Beasoiis for not Eating Animal Food» [Sept.I, 
il<5 
Tor the Monthly Magazine. 
THE writer's E^.ASO^*s /b;- not eating 
-ANIMAL FOOD Or auzj tiling, that has had 
LIFE. 
I. 
B ecause being Mortal himself, and 
holding his Life on the same un¬ 
certain and precarious tenure as all other 
sensitive Beings, he does not feel him¬ 
self justified by any supposed superiority 
cr inequality of condition, in destroying 
the vital enjoyment of any other Mortal, 
except in the necessary defence of his 
0 \vn Life. 
II. 
Because the desire of life is so para¬ 
mount, and so affectingly cherished in all 
sensitive Beings, that he cannot reconcile 
it to his feelings to destroy, or become a 
voluntary party in the destruction of any 
living Creature, however much in his 
power, or apparently insigaihcant. 
III. 
Because he feels an utter and uncon¬ 
querable Repugnance against receiving 
into his stomach the Flesh or Juices of 
deceased animal organization. 
IV. 
Because he feels the same Abhorrence 
against devouring Flesh in general, that 
he hears carnivorous men express against 
eating Human Flesh, or the flesh of dogs^ 
cats, horses, or other anlnmis, whicli in 
some countries it is not customary for 
carnivorous men to devour. 
V. 
Because Nature appears to have made 
a superabundant provision for the Nou- 
risliment of Animals in the saccharine 
matter of Roots and Fiuits; in the 
farinaceous matter of Grain, Seed, and 
pulse, and in the oleaiiinous matter of the 
Stalks, Leaves, and Pericarps, of nume¬ 
rous Vegetables. 
vr. 
Because the Destruction of the me¬ 
chanical organization of Vegetables in¬ 
dicts no sensitive Sufiering, nor violates 
any niora! Feeling; w’nile Vegetables serve 
to sustain his Health, Strengtli, and tipi- 
fits, above those of most carnivorous 
men. 
VIT. 
Because during thirt y years of rigid Ab¬ 
stinence f)-om the fiesli and juices of de¬ 
ceased sensitive Eemgs, lie finds that he 
}ias not sufiered a day’s serious Illness: 
that his animal Strength and Vigour have 
been equal, nr superior to that of other 
men; and tliat his Mind has been fully 
equal to numenms Shocks, which it lias 
had to encounter from malice, envy, 
and various acts of turpitude in his fel¬ 
low-men.* 
VIII. 
Because observing that carnivorous 
propensities among Animals, are ac¬ 
companied by a total want of sympa¬ 
thetic Feelings, and humane Sentiments, 
as in tlie hysna, tiie tyger, the vulture, 
the eagle, the crocodile, and the sliark; 
he conceives that the practices of tbo^e 
carnivorous tyrants afford no worthy 
example for the imitation or justifica¬ 
tion of rational, reflecting, and con¬ 
scientious, Beings. 
IX. 
Because he observes that carnivorous 
I\Ien, unrestrained by Reflection or Sen- 
timeiu, even refine on the cruel practices 
of the most savage animals; and apply 
their resources of mind and art to pro¬ 
long the Miseries of the Victims of their 
appetites, skinning, roasting, and boiling. 
Animals alive, and torturing tliem without 
reservation or remorse, if they thereby 
add to the Variety or the Delicacy of their 
carnivorous Gluttony. 
X. 
Because the natural Sentiments and 
Sympathies of human Beings, in regard 
to the Killing of other Animals, are ge¬ 
nerally so averse from the practice, that 
few men or women could devour the 
animals which thev might be obliged 
theiDselves to kill; yet they forget, or 
affect to forget, tlie living endearments or 
dying sufferings of tiie creature, while 
they are wantoning over his remains, 
XI. 
Because the human Stomach appears 
to be naturally so averse from receiving 
the remains of Animals, that few 
CQuld partake of them if they were not 
disguised and flavoured by culinary Pre¬ 
paration; yet rational creatures ought to 
* The Author at twelve years old, when a 
school-boy at Chiswick, abstained from 
eating animal food from a cause which it is 
said led Dr. Franldin to resume the prac' 
tice! He saw a fish opened w’hich had 
small fish within it, recently devoured ^ 
and when that fish was afterwards brought 
to table, he was forcibly struck with the 
idea of eating the very animal, which but 
yesterday had been devouring others. The 
practice of the fish was, he felt, that of s; 
creature without reason or humanity, and no 
justification to him for doing what he thought 
wrong. His appetite also revolted at the idea 
of eating part of a creature so lately and so 
palpably enjoying itself in its own element. 
He therefore excused himself, and has to this 
tinae persevsred in rigid abstinence. 
