On food, or, Upon what does man live? / by Henri Erni.

  • Erni, Henry
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On food, or, Upon what does man live? / by Henri Erni. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Speaking of animals generally, we find that the organ- ization of each kind corresponds to its prescribed diet and mode of living; thus some are designed to live on vege- tables, others on animal food only. Choosing here, as an example, only the higher mammalia, those approaching man, the structure of their teeth, etc., is in accordance with the nature of aliments upon which they are destined to live, and thus we classify them into graminivorous, carnivorous and frugivorous animals (monkeys;) man aloneis truly said to be the only omnivorous creature. Let us next endeavor to answer the question, upon what does man live? The Gaucho, who in the great pampas of Buenos Ayres lives by catching (with his lasso and bolas) wild cattle, consumes daily from 10 to 12 lbs. of meat and considers it a great treat when he accidently comes in possession of some vegetable food; whilst, on the contrary, the Irish- man has to be contented with a meal of potatoes, and feels lucky when at intervals he gets hold of a fish, or a piece of meat. Here we see the Greenlander in his cabin almost burried in ice and snow, feeding on seal and whale's oil. There we find the indolent negro sucking his sugar- cane and feeding on plantains; or the wayfaring Spaniard eating his onion together with an humble crust of bread. In the meantime the industrious Chinese brings his well fattened rats and dogs to market; whilst the African traveler crossing the sandy deserts, carries along his bag of dates, often his only food for weeks. Again the shepherds of the Alps are obliged to live for months on milk and cheese; whilst the Hindoo loads his stomach with so vast quantities of rice as to frighten a European. Thus a traveler, passing from country to country, and through various climes, finds the daily bread' made up of different materials.
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