Page:Fruits and Farinacea the Proper Food of Man.djvu/52

46 in reason which gives him leisure to indulge in the mere exercise of intellect."

39. Upon the instinctive feelings, then, mankind must have originally depended for direction in the selection of appropriate diet; and can we suppose, judging even from our own perverted sensations, that man would be tempted by the sight of other animals to kill them for food? There is "beauty in them," it is true; their shape, symmetry, and motions delight and please us; but there is no such beauty as is calculated to excite the appetite while they are living, much less when dead. But suppose an animal to have been killed, either by design or by accident, and that its skin had been removed—would this be a sight calculated to excite desire, or would the smell and taste be gratified by such an object? Rather would not the sensations arising from these organs excite horror and aversion; and "in a warm climate, where putrefaction immediately succeeds dissolution, must not the dead flesh have speedily diffused an offensive odor, and oocasioned insuperable loathing and disgust?"

40. Judging from instinctive feelings, therefore, we must conclude, that man could not have been originally carnivorous; for the mangled and gory limbs of a dead animal are not calculated to gratify the sensations of either sight, smell, or taste. What objects, then, without artificial preparation, would be most likely to have yielded pleasurable sensations to each of these senses, when the calls of hunger demanded satisfaction? Would the grass of the field be sufficient for this purpose? The herbivorous animal is attracted by the sight of a verdant lawn, and the sensations of smell and taste are there equally gratified; but this is not the case with man. Food of a higher character was designed for him. Moses informs us that "out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food;" (Genesis ii. 9;) and again, " When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat." (Genesis iii. 6.) Thus we find that the organ of sight was the first to direct Eve in the choice of food; and that fruit was in this respect most attractive. No other kind of diet, in its natural state, is so calculated to afford pleasure to three out of the five senses with which man has been endowed. The eye is pleased with the varied forms and hues of the fruit of genial climes, and fruit yields a fragrance to the olfactory nerves not to be surpassed; while luscious juices and rich flavors render the sensual enjoyment complete. Fruit, then, would doubtless be best calculated to attract the notice of mankind; and upon this they would be induced, by every instinct of their