the law of self-preservation will warrant his taking the life of animals;—provided he be guilty of no cruelty, and cause no unnecessary pain to the animal which he sacrifices to supply his wants; but if upon further inquiry it should appear that the life of man can be preserved, his health and strength maintained, his pleasure and happiness continued or rendered more pure and satisfactory, and the period of his mortal existence unabbreviated or prolonged, by a diet of which the flesh of animals forms no part,—then would neither wisdom nor benevolence sanction the horrid cruelties that are daily perpetrated, in order to pamper the perverted appetites of man."
Believing the subject to be one of great interest, I determined to investigate it impartially, and resolved to adopt practically whatsoever should appear to be the plain dictates of nature. After carefully consulting the writings of Moses, traditionary records, comparative anatomy, physiology, chemistry, general history, and private experience, I arrived at the firm conviction, that the flesh of animals is not only unnecessary, but decidedly prejudicial to man's health and well-being. I therefore discontinued it, as an article of diet; and, persevering in spite of the fears and remonstrances of my friends, I was soon rewarded with better health and more real enjoyment than I had experienced during many years.
Having derived incalculable advantages from a strict adherence to a fruit and farinaceous diet, and being fully satisfied (after a long and patient investigation of evidence) that it is well adapted to all constitutions, in all climates fit for the residence of man, I can no longer resist the importunity of my friends to publish the result of my experience and inquiries.
Throughout the whole of these investigations I have preferred expressing my sentiments in the language of authors eminent for talents and scientific pursuits, rather than in words of my own; which must be my excuse for the many disconnected sentences and sudden transitions to be found in the work. On a careful perusal of the whole, I find much to be dissatisfied with;—arising, in a great measure, from the many interruptions that have occurred during its composition; and I would gladly have re-written it, had not my avocations forbid the attempt. I therefore solicit the indulgence of the public towards its faults and imperfections.
For much valuable information on the points I have discussed, I am indebted to the works of Drs. Lambe, Grant, Carpenter, Southwood Smith, Prout, Bird, Roget, Pereira, Dick, and Müller; Professors Liebig, Lawrence, and Mulder; Baron Cuvier, Mr. J. F. Newton, and many others, more especially to the "Lectures on the Science of Human Life," by Mr. Sylvester Graham, of North America; which I would earnestly recommend to all who feel an interest in the subject.
