There is no doubt that Luigi Cornaro gave appreciative attention to
his four three-ounce meals a day, and in giving attention properly
insalivated his food. The inference is warranted. A man full of vigour
and health and constructive energy such as Cornaro reports that he had
in unusual abundance is not likely to confront a three-ounce ration
of delicious food and proceed to bolt it as a dog bolts a piece of
stolen meat. It is a matter of easy observation that a child given
a single piece of sugar or sweet in any form will make it last as
long as possible and get all of the taste out of it by most ingenious
conservation; but the same child, if offered a box of "goodies" as it
is passed around, or whenever the time given for possession of its
contents is limited, will show the greed of a predatory or hunted or
habitually maltreated animal and will not only grab as much as possible
but will cram all possible into his stomach to satisfy the sense of
greed, and then usually suffers the consequences of the double sin in
the sickening re-taste of the gases of indigestion.
Cornaro undoubtedly made his three-ounce meals last as long as possible
in order to enjoy the maximum of taste, and in so doing satisfied
the natural requirements of appreciative attention and thorough
insalivation. In like manner two small tumblers of the fresh grape
juice (new wine--fourteen ounces), which he took as his sapid liquid
in the course of a day in connection with his four meals, would allow
only a sherry glass quantity to each meal, and with such a limited
supply a person is not likely to toss off the liquid in great gulps
as water is drunk to satisfy thirst, but it rather would be enjoyed
as the wine-tasters enjoy wine, by their sipping practice, in pursuit
of their profession. The influence of visible supply or of passing or
permanent opportunity of possession is a most powerful suggestion in
the cultivation of economy or prodigality, of greed or moderation, of
healthy nouriture or plethoric indigestion.
Man was constructed and intended to hunt his food among the grains,
nuts, roots, and other fruits of earth, and in hunting food to earn a
keen appetite. He found his food scattered and ate it as he found it,
with the true appreciation that difficulty of possession gives. In the
primitive state the requirements of natural digestion are safeguarded;
but with a plethora of food cooked and spiced and furnished with
superfacilities for ingestion, the natural protection of difficulty is
removed, and the victims of the luxury drop unconsciously into habits
of abuse, like the overeating of to-day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account