304 LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 



says the author just quoted, " to whom physic is, 

 daily, as indispensable as food ! To the luxurious 

 epicure it may seem incredible, that within the 

 boundaries of the British Isles there are thousands, 

 among the opulent classes, who would give half their 

 wealth to be able to do without food altogether 

 who would gladly give up the pleasure of eating, 

 for an immunity from the misery of digesting." 

 Again, he says : " The state of civilization at which 

 we have arrived produces such a w-ide range of 

 ' hopes deferred,' and expectations blighted, that 

 their effects are detected, by the experienced eye, 

 at every step, even in the streets." Again : " The 

 results are read, by the observant physician, in the 

 countenance, the complexion, the gait, the whole 

 physical and moral constitution of the female; 

 results which require a new vocabulary ; and would 

 be totally unintelligible by Celsus, or even by Sy- 

 denham, could they rise from their graves, to sur- 

 vey the progress and effects of Civilization. 



If further proof be wanted, to shew that a highly- 

 cultivated condition of society is prejudical to health, 

 we have it in the very structure of his body, and 

 in the economy of its living actions. I have already 

 shewn you, that a vigorous circulation is neces- 

 sary to vigorous contractility that is, health and 



