LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN ON LIFE, HEALTH, AND DISEASE. - 1 8 3 7 - ADVERTISEMENT - THE following LETTER w S e re published, about twelve months since, in the METROPOLIT A TA N GAZINEa n d are now reprinted in a regular and improved form. In presenting this New Edition to the Public, the author has been governed by several considerations. The primary one is, his desire to supply several things which escaped attention, in first preparing the Letters for the Press, at stated periods, when his mind was often occupied with the duties of his profession. Another motive was, his wish to comply with the solicitations expressed, not only by the authors personal friends, but also with those communicated to him - by letter from persons residing in various parts of the kingdom. The author trusts, that, by exhibiting the various phaenomena of LIFE, HEALTH, and DISEASE ADVERTISEMENT. by describing the LAWS by which they are governed-by illustrating, in a pleasing and familiar manner, the nIEcHANIsnl of the several LIVING A IONS-anddiv esting the whole of all technicalities-he has been able to place before his readers more correct views than are generally obtained fiom volumes of higher pretensions. It has been his aim so to illustrate the several functions of our organstheir intimate bearing upon each other, particularly in the MECHANISM OF NUTRITION-that the reader cannot possibly fail to understand their real nature and use and be enabled to regulate his concluct so far as it relates to lis inode of living according to the dictates of sound reason. He has also been scrupulously careful not to lay down any rule of conduct, by means of which HEALTH may be preserved or regained, and DISEASE avoided, without supporting it by a series of arguments, which are in themselves indisputable. E. JOHNSON. 224 BZackf iuvs Road-. PREFACE . . . P-i-ix. LETTER I. SUBJECT introduced, I-Supposed course of procedure, if the construction of Man had been undertaken by a Being less than Omniscient, 3 - Functions of the Brain considered, 13 - Faculty of Speech, its results and influence, 16-The terms Digestion, Indigestion, Dyspepsia, c. improperly retained in Medical language, 22-Substitutes proposed, 25-ASSIMILATING ORGANS-Difference between venous and arterial blood. 27-Course of the ARTERIES and VEINS described, 29-Constitution of the aLTIuaTE TISSUE, 30-Character 33 - Richard Cceurde-Lion, 36-RUY scas opinion of the Muscular Fibre, 4 1 . LETTER 11. Distribution of the ABSORBENTS and NERVES explained, 43-The mode of action of an ABSORBENT illustrated, - P U N C T U M LACHRY MALE, 4 7-The course of an AI ORBENT traced-Glandular formations, 49 - MODUS vrvsxnr illustrated, 50 - SE CRETORY GLANDS-Ruyschs opinion of the nature and formation of a Gland, 50-The course of an ARTERY traced till it assumes the structure of a GLAND, 55-NERVOUS SYSTEM-, 58 --Mr. Greens opinion of the great SPMPATHETIC NERVE, 60 - CEUGLAR WEB, 65-0ffice of the NERVOUS FLUID, 6s. LETTER 111. ATURE OF LIFE, 70 - Distinction drawn between LIFE and VITALITY, 70 - ORGANISX, - C O T R A C T I L I T P a nd SENSIBI LITT, 74-Operations of the WILL, - S T I X U L S , 6 . CONTENTS. LETTER IV. Laws of SENSIBILIT9Y6,-Particular STIMCL9I, 7 --Concentration of SENSIBILITY, 1 O-JYMPATHY, 10 A case of extreme illness depicted, 109-A peep into my Ladys chamber, she---ing an approximation to the foregoing. l l l-High degrees of Sensibility incompatible with healthy Contractility, 1 13-What condition of the body favourable to SENSIBILITY, 115-MORAL SENSIBILITY, 1 18. LETTER V... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.