180 LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 



powers of the nutritive system itself, by virtue of 

 the laws which govern that system : and to suppose, 

 that, while all other systems are fulfilled par neces- 

 site,, the system of human nutrition is fulfilled par 

 hazard, and may or may not answer its intention, 

 just as it may happen, is to suppose that which is in 

 direct opposition to the evidence of our senses, as it 

 regards the uniformity, simplicity, and perfection 

 of nature ; and is, therefore, directly opposed to 

 right reason and common sense. 



The instance of hereditary diseases does not 

 invalidate this argument : because, although the 

 inherited disease be not contracted by any error of 

 diet and conduct in the inheritor, yet, I contend, it 

 must have been originally derived from such a 

 source, to the parent who first became the subject 

 of it. For instance : a man, from high and gross 

 feeding, contracts gout : his sons, however tempe- 

 rate, may nevertheless be afflicted with gout by 

 inheritance ; that is, supposing gout to be an here- 

 ditary disease, as some assert. Here you see, not- 

 withstanding the temperance of the son, his gout 

 was evidently the result of error indict; not, indeed, 

 on his own part, but on the part of his parent. 

 And it must be remembered, that I am speaking, 

 not of individual disease, but of disease in general. 



