Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1910 Book 06

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 7

1910]
Vegetarian Prize Essay.
nuscles and producing strength.. Carbon produces heat and supplies energy; fatty matter sustains and nourishes the nervous system and provides heat also and salt produces the chemical action by the aid of which proteid and other substances are dissolved. The accompanying table taken from Dr. Lyon's book indicates the proportion in which principal tood-stuffs supply these ingredients.
A cursory glance at the table will reveal that pulses and other cereals supply Nitrogen and carbon-the two chief and mnost necessary ingredients in a greater quantity than does Mutton. Besides the flesh of the healthiest of animals contains parasites which defy observation by the most precise microscope. In order to destroy these germs each particle of Aesh should be subjected to uniform heat of 215° F. H. which in every day cooking seems utterly impossible nor are we sure the healthiest of animals will be slaughtered, because the prevalence of various diseases amongst these animals leaves only a small percentage immune; so much so that 90 per cent of the late Queen Victoria's dairy cows were, on inspection, found to be suffering from tuberculosis. If this is the condition of those animals which are in model farms, what must be the state of those improperly housed and less cared for. Tuberculosis, anthrax, cancer, foot and mouth diseases are common among beasts whose filesh is used as food by a majority of Creophagists.
The love of gain which is the dominant passion in man compels butchers to import meat of emaciated and lean animals. Those who are regular readers of the Times of India must have noticed the frequent prosecutions of butchers and other persons for illicit importation of meat in Bombay. One morning we read that a diseased buffalo's meat was secretly brought in the market, the next one hails us with the unpleasant news that a donkey's flesh was smuggled in Bombay and on the third “The skill of a detective who caught a butcher selling dog's flesh in open market" writ in bold types attracts our attention. These abominable practices are not particularly confined to India alone; the civilized countries of