I soon found, however, that it was an impossible task
to try to save men from themselves, and I acquired the unenviable sobriquet
of "crank"; but I was not dismayed. From my native friends
I turned to the foreign community in Peking, thinking that the latter
would possess better judgment, appreciate and be converted
to the sanitarian doctrine. Among the foreigners I appealed to,
one was a distinguished diplomat, and the other a gentleman
in the Chinese service, with a world-wide reputation.
Both were elderly and in delicate health, and it was my earnest hope
that by reading Mrs. Henderson's book, which was sent to them,
they would be convinced of their errors and turn over a new leaf --
I was disappointed. Both, in returning the book, made substantially
the same answer. "Mrs. Henderson's work is very interesting,
but at my time of life it is not advisable to change life-long habits.
I eat flesh moderately, and never drink much wine." They both seemed
to overlook the crucial problem as to whether or not animal food
contains hurtful poison. If it does, it should not be eaten at all.
We never hear of sensible people taking arsenic, strychnine,
or other poisons, in moderation, but many foolish women, I believe,
take arsenic to pale their complexions, while others, both men and women,
take strychnine in combination with other drugs, as a tonic,
but will anyone argue that these substances are foods?
The rule of moderation is applicable to things which are nutritious,
or at least harmless, but not to noxious foods, however small
the quantity of poison they may contain.
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