Human Physiology. 395 



because ignorant doctors, who have not the first idea of 

 sound physiology or dietetics, tell them that they must eat 

 meat eat bacon, "to make red blood." As if the fat of 

 bacon ever gave redness to the blood globules as if the 

 grass and grain on which sheep and cattle are fed did not 

 abundantly supply them with red blood. I have never seen 

 healthier, ruddier children than those brought up on a bread, 

 milk, and fruit diet. I can have no doubt that pork pro- 

 duces scrofulous diseases, and that it was for sound sanitary 

 reasons banished from the diet of Jews and Mahomedans. 



Dietetic Medicine is especially necessary and efficacious 

 in the cure of dyspepsia, and all diseases of the nutritive 

 system. A sick stomach wants rest and no drugs, no tonics 

 or stimulants, will answer the purpose. In some cases an 

 absolute fast for days or weeks, with only pure water to drink, 

 will effect a cure. I have seen a confirmed dyspeptic fast 

 for twenty-one days, taking only two or three ounces of 

 food in all that time as an experiment; and the result was 

 cure. Others have got well by living for several months 

 on two or three ounces of very simple food a-day; gradually 

 gaining health, strength, and even weight on such a diet. 

 People doubt if one can live on "sixpence a-day." What 

 is the cost of food to each person in a labourer's family of 

 five, when rent, clothing, and the rest, as well as food must 

 come out of the ordinary wages, 123. or 155. a-week? What 

 could have been the cost of living in Ireland when men 

 raised large families on wages of a shilling a-day? With 

 the actual prices of food in this country it is quite possible 

 to live, so far as food is concerned, on half of sixpence a- 

 day ; and in certain states of disease of the stomach and 

 bowels such a diet is the most important condition of cure. 



And what shall be said of that dread disease, obesity? 

 Making fat does not altogether depend upon the quantity 

 of food. Graziers find that some breeds of cattle and sheep 



