LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 181 



A child may be born with some imperfection in 

 one of the valves of the heart : but this imperfection 

 is the result of some imperfection in the action of 

 those vessels whose office it was to form this valve : 

 and this second imperfection could only be derived 

 from some imperfection in the health of the parent, 

 induced by the causes in question. Death from 

 dentition, again, is the result of a morbid irritabi- 

 lity, produced partly by the imperfect health of the 

 parent, and partly by the operation on the infant of 

 the same causes which enfeebled the health of its 

 parents ; viz. improper diet, and improper habits. 



I know there are a few diseases which result 

 from climate, situation, soil, &c. ; but these are so 

 few, as rather to prove the rule, than overturn the 

 argument. 



What I wished, therefore, to prove, and what I 

 hope I have proved, is, that disease and premature 

 death formed no part of the original design of man ; 

 and that, for the long and direful list of disorders 

 to which we are subject, with the exception of a 

 very few, we are indebted solely to ourselves. 



It seems to me, that there is but one legitimate 

 cause of death ; and that is, old age ; and here, as 

 ever, nature shews herself a kind and watchful 

 mother. There is nothing painful in death from 



