In the year 1098, or two years prior to the date of Henry I., there was a strictly vegetarian society formed in connection with the Christian Church, which lived entirely on herbs and roots, and the society has lasted to the present day.

Again, there have been many sects who, not so strict, have allowed themselves the use of fish.
Again, there are those who adopt a vegetarian course of diet on the ground of health.

Many maintain that diseases like gout and dyspepsia would disappear were vegetarian diet strictly adhered to.

On the other hand, we have physicians who maintain that the great cause of indigestion is not eating enough.

An American physician, some years ago, alleged he had discovered the cause, his argument being that the more work the stomach had to do the stronger it would become, on the same principle that the arm of a blacksmith is more powerful in consequence of hard work.