254 LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 



demonstratively, glaringly impossible. But to nou- 

 rish and strengthen it, are the only two good things 

 which any kind of diet is capable of contributing 

 to the body. I have just proved that wine pos- 

 sesses no power to effect either of them : it follows, 

 therefore, as a direct necessity, that it is productive 

 of no yood at all. 



Is wine certainly pernicious ? 



I have already proved that it is unnecessary ; 

 and it has ever been universally held, by medical 

 philosophers, that whatever is unnecessary is detri- 

 mental. The simple fact, then, that wine is unne- 

 cessary, is a sufficient proof that it is injurious. 

 Nor is the truth of this medical maxim at all won- 

 derfuL The finest hair introduced amongst the 

 machinery of a watch is sufficient to derange its 

 movements. And when one considers the exqui- 

 site delicacy of those properties on which life and 

 health so mainly depend I mean, contractility 

 and sensibility, as well as that of the whole nervous 

 system one cannot certainly feel surprised that 

 any tiling brought in contact with them, which is 

 not strictly proper to them, should disorder the 

 nicety of their delicate functions. But I have 

 other proofs. 



You will admit, at once, that the practice of 



