462 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



brandy, gin or malt spirits, which complete the ruin of the nervous system. 

 (Quoted by Bell, pp. 23-24.) 



The vegetable diet found an enthusiastic champion in America in 

 the person of Dr. W. A. Alcott, who published a small volume on the 

 subject in 1838. In the preface he tells us: ''When I commenced 

 putting together the materials of this little treatise on diet it was my 

 intention simply to show the safety of a vegetable and fruit diet, both 

 for those who are afflicted with many forms of chronic disease, and for 

 the healthy. But I soon became convinced that I ought to go farther, 

 and prove its supeeiokity over every other." This the author at- 

 tempted to do by an appeal to contemporary medical men and by a 

 compilation of the 'anatomical, the physiological, the medical, the 

 political, the economical, the experimental and the moral arguments' 

 then prevalent. But the individual who probably did more than any 

 other in this country to reduce the subject of vegetable dietetics to a 

 system was Sylvester Graham. This eccentric reformer, remembered 

 to-day in connection with the bread which familiarly bears his name, 

 was an enthusiastic temperance advocate, who insisted that the craving 

 for drink can only be combated by the use of a judicious diet in con- 

 nection with correct habits of living. His belief that 'an exclusively 

 farinaceous and fruit diet is best adapted to the development and im- 

 provement of all powers of body, mind and soul ' was set forth for many 

 years both in public lectures and in writings, among which the 'Gra- 

 ham Lectures on the Science of Human Life' (2 vols., 1839) were per- 

 haps most widely quoted in vegetarian literature. About 1837 there 

 was formed an American Physiological Society of two hundred mem- 

 bers, nearly all of whom, as well as their families, abstained from 

 animal food. (Of. Alcott, 'Vegetable Diet,' p. 219.) 



The characteristic features of the vegetarian movement in England 

 are set forth in the 'Constitution of the Vegetarian Society of Man- 

 chester,' to which reference has already been made. The objects were: 



To induce habits of Abstinence from the Flesh of Animals as Food, by the 

 dissemination of information upon the subject, by means of tracts, essays and 

 lectures, proving the many advantages of a physical, intellectual and moral 

 character, resulting from Vegetarian habits of Diet; and thus, to secure, 

 through the association, example and efforts of its members, the adoption of a 

 principle which will tend essentially to true civilization, to universal brother- 

 hood, and to the increase of human happiness generally. 



As early as 1829 there existed in England a 'Society of Bible Chris- 

 tians, ' of which a member wrote as follows : 



The Society of Bible Christians abstain from animal food, not only in 

 obedience to the Divine command, but because it is an observance which, if 

 more generally adopted, would prevent much cruelty, luxury and disease, be- 

 sides many other evils which cause misery in Society. It would be productive 

 of much good, by promoting health, long life, and happiness, and thus be a 



