222 MORE POT-POURRI 



trying to all the organs of the body, which after a time 

 break down entirely. There are heaps of foods which are 

 natural foods, which easily assimilate, and which in their 

 waste are not unduly trying. Then, no doubt, in meat 

 there is decomposition always going on, which, when it is 

 eaten by human beings, may produce fermentation lead- 

 ing to serious diseases. Of course there are many other 

 arguments against meat ; but as long as it is considered a 

 positively necessary food, there is no good using them. 

 I find that with young people it is useless to preach 

 against meat. They like it, they see everybody eating it, 

 they are told that the Faculty consider it positively 

 necessary, and, owing to their youth, they feel no ill-effects, 

 except now and then a temporary derangement, which 

 they attribute to something they don't like so much. The 

 great thing with them is to urge abstemiousness and even 

 at times total abstinence, and, when they feel ill, simple 

 starvation.- The day may come when they will find it 

 best for themselves to give up meat. I only wish that 

 I had been brought up to rely upon my own reason in 

 dealing with illness. Half the ailments that mankind 

 suffers from could be cured by Nature herself, if she were 

 given time and were not forced. She is interfered with 

 in every way by both doctor and patient. 



' Power has been usurped by the Faculty. Very few 

 men can stand power; they get to be assertive and 

 dogmatic, and eventually become tyrants.' 



So I hear of bad health here, sufferings there, and, 

 what we used to say of old people when we were young, 

 ' cases of fifteen mortal maladies and yet living on to a 

 good old age.' They live long because their constitutions 

 are good ; they suffer much, in my opinion, because they 

 eat what is not good for them, both as to quality and 

 quantity, only adding to their ailments instead of diminish- 

 ing them. The modern invalid always says : ' The 



