The Great Dietetic Reform. 
19 
1876.] 
we find, in Chili, men of the same race, and placed under 
very similar institutions, but using an abundance of vegetable 
food. Now the Chilian peasant is every whit as vindictive 
and as murderous as his neighbours east of the Andes. 
Crossing the Atlantic we glance at Dahomey and Ashanti, 
countries literally reeking with wanton bloodshed ; yet 
animal matter does not form the whole, or even the prepon- 
derating part of their diet. The Malay is well known for 
his vindictive disposition and his proneness to assassination ; 
but he comes in the selection of his food far nearer the 
vegetarian standard than many milder races. It is a signi- 
ficant fact, to which we may have to revert, that among 
savages cannibalism is most prevalent where animal food is 
sparingly accessible. In Europe we find the proportion of 
flesh consumed varies greatly. England, Holland, France, 
Germany, and Scandinavia are more carnivorous than Spain 
or Italy. But in England, with all its faults, respect for 
human life is far greater and assassination far less frequent 
than in Spain. 
Hence we must conclude that a mainly or partly animal 
diet does not in man necessarily produce ferocity and blood- 
thirstiness any more than a vegetable regimen involves 
gentleness and humanity. It is not even proved that the 
butcher, the poulterer, the fisherman, the sportsman, and 
the angler are at all more cruel and vindicative in their 
dealings with their fellow-men than are persons who have 
never taken animal life. We are indeed, on the opposite 
side, reminded of some vegetarians who were noted for their 
extreme benevolence. Of this class we may take Shelley as 
the type ; but the question arises — Was Shelley humane 
and benevolent from his vegetarian habits, or was he not 
rather a vegetarian from his excessive benevolence ? We 
hold the latter view. 
Vegetarians, however, try to make out their case by re- 
ferring to the lower animals, and enlarging on the ferocity 
of the Carnivora and the mildness of the Herbivora. Un- 
fortunately this alleged mildness is a myth. The elephant 
is a vegetarian “ pure and simple yet a “rogue ” elephant 
will, without the smallest provocation or necessity, attack 
and kill men, horses, or other -animals whom he meets. 
One at least of the African species of rhinoceros is given 
to wanton aggression, and is more dreaded by travellers 
than the lion. Among the ruminants it is hard to name a 
species which, if gifted with the needful strength, will not 
attack man. The malevolence of the common bull is well 
known. The common buffalo of Southern Europe and Asia 
