Philippe Hecquet

Philippe Hecquet (11 February 1661 – 11 April 1737) was a French physician and vegetarianism activist.

Biography

Hecquet obtained his M.D. from Reims in 1684. In 1688, he moved to Port-Royal-des-Champs, where he succeeded Jean Hamon, as physician. He spent much time helping the poor. In 1697, he became Doctor at University of Paris and received the official hat after an examination of "rare success". He was influenced by Porphyry. Hecquet was concerned with health from a diet perspective and campaigned against the consumption of meat, stating it interfered with digestion and circulation of the blood. He argued that such a diet was difficult for the body to digest and impaired the elasticity of the fluid-bearing organs. He argued that the Garden of Eden depicted a vegetarian regime. Hecquet believed fish and vegetables are superior to meat because their composition is easily broken down by trituration. Historian Ken Albala credits Hecquet for making the first scientific defense of a vegetarian diet.

Selected publications

Traité de dispenses du Careme (1710) La Médecine, la Chirurgie, et la Pharmacie des Pauvres (1740-1742) La Brigandage de la Médecine (1755)