Page:Henry Stephens Salt - A Plea for Vegetarianism and Other Essays.pdf/76

Rh by the formation of the teeth and other structural evidence. “ Comparative anatomy," they say, “ shows distinctly that the human teeth and intestines are constructed with a view to the digestion of ﬂesh, and not of vegetables.” The answer to this very fallacious assertion is simply a denial in toto. Flesh-caters are utterly mistaken in the assertion they rashly make, and if they will examine their authorities more carefully, they will discover that the comparative anatomy to which they appeal establishes beyond any doubt the frugivosrous, not carnivorous, origin of man. “The natural food of man,” says Cuvier, “judging from his structure, appears to consist principally of the fruits, roots, and other succulent parts of vegetables.” This opinion is corroborated by that of Linnzeus, M. Gasscndi, Ray, Professor Owen, Professor Lawrence, and a host of other authorities; but even without any scientific testimony, the fact that the apes, who are nearest akin to us in the animal world, are frugivorous, is a somewhat strong indication that flesh is not the natural food of mankind.

2. Our opponents next take refuge in the very specious fallacy that “Vegetarianism is