226 MORE POT-POURRI 



not necessarily nourishing. On the contrary, the waste 

 that comes from them is most trying to all the organs of 

 the body, which, after a time, break down entirely. 

 There are heaps of foods which are natural foods, which 

 easily assimilate, and which in their waste are not unduly 

 trying. Then, no doubt, in meat there is decomposition 

 always going on, which, when it is eaten by human be- 

 ings, may produce fermentation leading to serious dis- 

 eases. Of course there are many other arguments against 

 meat ; but as long as it is considered a positively neces- 

 sary food, there is no good using them. I find that with 

 young people it is useless to preach against meat. They 

 like it, they see everybody eating it, they are told that 

 the Faculty consider it positively necessary, and, owing 

 to their youth, they feel no ill -effects, except now and 

 then a temporary derangement, which they attribute to 

 something they don't like so much. The great thing 

 with them is to urge abstemiousness, and even at times 

 total abstinence, and, when they feel ill, simple starva- 

 tion. The day may come when they will find it best for 

 themselves to give up meat. I only wish that I had 

 been brought up to rely upon my own reason in dealing 

 with illness. Half the ailments that mankind suffers 

 from could be cured by nature herself, if she were given 

 time and were not forced. She is interfered with in 

 every way by both doctor and patient. 



'Power has been usurped by the Faculty. Very few 

 men can stand power ; they get to be assertive and dog- 

 matic, and eventually become tyrants.' 



So I hear of bad health here, sufferings there, and, 

 what we used to say of old people when we were young, 

 'cases of fifteen mortal maladies and yet living on to a 

 good old age.' They live long because their constitutions 

 are good; they suffer much, in my opinion, because they 

 eat what is not good for them, both as to quality and 



