LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 25 



for it is impossible to use them with the slightest 

 shadow of propriety; and we shall have no difficulty 

 in finding- substitutes, each of which will carry its 

 own definite and obvious signification. 



From what I have said of the manner and reason 

 of the introduction of these words, which we have 

 just ejected from our vocabulary, you will easily 

 understand how it came to pass that all those 

 disorders to which the term indigestion is applied 

 were supposed to exist in the stomach only ; be- 

 cause you will have observed, that it was in the 

 stomach, according to the creed of our good fore- 

 fathers, that all the stewing and digesting were 

 carried on; and when the, stew was not properly 

 stewed, they never thought of looking to the fire 

 or to the cook-maid for the cause ; they only looked 

 to the stew-pan, which they learnedly denominated 

 " the digestive or stewing organ." 



Now for our substitutes. For the phrase 

 " sound digestion " substitute perfect assimilation ; 

 for " indigestion " substitute imperfect assimilation ; 

 assimilating organs, for "digestive organs"; assimi- 

 lation of food, instead of "digestion of food," &c. &c. 

 The word assimilation is generally used by authors 

 to designate that process by which the food, after 

 having undergone all the necessary previous 



