In speaking on this subject, Sir Henry Thompson observes:--"The vegetable kingdom comprehends the cereals, legumes, roots, starches, sugar, herbs, and fruits.

Persons who style themselves vegetarians often consume milk, eggs, butter, and lard, which are choice foods from the animal kingdom.

There are other persons, of course, who are strictly vegetarian eaters, and such alone have any right to the title of vegetarians." In the following pages will be found ample recipes for the benefit of parties who take either view.

In questions of this kind there will always be found conflicting views.

We have no wish or desire to give opinions, but consider it will be more advisable, and probably render the book far more useful, if we confine ourselves as much as possible to facts.
The origin of vegetarianism is as old as the history of the world itself, and probably from time immemorial there have been sects which have practised vegetarianism, either as a religious duty, or under the belief that they would render the body more capable of performing religious duties.