The Natural Food of Man: Being an attempt to prove from comparative anatomy, physiology, chemistry and hygiene, that the original, best and natural diet of man is fruit and nutsCarrington, Hereward
Science
The Natural Food of Man: Being an attempt to prove from comparative anatomy, physiology, chemistry and hygiene, that the original, best and natural diet of man is fruit and nuts
Carrington, Hereward
Food; Vegetarianism
In order to classify an animal, and place him in his proper division,
it is necessary first of all to make a careful examination of his
physical structure, and examine his organs in turn and severally, with
the utmost care; when, by a comparative study of his organs, and by
comparing them with those of other animals, living upon other foods,
we shall be enabled to classify man properly—at least, so far as the
evidence afforded by comparative anatomy enables us to reach a decisive
conclusion one way or the other. There are numerous other facts and
arguments to be taken into consideration; but, as said before, the
argument drawn from comparative anatomy is the most complete and
convincing of all—since that alone practically settles the case for all
other animals. Let us, therefore, consider the structure or anatomy of
man, from this point of view; and see how far these arguments lead us,
and to what class we should naturally assign man, from a study of these
facts alone. I shall take up for discussion first of all the teeth.
THE TEETH
_The Herbivora._—Let us consider first the teeth of the herbivorous
animal. The horse, the ox, and the sheep are typical of this class of
animals—living, as they do, almost entirely upon grass and herbs. The
character of their food is peculiar. It is bulky, coarse, and covered
with sharp, cutting edges—ill suited for tender mouths and gums. It
must be mashed and ground thoroughly between the teeth and in the mouth
before it is fit to be swallowed; and teeth of a peculiar construction
and mutual relation are necessary in order properly to perform this
function. Just such teeth they possess. There are twenty-four molars,
six on each side in each jaw; and in the lower jaw, in front, eight
incisors, or cutting teeth, with none on the upper jaw. In place of any
of these teeth on the upper jaw, there is simply a horny plate upon
which the long incisors of the lower jaw impinge when the jaws are
closed. This renders possible the tearing, grinding motions necessary
for biting off and masticating the food upon which these animals live.
Not only that. The actual _structure_ of their teeth is peculiarly
suited to their food and its mastication. Unlike our teeth, they are
not covered with enamel, but are composed of alternate layers of enamel
and dentine—a soft, bony substance lying between the layers of enamel,
and wearing away more rapidly than it does. The result is that there
is soon formed a series of jagged edges, which form cutting, grinding
surfaces, and are especially adapted for the food which these animals
feed upon. No such formation is present in any other class of animals,
since their food is different from that of the herbivora. It is a wise
provision of nature, precisely adapted to the desired ends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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