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11. HISTORICAL.
Says Dr. Whitlaw: "All philosophers have given their testimony in favor of vegetable food, from Pythagoras to Franklin."
Says Dr. Bell: "By far the greater number of the inhabitants of the earth have used in all ages, and continue to use at this time, vegetable aliment alone."
"Two fifths of the world's population to-day subsist principally upon rice. So far as a vegetarian diet being incompatible with health and muscular power is concerned, it would seem that any intelligent man ought to know that the whole history of the human race proves to the contrary. From the pre-historic period to the time of the Roman soldiers, who often performed their wonderful campaigns under the meagre (?) stimulus afforded by coarse brown bread and sour wine, down to the coolie of the present day, who, fed on rice, is much more active and enduring than the negro meat-eater—including the peasantry of the various parts of Europe, who thrive on the coarsest vegetable and fruit diet—the facts are certainly refutatory of the implications above refered to." A. W. Stockwell.
The writer has abstained from flesh about forty-five years, having become convinced when a lad of fourteen or fifteen, by reading, observation, reflection and instinct, that the use of animal food tends to degrade and brutalize the human race, and keep it in subjection to the animal appetites and passions. That it is unnecessary to either health, strength or longevity, witness the ox, horse, camel, elephant, reindeer, etc., who derive their immense strength and endurance from herbage alone; witness the ancient Pythagorians and Essenes; the great mass of the ancient Egyptians and Persians, whose physical, mental and moral superiority are well-known facts of history; the Brahmins, who eschew milk and its products and eggs, as well as flesh, yet are among the most healthy, vigorous and long-lived of their race; the great bulk of the four hundred and fifty millions-
