The ethics of diet : a catena of authorities deprecatory of the practice of flesh-eating / by Howard Williams.
- Q15442840
- Date:
- 1883
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The ethics of diet : a catena of authorities deprecatory of the practice of flesh-eating / by Howard Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
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![Riding-House, he is, at last, turned out and consigned to the dominion of a hackney- coachman, by whom he is every day corrected for performing those tricks which ho has learned under so long and severe a discipline. [Add the final horrors of the Knackers' Yard, to which sort of hell the worn-out Horse is usually consigned.] The Sluggish Bear, in contradiction to his nature, is taught to dance, for the diversion of an ignorant mob, by placing red-hot irons under his feet. The majestic Bull is tortured by every mode that malice can invent, for no offence but that he is unwilling to assail his diabolical tormentors.* These and innumerable other acts of Cruelty, Injustice, and Ingratitude are every day committed—not only with impunity, but ivithout censure, and even without observation. . . . The law of self-defence, undoubtedly, justifies us in destroying those animals that would destroy us, that injure our properties, or annoy our persons; but not even these, whenever their situation incapacitates them from hurting us. . . . If there are any [there are vast numbers even now], whose tastes are so vitiated, and whose hearts are so hardened, as to delight in such inhuman sacrifices [the tortures of the Slaughter-House and of the Kitchen], and to partake of them without; remorse, they should be looked upon as demons in human shape, and expect a retali- ation of those tortures which they have inflicted on the Innocent for the gratification of their own depraved and unnatural appetites. So violent are the passions of anger and revenge in the human breast, that it is not wonderful that men should persecute their real or imaginary enemies with cruelty and malevolence. But that there should exist in Nature a being who can receive pleasure from giving pain would be totally incredible, if we were not convinced by melancholy experience that there are not only many—but that this unaccountable disposition is in some manner inherent in the nature of men.t For as he cannot be taught by [example, nor led to it by temptation, nor prompted to it by interest, it must be derived from his native constitution. J * We see children laughing at the miseries which they inflict on every unfortunate animal who comes within their power. All Savages are ingenious in contriving and executing the most exquisite tortures, and [not alone] the common people of all countries are delighted with nothing so much as with Bull-Baitings, Prize-Fightings, ' Executions,' and all spectacles of cruelty and horror. . . . They arm Cocks with artificial weapons which Nature had kindly denied to their malevolence, and with shouts of applause and triumph see them plunge them into each other's hearts. They view with delight the trembling Deer and defenceless Hare flying for hours in the utmost agonies of terror and despair, and, at last, sinking under fatigue, devoured by their merciless pursuers. They see with joy the beautiful Pheasant and harmless Partridge drop from their flight, weltering in their blood, or, perhaps, perishing with wounds and hunger under the cover of some friendly thicket, to which they have in vain retreated for safety. . . . And to add to all this, they spare neither labour nor expense to preserve and propagate these innocent animals for no other end than to multiply the objects of their persecution. * Bull-baiting, in this country, has been for some years illegal; but that moralists, and other writers of the present day, while boasting the abolition of that popular pastime, are silent upon the equally barbarous, if more fashionable sports of Deer-hunting, &c., is one of those inconsistencies in logic which are as unaccountable as they are common. t That is, remarks Kitson, ina state of Society influenced by Superstition, Pride, and a variety of prejudices equally unnatural and absurd. t The converse of all this is true. He is certainly taught by example, and by temptation, and prompted by (what he thinks is) interest-—Note by Ritssn in Abstinence from Flesh a Moral Duty.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21084324_0339.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
