270 LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 



disorganized, are, the exhalation from the lungs 

 perspiration from the skin the several other ex- 

 crements and the formation of the several secre- 

 tions required for the assimilation of our food ; as, 

 the gastric juice, bile, &c. &c. 



You know how greatly bodily exertion augments 

 perspiration, and increases the rapidity of breathing 

 and therefore, necessarily, the quantity of pul- 

 monary halitus, or " breath," as it is called. Very 

 well ; in like manner, also, it increases all the other 

 secretions those several fluids on which the assi- 

 milation of our food wholly, and solely, and abso- 

 lutely depends. 



Bodily exertion, therefore, promotes, and that 

 most rapidly and powerfully, the disorganization of 

 the body ; and is, in fact, as far as I know, the only 

 means of promoting it ; as idleness is the infallible 

 means of retarding it that is, of retarding those 

 processes, the activity of which are an absolute 

 sine-qud-non to health and strength. 



By a former syllogism, it has been proved that 

 health and strength depend upon the rapid disorga- 

 nization of the body : and I have just shewn that 

 rapid disorganization can only be effected by rapid 

 exertion, or bodily labour. Hence, legitimately, 

 arises another important syllogistic truth ; thus : 



