9. State of the bowels good before adopting the course, and after.
SIR,--In answer to your inquiries, in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. xii., page 78, I can say that I have lived entirely upon a bread and milk diet, without using any animal food other than the milk.
1. At first, my bodily strength was diminished to a certain degree, and required a greater quantity of food, and rather oftener, than when upon a mixed diet of animal food (strictly so called) and vegetables.
2. The animal sensations, attending upon the process of digestion, were rather more agreeable than when upon a mixed diet.
3. My mind was more clear, but I could not continue a laborious investigation as long as when I used animal food more plentifully.
4. At this time there were no constitutional infirmities which I was laboring under, except those which more or less accompany the rapid growth of the body; such as a general lassitude, impaired digestion, etc., which were neither removed nor aggravated, but kept about so, until I ate just what I pleased, without any regard to my indigestion, etc., when I began to improve in the strength of my whole system.
5. I do not recollect whether I was subject to more or fewer colds; but I can say I was perfectly free from all febrile attacks, although febrile diseases often prevailed in my vicinity. But since that time, a period of six years, I have had three attacks of fever.
6. The length of time I was upon this diet was about two years.
7. Before entering upon this diet, I was in the habit of taking a moderate quantity of animal food, but without very high seasoning or stimulants.
8. While using this diet, I confined myself entirely and exclusively to cold water as a drink--using neither tea, coffee, nor spirits of any kind whatever.
9. I am inclined to think that a vegetable diet is more aperient than an animal one; indeed, I may say I know it to be a fact.
10. From what I have experienced, I do not think that laborers would be any more healthy by excluding animal food from their diet entirely; but I believe it would be much getter if they would use less. As to students, I believe their health would be promoted if they were to exclude it almost, if not entirely.