Page:Reasonsfornoteatinganimalfood.pdf/4

4 Bones for Strength, of Muscles for Motion, and of Nerves for Sensation. XIV. Because the practice of killing and devouring Animals can be justified by no moral Plea, by no physical Benefit, nor by any allegation of Necessity, in Countries where there is Abundance of vegetable food; and where the arts of Gardening and Husbandry are favoured by social protection, and by the genial character of the Soil and Climate. XV. Because whenever the number and hostility of predatory Land Animals might so tend to prevent the cultivation of vegetable food, as to render it necessary to destroy, and perhaps to eat, them, there could in that case exist no necessity for destroying the animated existence of the distinct Elements of Air and Water; and, as in most civilized countries there exists no land animals besides those which are purposely bred for Slaughter or Luxury, of course the destruction of Animals, Birds, and Fish, in such countries, must be ascribed either to unthinking wantoness or carnivorous gluttony. XVI. Because the Stomachs of locomotive Beings appear to have been provided for the purpose of conveying about, with the moving animal, nutritive Substances, analogous in effect to the Soil in which are fixed the roots of plants, and consequently nothing ought to he introduced into the stomach for Digestion and for Absorption by the Lacteals, or Roots of the Animal System, but the natural bases of simple Nutrition, as the saccharine, the oleaginous, and the farinaceous matter of the Vegetable Kingdom.