– **Background and Career**:
– George Black was a Scottish physician who operated a vegetarian hotel in Belstone.
– He was born in Edinburgh and obtained his M.B.
– Black worked as a Medical Officer of Health to the Keswick Urban Council.
– He practiced as a medical doctor at Greta Bank in Torquay.
– Black became a vegetarian in 1896 for humanitarian reasons and was Vice-President of the Devon branch of the Vegetarian Society.
– **Vegetarian Hotel and Contributions**:
– In 1899, Black purchased Dartmoor House in Belstone and converted it into a vegetarian hotel.
– The Vegetarian Society’s annual picnic was held at the grounds of Dartmoor House.
– Black’s vegetarian cook at the hotel was Isabel Densham.
– He authored “A Manual of Vegetarian Cookery” in 1908, featuring Densham’s recipes.
– Black advocated for whole foods and highlighted the health risks of consuming white flour.
– **Scientific Research and Inventions**:
– Black 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.
– The Pitman Health Food Company sold Vegsal, a medicinal salt obtained from vegetables through Black’s research.
– He was an anti-vivisectionist and supported the Order of the Golden Age.
– Black contributed articles to homeopathic journals and authored popular medical books.
– **Publications and Editorship**:
– Black edited “Household Medicine,” prescribing the correct amount of sleep based on age and physical health.
– In 1899, he authored “Viscum Album: The Common Mistletoe,” documenting its natural history and medical uses.
– He authored several medical books that went through multiple editions.
– Black was a member of the British Homoeopathic Society.
– He was a supporter of the Order of the Golden Age.
– **Legacy and Demise**:
– Black died in Torquay on 5 May 1913.
– His work was recognized in various publications and journals.
– He left a legacy of advocating for vegetarianism and whole foods.
– Black’s contributions to vegetarianism and health were notable.
– His vegetarian hotel and research on plant-based products had a lasting impact.
George Black (1854 – 5 May 1913) was a Scottish physician who operated a vegetarian hotel in Belstone called Dartmoor House.
George Black | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1854 |
| Died | 5 May 1913 |
| Occupation(s) | Physician, writer |
Black was born in Edinburgh where he obtained his M.B. He was Medical Officer of Health to the Keswick Urban Council. He worked as a medical doctor at Greta Bank on Greenway Road in Chelston, Torquay. He became a vegetarian in 1896 for humanitarian reasons and was Vice-President of the Devon branch of the Vegetarian Society. In 1899, he purchased Dartmoor House in Belstone and converted it into a vegetarian hotel for his patients. The Vegetarian Society's annual picnic was held at the grounds of the house. The vegetarian cook at the hotel was Isabel Densham. In 1908, Black authored A Manual of Vegetarian Cookery featuring Densham's recipes.
Black was an advocate of whole foods and suggested that white flour is detrimental to health because the bran and wheat germ are removed. 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. The Pitman Health Food Company also sold Vegsal, a medicinal salt obtained from vegetables through Black's research.
Black was an anti-vivisectionist. He was a member of the British Homoeopathic Society and contributed articles to homeopathic journals. He was a supporter of the Order of the Golden Age.
Black authored popular medical books which went through many editions. He was the editor of Household Medicine which is notable for prescribing the correct amount of hours one should sleep, depending on age and physical health. In 1899, he authored Viscum Album: The Common Mistletoe which documented its natural history and scientific uses in the treatment of disease.
He died in Torquay on 5 May 1913.