Fruits and Farinacea
Author | John Smith (of Malton) |
---|---|
Language | English |
Subject | Vegetarianism |
Published |
|
Pages | 314 |
OCLC | 610348355 |
Fruits and Farinacea: The Proper Food of Man, Being an Attempt to Prove, from History, Anatomy, Physiology, and Chemistry, that the Original, Natural, and Best Diet of Man is Derived from the Vegetable Kingdom is an 1845 book advocating vegetarianism by John Smith (of Malton).
It was first published by
Description
Smith cited research from anatomy, chemistry, history, and physiology that the natural food of man is a vegetarian diet. Smith cited the Bible as evidence that fruit and farinacea are the original food of man in the Garden of Eden before the fall of man.[1][2] He documented how ancient peoples mentioned in the Bible and early nations lived on a fruit and farinaceous diet.[1]
Smith argued from the shape and size of
The 1845 edition was dedicated to William Lambe. Historian James Gregory has described the book as a "major text" for the vegetarian movement.[4]
Reception
The book was negatively reviewed in many medical journals for using outdated sources from ancient history or utilizing incorrect arguments from physiology. The earliest reviews of the book were most favourable.
It was positively reviewed in the
In 1846,
In conclusion, we may express the opinion that Mr. Smith has stated his case ably but not successfully; he has said enough in favour of an exclusively vegetable diet to show that is offers all the requisites for human sustenance, when fancy, ill-health, or any particular circumstance, may induce its adoption; but no sufficient arguments or experience have been advanced to lead us to believe that any advantage would arise from its substitution in place of the ordinary mixed regimen.[3]
A reviewer in the Monthly Journal of Medical Science in 1849 took issue with the book because many of the cases Smith cited of individuals and communities of people living on a vegetable diet were not living on a strict vegetable diet, as they were also consuming
The New York Medical Gazette and Journal of Health praised Smith's writing and described it as "the best book on the subject, and immeasurably superior to any which have been written here in this department." However, the reviewer criticized
A review in the Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science in 1874, commented that Smiths "arguments and proofs are in the main so unsatisfactory, that we are more inclined than ever to be omnivorous".[8] It was negatively reviewed in the Quarterly Journal of Science which concluded that "we have been unable to find a trace of sound logic or convincing argument in the whole book, and are more than ever assured that our omnivorous diet is the right one."[9]
The British Medical Journal attacked the book in a 1897 review as non-scientific.[10] The review noted that Smith utilized sources from ancient history which are obsolete from scientific advances and that his arguments from religion were "fanciful". The book was mocked for making incorrect claims from physiology. For example, Smith was unaware about the function of the pancreas and made the false suggestion that it secretes nitrogen if it lacks in food.[10]
Other works
In 1860, Smith authored Principles and Practice of Vegetarian Cookery, an
References
- ^ Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal65: 190–204.
- ^ a b c d Fruits and Farinacea: The Proper Food of Man. (1849). Monthly Journal of Medical Science 9: 1218–1226.
- ^ The Medico-Chirurgical Review48: 378–388.
- ISBN 978-1-84511-379-7
- ^ Fruits and Farinacea: The Proper Food of Man. (1845). Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal 9: 628.
- ^ Fruits and Farinacea: The Proper Food of Man. (1854). New York Medical Gazette and Journal of Health 5: 426–427.
- ^ Fruits and Farinacea: The Proper Food of Man. (1854). New Hampshire Journal of Medicine 4: 335–336.
- ^ Fruits and Farinacea: The Proper Food of Man. (1874). Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science 29: 204.
- ^ Fruits and Farinacea: The Proper Food of Man. (1874). Quarterly Journal of Science 11: 239–240.
- ^ a b Reviewed Work: Fruits And Farinacea The Proper Food Of Man. Vol. IV by John Smith, C. W. Forward. (1897). The British Medical Journal 2 (1911): 405.