Again, there are those who adopt a vegetarian course of diet on the ground of health.  Many maintain that diseases like gout and dyspepsia would disappear were vegetarian diet strictly adhered to.  On the other hand, we have physicians who maintain that the great cause of indigestion is not eating enough.  An American physician, some years ago, alleged he had discovered the cause, his argument being that the more work the stomach had to do the stronger it would become, on the same principle that the arm of a blacksmith is more powerful in consequence of hard work.  Of one thing we are certain, and that is, there will always be rival physicians and rival sects; but the present work will simply be a guide to those who require, from whatever cause, a light form of diet.  Perhaps the greatest benefit vegetarians can do their cause—­and there are many who think very strongly on the subject—­is to endeavour to take a dispassionate view.  Rome was not built in a day; and if we look back at the past history of this country, during the last half-century, in regard to food, we shall see that there have been many natural changes at work.  Waves of thought take place backwards and forwards, but still the tide may flow.  Some fifty years ago there was, undoubtedly, a strong impression (with a large number of right-minded people) that plenty of meat, beer, and wine were good for all, even for young children.  The medical profession are very apt to run in flocks, and follow some well-known leader.  At the period to which we refer, numbers of anxious mothers would have regarded the advice to bring up their children as vegetarians and teetotallers as positive cruelty.  This old-fashioned idea has passed away.

One great motive for adopting a course of vegetarian diet is economy; and here we feel that we stand on firm ground, without danger of offending sincere opinions, which are often wrongly called prejudices.  To a great extent, the majority of the human race are virtually vegetarians from necessity.  Nor do we find feebleness either of mind or body necessarily ensues.  We believe there are tens of thousands of families who would give vegetarianism a trial were it not for fear.  Persons are too apt to think that bodily strength depends upon the nature of the food we eat.  In India we have a feeble race, living chiefly on rice.  On the other hand, in China, for bodily strength, few can compare with the Coolies.  For many years in Scotland the majority lived on oatmeal, while in Ireland they lived on potatoes.  We do not wish to argue anything from these points, but to bring them forward for consideration.  Probably, strength of body and mind, as a general rule, depends upon breed, and this argument tells two ways—­it does not follow that vegetarians will be necessarily strong, and will cease to be cruel; nor does it follow that those who have been accustomed all their lives to eat meat will cease to be strong should they become vegetarians.  As we have said, the great motive that induces many to give vegetarianism a trial is economy; and if persons would once get rid of the idea that they risk their health by making a trial, much would be done to advance the cause.