬ tion of artificial and unnatural appetites occasions hosts of diseases and innumerable instances of sudden death. We cannot indulge the unnatural craving of perverted appetite without first enfeebling, and ultimately destroying both mind and body—without both lessening the enjoyment of life for a time, and bringing life at length to an untimely close. The appetites of many are perverted very early.” The appetites of many are perverted in the cradle, if not earlier. The object of this essay is to recommend a system of diet which at first may be less palatable to many than the one to which they are accustomed-. Still, if I recommend Nature's system, it will be well to follow it. If it requires a. sacrifice at first, it will double and quadruple their pleasure afterwards* Eeturning from transgression is attended on the whole with more of pleasure than of pain. Duty and self interest induce us to sacrifice whatever is un¬ natural ; and, however depraved our natures may have become, we may in time bring them back to their proper tone. Let us listen to the voice of our Divine Instructor, and learn and practise the philosophy of heaven. Two dietetic systems, both capable of sustaining life, are presented to our choice—the animal and the vegetable. Is man constituted to live exclusively on either ? If so, on which ? or is a mixed diet best calculated to develop all his powers ? If so, in what proportion should the animal and vegetable be mixed 1 What then are the influences of an exclusively animal diet on man’s mind and body ? What are its influences on human happiness ? What are the influences of an exclusively vegetable diet ? And what are the influences of a mixed diet, and of a diet mixed in various proportions? In short, what shall we eat in order to attain the highest pitch of human per¬ fection and enjoyment ? It is true we know of none who advocate an exclusively animal diet for man ; yet, by considering the natural and general effects of animal diet on the human system, we may be better able to ascertain