SEX IN LIVING FOKMS 119 



foods, such as pepper, vinegar, mustard, spices, and 

 condiments generally, together with tea and coffee, and 

 an excess of animal food, have a clearly appreciable 

 influence in inducing the premature occurrence of pu- 

 berty. On this account, if on no other, should these 

 articles be prohibited to children and youth, or used 

 very sparingly. Those who advocate the large use of 

 meat by children and youth have not studied this mat- 

 ter closely in all its bearings. Wliile it is true that 

 children and growing youth require an abundance of 

 the nitrogenous elements of food which are found 

 abundantly in beefsteak, mutton, fish, and other vari- 

 eties of animal food, it is also true that in taking these 

 articles of food, they take, along with the nutrient ele- 

 ments, properties of a stimulating character, which 

 exert a decidedly detrimental influence upon the sus- 

 ceptible systems of children and youth. At the same 

 time, it is possible to obtain the same desirable nitrog- 

 enous elements in oatmeal, unbolted wheat flour, peas, 

 beans, and other vegetable productions, which are 

 wholly free from injurious properties. We are posi- 

 tive, from numerous observations on this subject, that 

 a cool, unstimulating vegetable or farinaceous diet 

 would deter the development of the sexual organism 

 for several months, and perhaps for a year or two. 



While it might not be in all cases desirable to do 

 this, it would at least be wise to adopt such measures 

 in cases in which the child is unavoidably exposed to 

 influences which have a tendency to hasten the change. 



A Caution.— It is important to add in this connec- 

 tion a word of caution against the adoption of a dietary 

 too abstemious in character. It is necessary that an 

 abundance of good, wholesome food, rich in the ele- 

 ments of nutrition, should be taken regularly. There 



