SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OP MAN. 147 



teeth of man to those of monkeys than to those of 

 any other animal. In the orang-outang 1 , more es- 

 pecially, there is a very striking closeness of simi- 

 larity* ; but in other simiee the canine teeth exceed 

 ours in length and strength, and the points and 

 ridges of the molares in the same animals do not 

 possess the obtuse tuberculous conformation of those 

 teeth in the human subject. 



We shall not pursue the comparison to the organs 

 of digestion, but simply notice that in these, as well 

 as in the teeth and jaws, the human structure ap- 

 proximates more to that of the monkey kind than to 

 that of other species. Now we know that all the 

 simiae in their natural state are frugivorous. 



Still we think it would be unphilosophical to infer 

 from these circumstances that nature designed us for 

 a vegetable diet, or that it would be most proper for 

 us to adopt that regimen altogether. Man has other 

 instruments and means of procuring and preparing 

 his aliment besides jaws and teeth—the process of 

 cookery alters materially the character of his diet. 

 The analogy here is altogether so loose between 

 man and pther animals, that we are not warranted 

 in placing much confidence in any deduction which 

 may be drawn from it. 



As to what mode of diet, upon the whole, is most 

 conducive to the health and strength of the human 

 body, we have already stated an opinion that this 

 depends entirely on locality. 



* It is not certain, however, whether this animal has eVer been 

 examined in an adult state. If the pongo be it, the canine teeth are 

 very long and brutal. 



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