The logic of vegetarianism : Essays and dialogues / by Henry S. Salt.

  • Henry Stephens Salt
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The logic of vegetarianism : Essays and dialogues / by Henry S. Salt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    But oui critic is again absolutely mistaken. There is no difference whatever between the diet of those who adopted the name at the date by no means remote and that ot those who bear it now. Now, as then, there are some few Vegetarians who abjure all that is of the animal, but the rule of the Society now, as then, is that the use ot eggs and milk is permissible. At the Third Annual Meeting, held in 1850, it was stated by one of the speakers that ■“the limits within-which the dietary of the Vegetarian Society was restricted excluded nothing but the flesh and blood of animals.” To avoid any possible misunderstanding, let me repeat that it is no part of the case for Vegetarianism to defend the name “Vegetarian” in itself ; it may be a good name or a bad one. What we defend is our right to the title, an indefeasible historical claim which is not to be upset by any such unfounded and self-contradictory assertions as those quoted. But, it may be said, even if the title is historically genuine, would it not be better to change it, as it evidently leads to misunderstanding ? Verbalist : Let me advise you, even now, whatever your definition of “ Vegetarian ” may be, to adopt some other title less open to discussion—something that will distinguish the purely vegetable diet from the vegetable diet plus certain animal products. Vegetarian : We should be perfectly willing to do so, but for two difficulties : first, that no other satisfactory title has ever been suggested, and secondly, that as the word “Vegetarian” has now taken a recognised place in the language, it would scarcely be possible to get rid of it. At any rate the substitute, to have the least chance of success, would have to be very terse, popular, and expressive. As you take so kind an interest in our nomenclature, perhaps you could advise us ? Verbalist: It is no part of my duty to find names for faddists, but, as you ask me, J should suggest “ flesh-abstainer,” or “ akreophagist. Vegetarian : No, thank you ! We will not have merely negative terms, if you please. We will not countenance the notion that we are abstinents and nothing more. Far better than that are such names as “ humane dietist ” and “ food-reformer,” but a compound title is cumbrous and unwieldy, and even then
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