FOOD REFORM AND TEMPERANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7200, 11 September 1901, Page 1

FOOD REFORM AND TEMPERANCE.

By D. H. Kress; M.D., delivered a very i interesting lecture in the Art Gallery last 1 evening on <f Food, Reform and Temper- • ance." Mr E. Thompson, who was in th« chair, said that the doctor had been induced to give- the lecture by the Ohristchurdb Vegetarian ' Society, and ,had lectured on the' same subject in many parts of "tie world.' Dr Kress stated thab he had been thrown into contact with many sick people, ' wild would 1 endeavour to itrdce the causes of ill-health and 1 disease. He considered that the human race was deteriorat ing, and traced the decadence and the in ciieased .prevalence of diseases; such" us- consumption, canber and' i'he, milder influenza, which he attributed to the inability of the weakened race to resist the germs. The | dhief cause of this- was tftio free use of i spirits, weakening; 'the nervous system. Alcohol might be formed' in the body by the j unwise combination' of foods, and thus a craving for spirituous liquors formed before tfhey had been tasted. Fruits should not be eaten with starchy, foods, but at. the end of the meal. The common belief that man could' not subsist upon the natural products of the earth was quite erroneous. The lecturer showed' how animal tissue must contain/ a quantity of waste, nnd poisonous matter, andi quoted! the cases of famous I athletes who made their great efforts on a vegetarian, diet. A strong reason for abl stinence "fromi animal flesh was the great i prevalence of disease among animals. Flesh also' created a craving for alcoholic drink, and the great meat-eating countries -were the most intemperate. Tea, ako, Dr Kress thought a thing to be abstained from, since a mere ten cups were enough to poison a man, and in any case it was a pure stimulant. The Creator had given fche v* egetabl© world and man their proper means >f subsistence in the beginning. Man had been prospecting for himself, had adopted unnatural diets, and! was now suffering for it. In answer to questions, Dr Kress said that he would recommend the total disuse of tea and 1 coffee. He did nob use alcohol at all in- his profession. Tobacco also he considered! very injurious to the system, arid he quof edi awful instances of ladies enjoying cigarettes. Grains, fruits and nuts would ba an excellent combination for a •meal, or grains and 1 vegetables. The free us© of mUk and sugar together was injurious. Other questions were answered. A vote of thanks, was pasped to Dr Kress for ins lecture. The Chairman announced that Dr Florence Keller would give a lecture on the dietetic question at an early date.