LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 183 



death is around him ; and shortly the night of the 

 grave shall close over him, and he is no more seen. 

 Lastly, comes Oblivion with her sponge, and wipes 

 his name from off the tablet of human recollection ; 

 and the bustling hero of this little drama is heard 

 of, and thought of, and talked of, no more. 



I lay this down, therefore, as a fundamental 

 truth, that we bring disease upon ourselves, by using 

 an improper diet, and by exercising improper habits 

 of life ; and that the only way to preserve vigorous 

 health, and strength of mind and body, is to bring 

 ourselves to the use of proper diet, and the exercise 

 of proper habits of life as nearly as the tyranny of 

 custom will permit. But, before we can do this, we 

 must first ascertain what diet and habits are those 

 which are proper to man. 



Now, my dear John, when the mother of a newly- 

 born infant dies, the physician (and every one else 

 possessing common sense) recommends a wet-nurse 

 to be procured for the nourishment of the infant. 

 In the absence of a wet-nurse, he recommends 

 that ass's milk should be given to it: in the 

 absence of this, cow's milk : in the absence of cow's 

 milk, he recommends mild farinaceous food. He 

 does not recommend cold boiled beef and ale. 

 But why does he not recommend cold boiled 



