272 FISH DIET. 



" the general experience of mankind," fish is found to 

 be hard to digest. We suspect that the use to which 

 the Scotch apply their Latinity is the real though latent 

 cause of the digestive remorse sometimes consequent 

 upon " a fish-dinner ; " in short, that the dram is the 

 drawback to the satisfactory " assimilation " of the fish ! 

 We have not forgotten the experiment of Dr Beddoes, 

 who found that animals to which spirits had been given 

 along with their food, digested one-half less than other 

 animals from which this stimulus had been withheld. 

 In short, we are not disposed to allow the question as 

 to the alimentary properties of fish to be settled by the 

 limited experience either of Scotch dram-drinkers, or of 

 Roman Catholics putting their constitutions to an un- 

 natural trial, by suddenly, at Lent, beginning to disuse 

 butcher-meat. We think it much more satisfactory to 

 refer to the long experience of a fish-eating community, 

 such as that of Comacchio. 



" The inhabitants of Comacchio," observes M. Coste, 

 " those of them at least connected with the fishery 

 and its associated avocations in addition to wine, chest- 

 nuts, flour-pudding, and some fruits, live upon fish alone, 

 and, above all, upon eels. And yet this diet, far from 

 injuring the public health, maintains it in the most 

 flourishing condition. Persons submitted to the per- 

 manent influence of this diet are robust, and live as 

 long as those who, in other countries, live on butcher- 

 meat. Their elevated stature the breadth of their 

 chest the muscularity of their limbs the elasticity of 

 their bodies their animated look their bright com- 

 plexion their thick black hair are proofs of vigour as 

 striking as can be seen in any other part of Italy." 



The women, too, are remarkable for " their Grecian 

 profiles their flowing hair their elegant figures, whose 

 admirable proportions never yield to the unconieliness 

 of obesity. They are fruitful mothers, who, after pay- 

 ing tribute to the race whose integrity they preserve, 

 often reach decrepitude without any infirmity condemn- 



