George Black | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1854 (1854) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 5 May 1913(1913-05-05) (aged 58–59) Torquay, England |
| Occupation(s) | Physician, writer |
George Black (1854 – 5 May 1913) was a Scottish physician who operated avegetarian hotel inBelstone called Dartmoor House.
Black was born inEdinburgh where he obtained hisM.B. He was Medical Officer of Health to the Keswick Urban Council.[1] He worked as a medical doctor at Greta Bank on Greenway Road inChelston, Torquay.[2] He became avegetarian in 1896 for humanitarian reasons and was Vice-President of the Devon branch of theVegetarian Society.[3][4] In 1899, he purchased Dartmoor House inBelstone and converted it into a vegetarian hotel for his patients. The Vegetarian Society's annual picnic was held at the grounds of the house.[4] The vegetarian cook at the hotel was Isabel Densham. In 1908, Black authoredA Manual of Vegetarian Cookery featuring Densham's recipes.[5]
Black was an anti-vivisectionist.[3] He was a member of the British Homoeopathic Society and contributed articles to homeopathic journals. He was a supporter of theOrder of the Golden Age.[6]
Black authored popular medical books which went through many editions.[7] He was the editor ofHousehold Medicine which is notable for prescribing the correct amount of hours one should sleep, depending on age and physical health.[8] In 1899, he authoredViscum Album: The Common Mistletoe which documented its natural history and scientific uses in the treatment of disease.[1]
Black was a speaker at the Vegetarian Society's May conference in Bristol in 1909.[9] He died in Torquay on 5 May 1913.
Black was an advocate ofwhole foods and suggested that white flour is detrimental to health because thebran andwheat germ are removed.[10] He was a friend of James Henry Cook and was a scientific researcher for the Pitman Health Food Company. Through his guidance Nuto Cream Soup and Nut Cream were invented which contained no cows milk and only needed the addition of water so were easily digested.[10] The Pitman Health Food Company also sold Vegsal, a medicinal salt obtained from vegetables through Black's research.[11]
The Long Life Series