y husband has written, I well recollect,
and will give my name as a voucher for the truth of them."

A brother of Mr. Robinson, at Holmes' Hole, whom I called on, appeared
to give full credence to the statements of the latter, although he was
much opposed to the experiment, at the time it was made, and mortally
detested all his bread and water tendencies.

I will only add, that a medical man who was sceptical in regard to the
whole matter, became finally convinced that the story bore the marks of
truth, and made public his conviction, in the subjoined statements and
reasonings.

"It is no true philosophy to refuse credence to a statement of fact
supported by competent evidence, simply on the ground that we cannot
understand how it can be. That his system (Robinson's) absorbed a very
considerable amount of weight from the moisture at all times existing in
the atmosphere, I have no doubt--partly through the skin, but chiefly,
as I apprehend, through the mucous membrane of the lungs. The fact that
they are capable of transmitting such an amount of water in a very short
time, as may be rendered evident by breathing on a cold, polished
surface, is a pretty conclusive proof that they may, under favorable
circumstances, be as active in absorption.

"That the alvine evacuations are purely and entirely a secretion, to
become an excretion, I have been satisfied for a number of years; and I
am glad of this new and striking--I might say incontrovertible--proof
that it is so. To be sure, all matters incapable of solution and
digestion, pass off through the alimentary canal, but they are purely
accidental. One of the most satisfactory proofs, to my mind, of the
fact, has been the discharges from the bowels of a healthy infant. The
whole of the milk is so digested that there is no residuary matter to
pass through the canal, and yet the discharges are abundant."

The case of Mary B. Adams, of Oakham, Mass., though differing
considerably from that of Mr. Robinson, is, nevertheless, remarkable. I
have dwelt so long on the preceding case, however, that I must study
brevity. What I shall say, was published in the papers of some years
since, and is from her own pen.

"In June, 1840, I had an abscess in my throat, accompanied by slow
fever, and in the fall, dysentery. In the autumn of the same year, I
discontinued the use of animal food.

"In 1842, I had an attack of spinal complaint, which lasted me three
months. In the spring of 18