A VEGETARIAN'S EXPERIENCE

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1074, 17 August 1883, Page 2

A VEGETARIAN'S EXPERIENCE

A vegetarian reports to the British Medical Journal the result of his year’s experience without meat. At first he found the vegetables insipid and had to use sauces and pickles to get them down. As soon as he became accustomed to the diet all condiments were put aside, except a little salt. The desire for tobacco and alcohol left him spontaneously. Then all his digestive functions became regular and he found himself wholly free from headaches and bilious attacks. After three months a troublesome rheumatism left him, and at the end of a year he had gained eight pounds in weight. He believes he can do more mental labour than before, and that all his senses are more acute. For breakfast he has brown bread apples and coffee ; dinner consists of two vegetables, brown bread and pie or pudding ; for tea he rejoices in bread and jam, with milk and water, and for supper, bread, jam, eold pudding, and, as a luxury, boiled onions. Eggs, milk, butter and cheese are used only in very small quantities. The dietist is a doctor, and his statement is drawing out many similar ones from medical men. It is well known that a vegetable diet has an improving effect upon the skin, especially of the face, to which it imparts a plump, pleasing appearance. This was particularly noticeable in the case of Stanley, the explorer, on his return from Africa after nearly two years of almost compulsory abstinence from animal food.