[Letter to] Mrs. J. W. Stow (1883)
AUTHOR: Rumford, Isaac B.
https://archive.org/details/womansofin1883unse/page/n63/mode/2up
Allen, James Madison.
Clubb, Stephen Henry.
Freshel, M. R. L.
Kellogg, John Harvey.
Metcalfe, William.
Moore. J. Howard.
Stow, Marietta.
Trine, Ralph Waldo.
SUMMARY (Ridvan Askin, edited by Deborah Madsen):
This is the second in a series of letters to the editor of The Woman's Herald of Industry (Marietta Stow) on raw veganism or “the Edenic diet” (col. 1). In this letter, Rumford asserts the superiority of uncooked food versus “the de-vitalized or cooked food, that is left after true food has been subject to heat” (col. 1). He insists on the virtue of simplicity and points to the Bible for support: “[H]ave you used any such things as are described Gen. I, 59? It says fruit, nuts, grain or product of tree and herbs – nothing of cooking of milk or making butter – an abominable compound – nothing of making sugar nor of salt, soda or of anything that goes to stimulate to excess” (col. 1). He explains that the correct amount of food depends on the individual and the respective circumstances, before singling out “oatmeal” as “the most nourishing food” he knows. He claims that “[u]ncooked food is so vitalizing, one needs to eat less in quantity, than of cooked, which continually alloys the system, with the extra quantity” (col. 1).