CHAPTER VII.

INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF ANIMAL FOOD.

345. MANY, it must be allowed, partake of large quantities of animal food, without suffering from gout. An originally sound and vigorous constitution, with active excretory organs, may prevent an undue formation of lithic acid; particularly in those leading an active life, and spending much of their time in the open air. The beneficial effects of long continued muscular exercise, under a highly azotized but simple diet, is seen in the Pampa Indians of Buenos Ayres; who live, almost entirely, on mare's flesh and water and yet the diseases dependant upon an excess of lithic acid are not known among them; because, when not sleeping, they are almost continually on horseback; and, being accustomed to this kind of exercise from childhood, they acquire the power to ride very great distances with comparatively little fatigue. "The mare's flesh which they eat", says Sir Everard Home, "is tough and lean; so that they only satisfy hunger, and never grow fat; but when they accidentally get a buffalo, and indulge much in eating fat, it makes them feverish, and takes away their appetite. By fasting a day or two, however,

they get well. By virtue of the great simplicity of their diet, and their constant exercise on horseback, in the open air, they enjoy remarkable uniformity of health; and many of them are very athletic, and capable of great endurance; especially in those feats and exploits which are performed on horseback." Those who are disposed to imitate the Pampa Indians in their muscular exertions, and in their simple mode of living, may venture to satisfy their appetites with the flesh of animals: those, however, who would enjoy health with a moderate share of exercise, will do well to adopt a diet more natural to man.

346. But the bad effects of animal food upon the human frame, are not confined either to its stimulating or azotized qualities; for animals are exposed, in various ways—particularly by confinement, over-feeding, and unnatural food—to the attacks of many diseases; and, though the generality of mankind are not in danger of feasting upon animals that have actually died from disease, yet there cannot be a doubt, that many are led to the slaughter, with solids as well as fluids in a state far from healthy, and such as must prove (in some degree) detrimental to those who feed upon them. As Plutarch observes," we chew the sores of some, and participate of the sap and juices of the deadly wounds of others."

347. "Herr Wauruch (of Vienna) states, that persons affected with tænia are mostly between fifteen and forty years of age; and that persons most concerned with animal provisions, were those observed to be chiefly attacked; for, of the two hundred and six patients at an hospital in Vienna, one was a man, and fifty-two were

women-cooks, several were butchers, and eleven were eaters of large quantities of meat. Among predisposing causes, the principal were a habitation in a damp neighbourhood, and the use of injured aliments, as bad bread, flour, butter, potatoes, &c.; but particularly bad mutton, pork, and water."* A man named Chapman, a labourer at Horsham, and two of his children, died in June 1844, from eating meat in a putrid state. The cow, of the flesh of which they partook, died of the murrain.†

348. Even the milk from animals labouring under disease, may prove highly injurious to those who partake of it. In Aurillac (in France), not many years since, fifteen or sixteen persons were attacked with symptoms of cholera, after taking the milk of a certain goat. The goat died of cholera, about twenty-four hours afterward; and Professors Orfila and Marc gave it as their undoubted opinion, that the cholera symptoms alluded to, were caused by the milk. Dr. Alcott says he has known oysters, at certain times and seasons, produce the same symptoms. "It is probable, also, that the species of phthisis to which cows are liable,-in which it has been ascertained that the milk contains seven times more phosphate of lime than usual,-may be attended with injurious results." The very exercise of the passions may have such influence upon the milk, as to render it dangerous to children of weakly constitutions; and infants have been thrown into convulsions and died, in consequence of drinking the milk of a nurse, after a paroxysm of rage: we may therefore conclude, that the * "LANCET", May 13, 1843. "LEEDS MERCURY", July 6, 1844.

blood and other secretions of animals that have been over-driven, or greatly excited, will prove highly injurious to persons predisposed to disease.

produces this effect. Bell,

349. In the present flesh-eating age of Great Britain, perhaps no complaint is more general than caries of the teeth; and, as animal food is a frequent cause of indigestion, it thus conduces to the decay of those useful portions of the human fabric. But there is a more direct mode by which animal food Fox, and other writers, attribute the decay of the teeth to inflammation, situated either in the lining membrane or the proper bone of the teeth; but Mr. Robertson (a late author) proves-by a number of considerations drawn from the structure, physiology, and development of the teeth, and from operations performed on them—that caries is the result of chemical action of decomposed food upon the teeth, and not the result of inflammatory action.

350. Upon examination it will be found, that there are fissures formed in the enamel of the teeth, in consequence of the irregular distribution of that substance upon the surface; also that there are interstices, produced by the crowded position of the teeth, and irregularity of their shape; and-as the fibres of animal food retained between the teeth, undergo a process of decomposition (by the action of oxygen)—they acquire the property of corroding, disuniting, and thereby destroying the earthy and animal substances of which the teeth are composed. At first, there is formed but a very small hole, which is increased by the daily action of the same causes; the phosphate of lime is gradually disintegrated by the

carbonic acid, aided by the secretions of the mouth; until, at length, the nerve becomes exposed, and toothach is the result. Vegetable food is not so liable to be detained between the teeth; but when this does occur, it is not so injurious; because the starch of which this food principally consists, is much more easily acted on by the saliva, and converted into gum or sugar,-one of the nutrient principles. The popular notion that sugar injures the teeth, is incorrect; except in cases where, by its admixture with other substances, it causes indigestion. "It has been alleged", says Dr. Wright, "that the eating of sugar spoils the colour of, and corrupts the teeth: this, however, proves to be a mistake; for no people on the earth have finer teeth than the negroes in Jamaica."* It has been previously shown (62), that the teeth of the carnivora are formed for tearing, and not for masticating; and stand like the teeth of a saw ;-by which means the particles of flesh, which so readily putrefy, have no chance of lodging between them; and consequently, they are less subject to decay, than those of man when he feeds on flesh; as they are formed for a different action, and for different food.

351. Animal food, however, is not the only article which induces permature decay of the teeth; for "whatever causes a general disturbance of function, and a morbid irritability of the nervous system, assails the teeth in common with all the other organs; but they will react against such causes with more or less vigour, according as the performance of their function, and other circum

* DR. WRIGHT'S "MEDICAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA."