LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 303 



dition of each organ, and of the entire system, is 

 pleasurable." And, commenting on this passage, Dr. 

 James Johnson observes : " This might be true, if 

 we were in a state of nature ; but, in our present 

 condition, there is scarcely such a thing as perfect 

 health." Elsewhere, the same able author, Dr. 

 J. Johnson, observes : " The great evil the root 

 of innumerable evils the Proteiform malady, 

 DYSPEPSY the hydra-headed monster of countless 

 brood and Medusa mien, is the progeny of Civili- 

 zation" In another part of his " (Economy of 

 Health " he says, and most truly, that " the beset- 

 ting sin of the present generation .... is that 

 of reading and thinking" 



The immense consumption of drugs is another 

 strong proof of the sickly health of society in gene- 

 ral, in its present boasted sera of refinement. I am 

 sure I am within the boundary of truth, when 

 I assert, that, throughout England, there is not 

 more than one man in a hundred who does not find 

 it necessary, at least once in the year, " to take 

 medicine;" that is, to carry the master-piece of 

 God's creative wisdom to che Doctor, to have it 

 mended. Why, who would not change his watch- 

 maker, if his watch required such frequent repairs ? 

 "There are many millions in this country," 



