Martin Luther Holbrook | |
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| Born | February 3, 1831 |
| Died | August 12, 1902 (aged 71) |
| Occupation(s) | Physician, writer |
Martin Luther Holbrook (February 3, 1831 - August 12, 1902) was an Americanphysician andvegetarianism activist associated with thenatural hygiene andphysical culture movements.
Holbrook was born inMantua Township, Portage County, Ohio.[1] Holbrook graduated fromOhio Agricultural College and edited theOhio Farmer (1859-1861).[2] During 1861–1863, Holbrook worked withDio Lewis inBoston to promote physical culture and hygiene.[1] He graduated from Lewis's Normal School of Physical Culture.[2] He moved toNew York City and obtained his medical degree from theHygeio-Therapeutic College in 1864.[3]
Holbrook was coproprietor of the New Hygienic Institute at Laight Street in New York City, the property was previouslyRussell Trall's water-cure institution.[4][5] ATurkish bath was located at the institute.[1][4][6] He was a founder of Miller, Wood and Holbrook firm and Miller, Wood & Co publishers of medical books. He later published under his own name, M. L. Holbrook and was an important publisher of medical and hygienic literature up until the 1890s.[2][7] The printing press was located at Laight Street in New York City.[7] It shared the same address as Russell Trall'sNew York Hygeio-Therapeutic College.[7]
Holbrook was a vegetarian and promoted abstinence fromalcohol,coffee,meat,tea, andtobacco.[2][8] He translated the German raw food bookFruit and Bread byGustav Schlickeysen. The book promoted a fruitarian diet of uncooked fruits, grains and nuts.[8]
Holbrook was an advocate ofchastity. His 1894 book on the subject recommended aphysical culture regimen to increase the body's strength anddiminish "morbid craving for unnatural and unreasonable indulgence of the passional nature."[2] He was a prominenteugenicist and authored the 1897 bookStirpiculture, later re-printed asHomo-Culture.
Holbrook'sEating for Strength, published in 1888 contains several hundred vegetarian recipes.[9]
From 1866, Holbrook was a long-term editor forRussell Trall'sThe Herald of Health (it became theJournal of Hygiene in 1893).[2][7] He edited the journal until 1898.[1] It was a very popular journal.[10]
In 1898, the journal was renamedOmega and was edited by Holbrook andCharles Alfred Tyrrell.[11] It merged withPhysical Culture.[5]
Holbrook's publications can be found in theNew York Public Library.[12]
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