6. She has abstained entirely for three years, and has taken but little for seven or eight years; and whenever she has, from necessity (in being from home, where she could procure nothing else), indulged in eating meat, she has universally suffered severely in consequence. 7. The change to a vegetable diet was preceded, in her case, by the use of an uncommon proportion of animal food, highly seasoned with stimulants. 8. Tea and coffee she has not used for thirteen years. She has used, for substitutes, water, milk and water, barley water, and gruel. She found tea and coffee to have an exceedingly pernicious effect upon her nervous and digestive system. 9. A vegetable diet is more aperient than a mixed. Habitual constipation has been entirely removed by the change. 10. She sincerely believes, from her experience, that the health of laborers and students would be generally promoted by the exclusion of animal food from their diet. 11. She considers _hominy_, as prepared at the South, particularly healthy; and subsists upon this, with bread made from coarse flour, with broccoli, cauliflower, and all kinds of vegetables in their season. Be assured, dear sir, that these answers have come from a high source, to which private reference may at any time be made, and consequently are entitled to the highest consideration. Yours, etc., L. W. SHERMAN. NOTE.--If I have not been minute enough in the relation of this case, I shall hereafter be happy to answer any questions you may think proper to propose. It is a very interesting and important case, in my opinion. The lady has been under my care a number of times, while laboring under slight indisposition. She has always been very regular and systematic in all her habits. She is healthy and robust in appearance, and looks as though she might not be more than forty. This is the only case of the kind within my knowledge. I have practiced on her plan for a few weeks at a time, and, so far as my experience goes, it precisely comports with hers. But I love the "good things" of this world too well to abstain from their use, until some formidable disease demands their prohibition. Yours, etc., L. W. S. FOOTNOTES: [1] Dr. Preston has since deceased. [2] Mr. Vincent is of Stonington, Ct. CHAPTER III. REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING LETTERS. Correspondence.--The "prescribed course of Regimen."--How many victims to it?--Not one.--Case of Dr. Harden considered.--Case of Dr. Preston.--Views of Drs. Clark, Cheyne, and Lambe, on the treatment of Scrofula.--No reports of Injury from the prescribed System.--Case of Dr. Bannister.--Singular testimony of Dr. Wright.--Vegetable food for Laborers.--Testimony, on the whole, much more favorable to the Vegetable System than could reasonably have been expected, in the circumstances.