MARCH 231 



changes in diet in this country through the conver- 

 sion of the medical profession. 



One of the great advantages of the non- sentimental 

 over the sentimental vegetarian is that in case dislike of 

 foods occurs, as it very commonly does, and with it a 

 decided depression of the nervous system from the drop- 

 ping of all stimulants, a slight return to ordinary diet 

 for a time may be beneficial. Anything is better than 

 producing a nervous irritation against the diet. Pa- 

 tients at any rate are then able to realise for themselves 

 whether it does them good or not, and are able to 

 remember how they benefited at first from the cure, and 

 go back to it when they feel inclined. They must also 

 remember that much that they suffer from is hereditary, 

 and has to be continually fought rather than cured. To 

 attribute every ailment to the new diet, when people 

 have lived on meat and stimulants all their lives, and 

 had constant attacks of illness, is, to say the least of it, 

 unreasonable. In the case of vegetarians, Dr. Haig has 

 told me that they often come to him insufficiently nour- 

 ished. It is specially easy for vegetarians to over- eat 

 and yet be under -fed. 



I am the last to deny that many, and especially old 

 people, have benefited from a purely meat diet (the 

 'Salisbury Cure') when very strictly carried out, though 

 I never tried it myself. All that I feel, and I feel it 

 strongly, is that health is more likely to be bettered by 

 only taking food that clearly improves the blood than by 

 depending for cure on alterative medicines and tonics 

 which only relieve for a time. 



True wisdom always brings us back to the old rule 

 that moderation in all things is the best guide for every- 

 body. The fact has long been known with regard to 

 alcohol ; but it has only lately been acknowledged that 

 tea, coffee, and beef or chicken tea, are also stimulants 



