2i6 THE PHILOSOPHY 



of fillies, which, In fummer and autumn, they dry in the fun, or in 

 ftoves, and in winter they are preferved by the froft. The Laplan- 

 ders drink water, or animal oils; but never tafte bread or fait. They 

 live in a pure air, and have fufEcient exercife. Their conftitutions 

 are attempered to the coldnefs of the climate ; and they are remark- 

 able for vigour and longevity. The gout, the ftone, the rheumatifm, 

 and many other difeafes which torture the luxurious in milder 

 climes, are totally unknown to them. With the few gifts which 

 Nature has beftowed on them, they remain fatisfied, and live happi- 

 ly among their mountains and their ftorms. If fouthern nations 

 afford examples of people who feed nearly on vegetables alone, the 

 Laplanders furnifh one of the oppofite extreme j for they are al- 

 mofl. entirely carnivorous animals. 



To Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Britain, the fame obfervation 

 is applicable. In thefe countries, animal food is much more ufed 

 than in Fiance, Spain, Italy, Barbary, and the other fouthern regions 

 of the globe. Many reafons may be afligned for thefe differences in 

 the food of nations. The natural produdions of the earth depend 

 entirely on the climate. In warm climates, the vegetables which 

 grow fpontaneoufly are both more luxuriant and more various. 

 The number and richnefs of their fruits far exceed thofe of colder 

 regions. From this circumftance, the natives muft be ftimulated to 

 ufe a proportionally greater quantity of vegetable food ; and we 

 learn from hiftory, and from travellers, that this is adually the cafe. 

 In cold countries, on the contrary, vegetables are not only 

 fewer, but more rigid, and contain lefs nourifhment. The inha- 

 bitants, accordingly, are obliged to live principally on animal fub- 

 ftances. If we examine the mode of feeding in different nations, it 

 will be found, that, in proportion as men approach or recede from 

 the poles, a greater or lefs quantity of animal and vegetable fubftan- 



ces 



