224 THE PHILOSOPHY 



Other arguments, tending to the , fame conchifion are der 

 rived not from the cuftom or pra61:ices of particular nations, 

 but from the fi:ru6ture of the human body. All ani- 

 mals which feed upon vegetables alone, as formerly remarked, 

 have ftomachs and inteftines proportionally larger than thofe 

 that live folely on animal fubffcanccs. Man, like the carni- 

 vorous tribes, is furniflied with cutting and canine teeth, 

 and, like the graminivorous, with a double row of grinders. 

 The dimenlions of his ftomach and inteftines likewife hold a 

 mean proportion between thefe two tribes of animals, v;hich 

 differ fo efTentially in their charadters and manners. — From 

 thefe and fimilar arguments, I have no helitation to conclude, 

 that a promifcuous ufe of animal and vegetable fubftances is 

 no deviation from the original nature or deftination of man- 

 kind, whatever country they may inhabit. 



With regard to the different proportions of animal and 

 vegetable food which are moft accommodated to the health 

 and vigour of mankind, no general rule can be given that 

 could be applicable to difi^erent climates, and to the different 

 conftitutions of individuals. Anim.al food, it is certain, gives 

 vigour to the body, and may be ufed more liberally by the 

 adtive and laborious than thofe who lead a ftudious and fe- 

 dentary life. A great proportion of vegetable food, and par- 

 ticularly of bread, is confidered, by the mofi eminent phyii- 

 cians, as beft adapted for men wdio are fond of fcience and 

 literature -, for full meals of animal food load the ftomach, 

 and feldom fail to produce dulnefs, yawning, indolence, and 

 many difeafes which often prove fatal. 



The remainder of this chapter, from unavoidable caufes, 

 muft confift of obfcrvations of a more defultory kind. 



Moft animals, when they live long on a particular fpecies 

 of food, are apt to be affected with difeafes, w4iich generally 

 arife from coftivenefs, or its oppofite. The guiney-pigs, 

 after being confined for fome time to colewoi:ts, contract a 

 loofenefs, which often terminates in death. But, when thofg 



