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356. Dr. Parmly, Dentist, Park Place, New York, thus writes:—

"My Dear Sir,-For two years past, I have abstained from the use of all the diffusible stimulants;-using no animal food (either fish, flesh, or fowl); nor any alcoholic or vinous spirits; no form of ale, beer, or porter; no cider, tea, or coffee: but using milk and water, as my only liquid aliment; and feeding sparingly, or (rather) moderately, upon farinaceous food, vegetables, and fruit, seasoned with unmelted butter, slightly boiled eggs, and sugar or molasses; with no condiment but common salt. I adopted this regimen, in company with several friends (male and female); some of whom had been afflicted, either with dyspepsia, or some other chronic malady. In every instance within the circle of my acquaintance, the symptoms of disease disappeared before this system of diet; and I have reason to believe, that the disease itself was wholly or in part eradicated. In answer to your inquiry whether I ascribe the cure, in these cases, to the abstinence from animal food, or from stimulating drinks, or from both, I cannot but give it as my confident opinion, that the result is to be attributed to a general abandonment of the diffusible stimuli, under every shape and form. An increase of flesh was one of the earliest effects of the anti-stimulating regimen, in those cures in which the system was in low condition. The animal spirits became cheerful, buoyant, and uniformly pleasurable. Mental and bodily labour was endured with much less fatigue; and both intellectual and corporeal exertion was more vigorous and efficient." Dr.

Joshua Porter, of North Brookfield, suffered nearly two years from dyspepsia; and was rendered more wretched by frequent attacks of colic, with pains and cramps extending to his back and so severe had these pains become, that the prescriptions of the most eminent physicians afforded only partial relief. After living for a short time on milk, with coarse rye and Indian bread (which constituted his only food), he completely recovered; and declared, that on this mild diet he could endure fatigue and exposure as well as any man; his muscular strength considerably increased; and every day added new vigour to his constitution. Dr. N. J. Knight, of Truro, says: "Some three years previous to my forming a determination to subsist upon farinacea, I had been labouring under an aggravated case of dyspepsia; and about six months previous, also, under an attack of acute rheumatism. I was harrassed with constant constipation of the bowels, and ejection of food after eating, together with occasional pain in the head. From November 1831, to November 1836, my diet consisted of rye and Indian bread, stale flour-bread, sweet-bread without shortening, milk, some ripe fruit, and occasionally a little butter. During this time, while I devoted myself to considerable laborious practice, and hard study, there was no deficiency of muscular strength or mental energy. I am fully satisfied that my mind was never so active and strong." It appears that Dr. Knight has, since the above date, several times tried a diet of animal food; which, in each instance, was attended with such symptoms as to induce him to desist He adds "I am

sane

now satisfied, to all intents and purposes, that mankind would live longer, and enjoy more perfectly the ' mind in a sound body,' should they never taste fleshmeat or fish."

357. We have also well authenticated facts of the good effects of a vegetable diet in cases of dyspepsia, in this country; but, as the regimen is seldom tried here in these distressing complaints, and as members of the medical profession are (for the most part) in favour of a diametrically opposite diet, generally recommending broiled mutton and stale bread, and a careful abstinence from most vegetables, the instances of recovery under a vegetable diet are rare; and, when recorded, the practitioner views them rather as phenomena to be wondered at, than as examples for our instruction; and, therefore, continues rigidly to follow the rules that have been given ex cathedra (203).

358. Dr. Abercrombie mentions a remarkable instance of the beneficial effects of vegetable diet, in a case of dyspepsia. "A young gentleman", says he, “had been (for many years) a martyr to stomach-complaints; seldom a day passing in which he did not suffer greatly from pain in his stomach; with flatulency, acidity, and the usual train of dyspeptic symptoms; and, in particular, he could not taste a bit of vegetable, without suffering from it severely. He had gone on in this manner for years; when he was seized with complaints in his head,— threatening apoplexy; which, after being relieved by the usual means, showed such a constant tendency to recur, that it has been necessary ever since to restrict him to diet

almost entirely of vegetables, and in very moderate quantity. Under this regimen, so different from his former mode of living, he has continued free from any recurrence of the complaints in his head; and has never been known to complain of his stomach.” *

359. "Two cases have recently fallen under my notice", says Mr. Charles Turner Thackrah, of Leeds, "in which the individuals, without professional advice, adopted a diet of vegetables. Mr. W. tells me that-suffering long under bilious disorders, and obtaining little relief from medical treatment-he tried a strict regimen of vegetables and water. His health and spirits (he assures me), have since been greatly improved; and he is consequently a warm advocate of the herbivorous system. But, within the last two years, he has judiciously added to his dinner a moderate proportion of flesh. A gentleman from B., who had been under my care for a chronic disease, was induced (soon after his recovery) to try the vegetable system. After its use for some months, he informed me that it had removed an oppression from the head; which though slight, had been before almost constant;—that his general comfort was increased, and his strength by no means reduced. But lately I learn, that he (as well as Mr. W.) has added meat to his dinner of herbs. In neither of these cases, do I doubt the advantages at first received; but I conceive, that it was not imputed to the true cause." + Had Mr. Thackrah been led to pay more attention to the subject of natural diet, and had he also

* ABERCROMBIE ON DISEASES OF THE STOMACH.
+"LECTURES ON DIGESTION AND DIET." P. 62.

been aware of the multitude of practical experiments that can be brought to verify the deductions of reason, he would probably not have been so strenuous an advocate of an animal diet, as he here appears to be. Besides-like

Lawrence and others-he seems to have mistaken a fruit and farinaceous diet, for a herbaceous one; which is decidedly unnatural to man.

360. In a letter dated April 16, 1825, Dr Lambe writes as follows:-" From the age of nineteen to thirty-five, I was constantly suffering from the usual symptoms of dyspepsia; which, towards the latter period, were accompanied by a constant and oppressive pain about the stomach. At the age of thirty-five, I had an attack of enteritis, which was severe enough to require two venesections; after this I never went out in the damp of the evening, without feeling some tenderness over the abdomen. Under these circumstances, together with a general feebleness of health, I determined to try the effect of substituting distilled water for common water, as my drink. The effect of this change was a thorough relief of the dyspeptic pains, and abdominal tenderness. In the ensuing three years, a headach, from which I had occasionally suffered earlier in life, returned so frequently and so severely, as to induce me to take active measures for its relief. I then determined to abstain from animal food, as well as from the use of common water. The intensity of the paroxysms was instantly relieved; yet they recurred, in a mitigated form, for at least thirty years. I have been engaged in the active duties of my profession until the middle of last year, which was the eightieth year of my

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