IN speaking of Vegetarianism it should be clearly understood that in the view of the writer Vegetarianism means far more than a negative thing. In fact more than Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary claims for it. A vegetarian is said to be “One who holds that vegetables are the only proper food for man”. By many this is narrowed down to mean “One who lives on cabbages and but little else”. The vegetarian, on the other hand, claims all the vast varieties of non-animal foods the world produces for this use, comprising fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes and nuts in endless varieties.
He claims that all humans have the right to eat these in their natural condition, first hand; not for the animal to eat them first, may be the pig, and then he eat the pig with all its impurities, caused chiefly by the filthy unnatural condition under which it is kept.
A vegetarian, if he is wise, not only abstains from what he looks upon as second-hand food containing quantities of more or less ready made waste products, but he substitutes for these foods he considers best suitable for his particular requirements, that will keep him in perfect health and fitness. He endeavours further to eat no more of such foods, and no greater number at a time than the body requires.
He recognizes the fact that his digestive organs, like all other parts of his wonderful body, require and demand rest, and if rest is denied them ill health legal suicide must ultimately follow. The vegetarian further considers that all and every food he eats should be his medicine, and all the medicines he takes should be food.
The writer would not think of laying down hard and fast rules regarding what is best for any individual to eat. So much depends on the work he or she has to do, his general make-up, and the capabilities of his digestive organs to make the best of the food eaten.
When a man or a woman adopts a vegetarian diet they do so for health or other reasons, and if they follow the principle that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, a little thought and experience will soon convince them that they are travelling the road that leads to fitness of both mind and body, not the road to legal suicide. All who adopt this better and safer mode of living, and who keep their eyes open to learn the lessons that facts and experience provide, will know that they have ceased to practise the legal suicide their former method of eating and drinking entailed.
Every week we hear of sudden deaths of good men and women apparently in the prime of life. Of such it is often remarked, “He did not take the care of himself he should have done, he ate too much and weighed far too much to reach a ripe old age.” But is this not legal suicide?.
Only recently I heard of a gentleman who had for many years occupied a high and prominent position in his profession, who, on retiring some months ago was presented with a cheque for a considerable sum by his friends and admirers, with a request that he would use it to take a long sea voyage after a life of strenuous self-sacrificing work for others. This he did, and he doubtless had a “good time” and a well deserved rest for everything but his digestive organs. In any case he returned later in a condition anything but fit, in fact less fit he thought, than he had ever previously been in his life.
Fortunately for him he had a true friend, a doctor who practised on other than the orthodox lines, who would make, to him, no charge for his services. His friend, however, informed him that he had diabetes very badly and advised him what he should eat and drink, or rather, what he should not eat and drink if he wished to get bitter. As this was what he did wish to do, and being willing to pay the price, he now appears to be on the high road to recovery. Legal suicide will thus, I trust, claim one victim less.
Of all conditions which the writer knows he thinks the greatest temptation for over-eating and drinking is provided by a long sea voyage on a first class steamship with no work to do and its multitudinous opportunities for indulging. The vegetarian under such conditions has far less temptation to overeat than the meat eater owing to the fact that although the vegetarian may live on foods far more nourishing, they are much less stimulating than beef and mutton.
For stimulants always ask for stimulants, whether in the form of beef and mutton, the most stimulating of solids, or alcohol, the most stimulating of liquids. So their temptation to commit legal suicide is lessened accordingly. Rest assured the enjoyment they get from eating and drinking is none the less on that account.
Henry followed in his father's footsteps, obtaining his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Durham in 1891. At the age of 27 he arrived in Melbourne in April 1894 aboard the Port Albert. He was registered as a medical practitioner in Victoria on 4 May 1894.
It appears that Dr Cook already believed in homœopathy, possibly because of his father's influence, as in 1895 Dr Cook took the position of Resident Surgeon of the Melbourne Homœopathic Hospital . (This position was previously held by Dr James Cook, unrelated, who resigned in March 1895). He was listed in the 1896 & 1897 editions of the Melbourne Post Office Directory as being Resident Medical Officer at the Melbourne Homœopathic Hospital, but not in the 1898 edition.
In 1901 he moved to Sale in Eastern Victoria, where he ran a practice in York Street. By 1909 his practice was at Wyndham Street, Shepparton.
By 1919 he had moved to 2 Studley Park Road, Kew, where he died on 7 May, 1923.