146 LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 



to assimilate our food in the stomach, to convert it 

 into healthy chyme, is not the strength of the 

 stomach^ but the strength of the arteries, whose 

 office it is to bring to the stomach an abundant 

 supply of blood, from which an abundant supply of 

 gastric juice may be secreted and poured upon the 

 food; and the strength of the heart, whose office 

 it is to propel the blood into those arteries ; and 

 the strength, if I may so speak, of the nerves, 

 whose office it is to ascertain the presence of food in 

 the stomach, to communicate the information to the 

 heart and arteries, and thus to make these organs 

 aware of the instant necessity which there is that 

 they should exert themselves, in order that a ready 

 supply of blood may be furnished in order that a 

 ready supply of gastric juice may be secreted in 

 order that the food may be readily and speedily re- 

 duced to chyme. The strength of the stomach, then, 

 has about as much concern with the chymincation 

 of our food as the strength of an iron pot has to do 

 with the boiling of potatoes. My dear John, never 

 talk of the strength of your stomach, since it would 

 argue marvellously little for the strength of your 

 understanding : discard the phrase from your voca- 

 bulary : " I pray you, avoid it altogether." False 

 phrases give rise to false notions ; and false notions, 



