FOOD AND DRINK. 67 



animal food, while those living in hot climates have boun- 

 tiful supplies of delicious fruits with which to satisfy all 

 their bodily wants. One race subsists upon the banana, 

 another upon the blubber of seals. In temperate climates, 

 a diet composed partly of vegetable and partly of animal 

 food is preferred. 



9. The important point to consider is, however, not one 

 of origin, but whether the chemical principles (mentioned 

 in the last chapter) enter into the composition of the diet. 

 A purely vegetable diet may be selected which would contain 

 all the principles necessary to sustain life. It is recorded of 

 Louis Cornaro, a Venetian noble, that he supported himself 

 comfortably for fifty-eight years on a daily allowance of 

 twelve ounces of vegetable food, and about a pint of light 

 wine. On the other hand, the food of John the Baptist, 

 consisting of "locusts and wild honey/' is an example of 

 the sustaining power of a diet chiefly animal in its origin. 



10. In our climate, those who lead active lives crave an 

 allowance of animal food; and it has been found by ex- 

 perience that with it they can accomplish more work and 

 are less subject to fatigue, than without it. Among na- 

 tions where an exclusively vegetable diet is employed, indi- 

 gestion is a disorder especially prevalent. 



11. The necessity for occasionally changing or varying 

 the diet, is seen in the fact that no single article comprises 

 all the necessary principles of food, and that the contin- 

 uous use of any one diet, whether salt or fresh, is followed 

 by defective nutrition and disease. There is one exception 

 to this rule : in infancy, milk alone is best calculated 

 to support life ; for then the digestive powers are incom- 

 pletely developed, and the food must be presented in the 

 simplest form possible. It should also be remembered 



9. The point to consider? Vegetable diet? Louis Cornaro ? John the Bap 

 tist ? 



1 0. What has been found in our climate ? Exclusive vegetable diet ? 



11. Necessity for change in diet? Continuous use of the same diet? Excep 

 tion ? Why ? Too rich diet ? Horses ? 



