286 LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 



the process of solidification can commence, the food 

 which the stomach contains must be assimilated. 

 The two operations of solidification and assimila- 

 tion of food into blood cannot go on together ; 

 because, as I have just shewn you, the process of 

 solidification requires the concentration of ALL the 

 living energies for its accomplishment. The com- 

 mencement of this process, therefore, must be 

 postponed until the assimilation of the supper to 

 blood has been completed. But all the living 

 energies, except that of solidification, are dimi- 

 nished in intensity during sleep. The secretion of 

 the gastric and other juices, therefore, necessary 

 for the assimilation of the supper to blood, will go 

 on but slowly, and the completion of the process 

 will be exceedingly protracted ; and thus, so much 

 of the season of sleep will be employed in the assi- 

 milation of food, that a sufficient portion of it will 

 not be left for the solidification of blood. But this 

 is not all the mischief; for the process of assimilation 

 of the supper into blood has not only abstracted 

 from the process of solidification a portion of that 

 season (the season of sleep) which ought to have 

 been exclusively devoted to its own accomplishment, 

 but it has also robbed it of a portion of those living 

 energies, the whole of which were due to itself; 



