[6] I would point out, in this connection, however, that, apart from this possible shortening of the small intestine, no anatomical changes whatever have resulted from a partially carnivorous diet for the hundreds of years that have preceded us, and upon which man still largely subsists. Doubtless this is partly due to the fact that much other food was always eaten with the meat consumed; and also the fact that the poorer classes—the peasantry, etc.—were unable to purchase large quantities of meat at any time—and hence to eat it. With them it was always an occasional luxury, rather than a steady article of diet. The interesting fact is, however, that, in spite of these hundreds of years of abuse, the human alimentary tract still maintains all the characteristics of the frugivorous animal, and in no way resembles the carnivorous alimentary tract! Had our hundreds of years of flesh-eating enabled us to subsist upon such a diet with impunity—or even adapted the human body to the diet in any degree—as is frequently contended—then our alimentary tract would indicate that fact by its evolutionary modifications. As this is not the case, however, what becomes of the argument that meat is a necessary article of diet, because man has subsisted largely upon it for hundreds of years?
[7] “Fruits and Farinacea,” pp. 82-83.
[8] “Fruits and Farinacea,” p. 84.
[9] Dr Woods Hutchison and other writers upon the subject have contended that all flesh-eating animals have their eyes set in the front of their heads, and all herbivora on the side. Because man’s eyes are set in the front of his head, it is contended, therefore he is carnivorous! This argument is completely disproved by the fact (among others) that the higher apes, which, in a state of nature, are pure frugivora, have their eyes set in the front of their heads—as has man. This is consequently no argument whatever in favour of a flesh diet.
[10] “Fruit and Bread,” pp. 108-109.
[11] “Shall We Slay to Eat?” p. 35.
[12] This is most interesting. It shows conclusively that at one time there were no carnivora on this globe: they merely developed through countless ages, as the result of deprivation and lack of their proper and natural food.
[13] “Natural Hygiene,” by H. Lahmann, M.D., pp. 76-85.
[14] “The Nutrition of Man,” pp. 4-5.
[15] U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experimental Stations Bul. 65, p. 118.