be taken as protein. An excess is undoubtedly
irritant to the kidneys, blood vessels, and other organs, and if too
little is taken the body tissues will suffer.

Not all of the protein should be taken in the form of animal protein; at
least one-half should be taken from the vegetable kingdom.

_Animal Flesh Protein_

[Sidenote: _Necessary?_]

The following are a few of the chief reasons given by those who object
to its use:

[Sidenote: _The Negative Side_]

First: The animal has just as much right to life, liberty, and pursuit
of happiness as we have.

Second: They may be diseased, and there is the possibility of their
containing animal parasites, such as tapeworms and trichinae. I would
like to tell you more about worms, they are so interesting, but He says
not to try to tell all I know in this little book; that maybe he will
let me write another sometime, although it is a terrible strain on him,
and that I have given enough of the family history, anyway.

[Sidenote: _Some Word_]

Third: The tissues of animals contain excrementitious material, which
may cause excess acidity, raise the blood pressure, and so forth.

Fourth: More apt to putrefy and thus give ptomaine poisoning.

Fifth: Makes the disposition more vicious.

(Honest,--animals eating meat exclusively are more vicious.)

[Sidenote: _The Affirmative Side_]

Those who believe that animal protein should be eaten answer these
points as follows:

First: Survival of the fittest.

Second: If you give decent support to your health departments they can
furnish enough inspectors to prevent the marketing of diseased meat; and
if some should slip through, if you thoroughly bake, boil, or fry your
animal parasites they will lose their pep.

Third: Most of the harmful products are destroyed by the intestines and
liver.

Fourth: True, but see that you get good meat, and don't eat it in
excess.

Fifth: Unanswerable--to be proved later by personal experiments.

In addition, they say that animal protein is more easily digested, that
97 per cent is assimilated because it is animal, and so it is much more
to be desired, especially by children and convalescents; that vegetable
protein is enclosed in cellulose, and only 65 to 75 per cent is used by
the system; thus the diet is apt to be too bulky if the proper amount is
taken.

[Sidenote: _Strong Vegetarians_]

It has been proved, however, by several endurance tests, that the
vegetarian contestants