1892 LETTERS 357 



It was very jolly to have you here, and on principles of 

 Christian benevolence you must not be so long in coming again. 

 Ever yours, T. H. HUXLEY. 



I do not remember being guilty of paying postage but that 

 doesn't count for much. 



The following is an answer to one of the unexpected 

 inquiries which would arrive from all quarters. A member 

 of one of the religious orders working in the Church of 

 England wrote for an authoritative statement on the fol- 

 lowing point, suggested by passages in section 5 of Chapter 

 I. of the " Elementary Physiology " : When the Blessed 

 Sacrament, consisting, temporarily and mundanely speak- 

 ing, of a wheaten wafer and some wine, is received after 

 about seven hours' fast, is it or is it not " voided like other 

 meats " ? In other words, does it not become completely 

 absorbed for the sustenance of the body ? 



Huxley's help in this physiological question and his 

 answer was to be used in polemical discussion was sought 

 because an answer from him would be decisive and would 

 obviate the repetition of statements which to a Catholic were 

 painfully irreverent. 



HODESLEA, Feb. 3, 1892. 



SIR I regret that you have had to wait so long for a reply 

 to your letter of the 27th. Your question required careful con- 

 sideration, and I have been much occupied with other matters. 



You ask (i), whether the sacramental bread is or is not 

 " voided like other meats " ? 



That depends on what you mean, firstly by " voided," and, 

 secondly, by "other meats." Suppose any " meat " (I take the 

 word to include drink) to contain no indigestible residuum, there 

 need not be anything " voided " at all if by " voiding " is meant 

 expulsion from the lower intestine. 



Such a meat might be " completely absorbed for the sus- 

 tenance of the body." Nevertheless, its elements, in fresh com- 

 binations, would be eventually " voided ): through other chan- 

 nels, e.g. the lungs and kidneys. Thus I should say that under 

 normal circumstances all " meats " (that is to say, the material 

 substance of them) are voided sooner or later. 



Now, as to the particular case of the sacramental wafer and 

 wine. Taking their composition and the circumstances of ad- 



