James Crichton-Browne Research Articles

PARSIMONY IN NUTRITION

This title, adapted from a recent address of Sir James Crichton-Browne, represents a wide-spread dietetic movement which I view with some concern. Previous to this century, throughout the history of the advancing civilizations of the earth, there has never been any concerted effort toward parsimony in nutrition; and, with the exception of certain ascetic orders, whose habits of self-denial were either religious or esthetic, the desires for food have been universally gratified, subject only to limitations of purse or environment. The doctrine that a strong body should be generously fed, and that a virile people should be hearty eaters, was of world-wide acceptance. Furthermore, it was noted that the liberal consumers of the flesh proteins figured most largely in the arts of both peace and war, while the vegetarian nations either lagged behind, or were the servitors of their meat-eating masters. In accordance with these historic and economic facts certain

THE FROUDE-CARLYLE CONTROVERSY.

As the Froude-Carlyle controversy has taken a medical turn, it will not be out of place to refer to the matter in these columns. It will be remembered that about twenty years ago Froude, in editing Carlyle's reminiscences and letters, made Carlyle appear as a cruel and inconsiderate husband and his wife as a martyr, at least it so appeared to one side in this controversy. The whole question once so earnestly discussed has again been brought before the public by the appearance of a series of letters of Mrs. Carlyle.¹Not the least interesting part of these two volumes is the long introduction by a well-known London medical man, Sir James Crichton-Browne. With wonderfully vigorous English he defends Carlyle against the charges of cruelty and neglect, and denounces Froude as an incompetent editor who was not only careless, but who maliciously misrepresents in order to prove his point, viz.,

The Association of Asylum Workers

The annual meeting of this association, held on May 22nd, under the presidency of Sir James Crichton-Browne, gave ample evidence of the great progress this association is making, and of the useful work performed by it.

The Asylum Workers' Association

The Asylum News of June 15th contains a full account of the annual meeting of the Asylum Workers' Association. The President, Sir James Crichton-Browne, addressed a representative assembly, and congratulated: the Association on a satisfactory condition of the affairs. We need not reproduce the transactions of the meeting, for the Asylum News should find its way into all our Hospitals for the Insane. Under the favourable auspices and able guidance which this organisation has secured, the welfare of the insane, and of those most intimately connected with them, is surely advanced, and our readers will do well to study the address of the President and the report of the Association on the occasion of the fourth annual meeting.