Punch,  41 (1861), 90.

The Genuine Art of Cramming

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Education, Psychology, Physiology,


    Responds to news that H Kennedy read a paper on 'The Influence of the Food on the Intellect' at the meeting of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science (the paper is referred to in Anon 1862d). Argues that the influence of food on the intellect depends on what is being swallowed, but points out that Kennedy was referring to vegetable and animal substances rather than intellectual subjects. Goes on to explore the relations between diet and mind, as suggested by various common phrases: for example, suggests that the phosphorous in the brain 'may be concerned in the evolution of luminous ideas', and notes the tendency of highly intelligent people to be obese or epicurean. Suggests that 'a mental restaurant' might be established near a college 'in order that the students might cultivate particular branches of knowledge on the dishes suitable to each', and imagines that the meals served by such an institution would include 'Mathematical stew' and 'Chemical fondu'.



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