Page:Fruits and Farinacea the Proper Food of Man.djvu/54

48 article of diet. I have previously alluded to the fable of Prometheus stealing fire from heaven; as well as to his being the first to make use of animal food, and to the diseases he entailed upon himself and mankind by so doing; instead, therefore, of vainly searching farther for the date of the discovery, it may suffice to observe, that until man was acquainted with fire, and familiar with its effects, it would be impossible for him to relish the flesh of other animals, particularly if fruits and farinaceous articles of diet were within his reach; and I believe no instance can be adduced of any nation, however savage, feeding upon raw flesh, where fruits, farinaceous roots, and corn could be procured. Have we not here, then, another strong argument in favor of the fruit and farinaceous diet of man, during the first period of his existence?

43. Another physical reason presents itself for considering man not to have been originally carnivorous;—namely, the want of implements for slaying, cutting, and preparing other animals, before he could make use of their flesh for food. All animals destined for feeding upon flesh are provided by nature with instruments for catching, tearing, and devouring their prey; but for man there is no such provision;—a plain indication that, previously to the discovery of the arts, he must have been indebted to some other productions for his subsistence. "God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." (Eccles. vii. 29.)

44. I have now completed my investigations respecting the original diet of man; and have, I trust, satisfactorily proved, that the flesh of animals was not laid under contribution for his support. The language of Scripture seems to me particularly clear and decisive on this point, showing that fruit and other vegetables were appropriated to the use of man. His original innocence and moral perfection speak the same language; for the thought of creating pain and misery, by slaughtering an animal in the midst of pleasure and enjoyment, could arise in no breast whereon the image of the Creator was faithfully sealed, except in the case of dire necessity. The testimony of profane antiquity, also, is in favor of a simple vegetable diet among the first races of mankind. The senses of sight, smell, and taste, the instincts expressly designed by the Creator for directing each animal to its appropriate food, loudly proclaim man to have been originally frugivorous; while the absence of fire and other results of discovery would entirely preclude the first human inhabitants of this globe from feasting upon the flesh and blood of slaughtered animals.

45. Whatever source of evidence we consult, therefore, no discrepancy is found. Revelation and tradition, morals and man's sensitive feelings, nature and art, all harmonize in declaring that man, when fresh from the