Henry S. Salt: On Vegetarianism: 1884

Transcribed –

……

A TIMELY PLEA: ADDRESSED TO THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO THINK.

“Methinks at meals some odd thoughts might intrude.” – Byron

HARDWORKING men sometimes think there is a sort of merit in “not caring what one eats.” This is a fallacy; for though it is meritorious to be able to content oneself with plain fare, yet mere indifference about one’s food can only arise from stupidity or thoughtlessness, since the welfare of the body and mind is intimately connected with what we eat. Those who are willing and able to think about their food are invited to consider the following aspects of Vegetarianism.

  I. ITS PRACTICABILITY. – Vegetables, though less stimulating than flesh, contain the same nutritive substances, and, as even flesh-eaters admit, are well able to sustain man’s physical powers. The statement, frequently made, that a flesh diet is necessary to support intellectual energy, is without a particle of proof, and contrary to all experience and common sense. This, and all similar assertions, are disproved by the fact that there are many Vegetarians now living in perfect bodily health and full mental vigour.

  II. ITS MORALITY. – Vegetarianism involves – (1) No cruelty to animals. (2) No degradation to man. Those who eat flesh are responsible for the horrors of the slaughter-house, and the sufferings of many harmless animals. Even if it were necessary to kill animals, it would be degrading to eat their carcases. It is trebly degrading to breed and rear animals solely for this purpose, and to delegate to a class of butchers the bloody task which no gentleman would perform himself.

  III. ITS ECONOMY. – Millions of money are annually spent on breeding, rearing, and transporting animals for human food. The Political Economist, who condemns all luxury, must also condemn this system of flesh-eating; for here is immense waste of labour in producing unnecessary food.

  There are also some indirect advantages of Vegetarianism, which may be here briefly indicated. (1) It is conducive to simplicity of living. A man who understands the importance of the question of diet is not likely to be a glutton. (2) It prevents drunkenness; for the craving for alcohol dies out, together with the craving for flesh. (3) It fosters humanity and gentleness, and quickens all the intellectual faculties. Perhaps the most comprehensive reason for not eating flesh is the one given by Chatterton – “He had no right to make himself stupider than God made him.”

H. S. S.

……

……the feeling you get when you discover an 1883 written piece, logically promoting vegetarianism – by Henry S. Salt – published in ‘The Dietetic Reformer & Vegetarian Messenger’ – issue for Jan 1884. Salt quotes both Lord Byron and Thomas Chatterton.

 ……and it has been in The Ernest Bell Library for a year – ……but missed on first read through.

‘The Dietetic Reformer & Vegetarian Messenger’ – January 1872 to December 1885 – 168 monthly issues – 14 complete years

The ‘Ernest Bell Library’ is looking after these.

……

9 ADDITIONAL NOTES

1) This pre-dates Salt’s “A Plea for Vegetarianism & other essays” – the VegSoc version of 1886 – with the ‘vegan bits’ edited out – here.

2) This pre-dates Salt’s Foreword to Shelley’s – ” Vindication….” of 1884 – written with W. E. A. Axon – here.

5) Lord Byron – Don Juan – Canto the Fifth – here.

30

I wonder if his appetite was good?

Or, if it were, if also his digestion?

Methinks at meals some odd thoughts might intrude,

And conscience ask a curious sort of question,

About the right divine how far we should

Sell flesh and blood. When dinner has opprest one,

I think it is perhaps the gloomiest hour

Which turns up out of the sad twenty-four.

6) More on Lord Byron – here.

~ In these Memorials of Byron, references to his aversion from all “butcher’s meat” is frequent; and for the greater part of his life, he seems to have observed, in fact, an extreme abstinence as regards eating; although he had by no means the same repugnance for fish as for flesh-eating. That his abstinence from flesh-meats was founded upon physical or mental, rather than moral, reasons, has already been pointed out. Nor, unhappily, was he abstinent in drinking as in eating; to which fact, in great measure, must be attributed the failure of his purer eating to effect all the good which, otherwise, it would have produced. ~

7) Thomas Chatterton (20 November 1752 – 24 August 1770) was an English poet.

8) ~ Chatterton, when a boy, hardly ever touched meat, and drank only water: when a child, he would often refuse to take any thing but bread and water,….. ~ – from here.

9) ~ CHATTERTON: I want no pity. I have supped in Coffee Houses with the greatest men in London. I could have the richest fare, if I did want it, but eating clogs the body, and wine but dulls the senses, making man more stupid than God made him……. ~ – see – The Marvelous Boy – by – Rona Murray – here.

Comment via Facebook