e the quantity
needed somewhat lower than was at one time done. It is probable that
about two ounces of pure albumins is somewhere near the amount required
in twenty-four hours by a normal adult.

It is well, since we are so dependent on foods of this class, that we
have two quite distinct sources from which they may be taken. The great
bulk comes to us in the form of meats, including poultry, game, oysters
and fish of various kinds, in addition to beef, mutton, and hog-meat in
its several forms. Of animal origin also we have eggs, which are among
the most valuable of all foods of this class on account of their high
digestibility.

From the vegetable world we get albumins known as legumins, which differ
somewhat from those obtained from animal sources, though taking their
place in the economy in all essential particulars. Unfortunately the
legumins are usually so mixed with starches and other vegetable
substances less digestible, that it is necessary to take a large bulk of
foods of this latter class in order to secure anything like the requisite
amount of the former.

Before taking up individually the various albuminous foods, the writer
would again direct attention to the chapter on cooking, and would
strongly urge upon the reader the proper methods of preparing nitrogenous
foods therein stated. Where the albumins are in a nearly pure state, as
in milk and eggs, they are slightly more digestible when raw, but all
meats should be cooked until only the faintest tinge of red remains if we
wish to have them prepared in the most wholesome way for those with
delicate digestions. Meats are, as a rule, most wholesome when cooked
"very done."

It has long been the cry of sentimentalists that no living being
should die in order that man might exist. Unfortunately for such
theories, the stern and unbending edict of nature has negatived
views of this kind ages before the altruistic philosopher came on
the scene, and we are daily constrained to bow to this mandate of
one of the primal laws of existence. However much we might desire
it otherwise, it has been written that "only in death is there
life;" nor may any animal being disobey and continue to exist. As
has been already explained, the human being cannot thrive on
vegetable substances alone; from them he may get a certain amount
of nitrogen in the form of legumin, but there is not enough to
make up for the waste