Such food diminishes the fibres and even the courage. [Footnote:  The H. E. I. Co.  Sepoys, however, fight well.  It may be doubted though if either Ireland or Italy will be free, until the one gives up the potato and the other macaroni.  The reason why Irishmen fight better in other countries than their own, is possibly that abroad they are better fed than at home.] We must, to sustain this, refer to the Indians (East) who live on rice and serve every one who chosea to command them.

Almost all domestic animals eat the fecula, and are made by it extremely strong; for it is a more substantial nourishment than the dry and green vegetables which are their habitual food.

Sugar is not less important, either as a remedy or as an aliment.

This substance once obtained, either from the Indies or from the colonies became indigenous at the commencement of this century.  It has been discovered in the grape, the turnip, the chestnut, and especially in the beet.  So that speaking strictly Europe need appeal neither to India or America for it.  Its discovery was a great service rendered by science to humanity, and furnishes an example which cannot but have the happiest results. (Vide enfro Sugar.)

Sugar, either in a solid state or in the different plants in which nature has placed it, is extremely nourishing.  Animals are fond of it, and the English give large quantities to their blood-horses, and have observed that it sustained them in the many trials to which they were subjected.

Sugar in the days of Louis XIV. was only found in apothecary shops, and gave birth to many lucrative professions, such as pastry-cooks, confectioners, liquourists, &c.  Mild oils also come from the vegetable kingdom.  They are all esculent, but when mingled with other substances they should be looked on only as a seasoning.  Gluten found in the greatest abundance in cheese, contributes greatly to the fermentation of the bread with which it is united.  Chemists assign it an animal nature.

They make at Paris for children and for birds, and in some of the departments for men also, patisseries in which gluten predominates, the fecula having been removed by water.

Mucilage owes its nourishments to the many substances of which it is the vehicle.

Gum may be considered an aliment, not a strong thing, as it contains nearly the same elements as sugar.

Vegetable gelatine, extracted from many kinds of fruits, especially from apples, goose-berries, quinces, and some others, may also be considered a food.  It is more nutritious when united with sugar, but it is far inferior in that respect to what is extracted from bones, horns, calves’ feet and fish.  This food is in general light, mild and healthy.  The kitchen and the pharmaceutist’s laboratory therefore dispute about it.

Difference between fat and Lean.

Next to the juice, which, as we have said, is composed of asmazome and the extractus, there are found in fish many substances which also exist in land animals, such as fibrine, gelatine, albumen.  So that we may really say juice distinguishes the flesh diet from what the church calls maigre.