This general view of the outward appearance of the body of a person labouring under obesity, may give some idea of the disturbance which an excessive amount of fat can produce when situated within the body. On the outer surface it causes an extraordinary distension of the integument, giving rise, as we have before said, to various diseases, such as pimples, boils, eczema, prurigo, &c., which can only be cured by a reduction of corpulence. In the interior of the organism this same excess of fat causes displacement of the viscera, interferes with the due performance of their functions (as we have already explained), and leads to the sudden death of the patient, whilst occupying his arm-chair rather than his bed, for he can rarely assume a recumbent position. It has been said, moreover, that excessive corpulence modifies the intellectual faculties, diminishes their power, and may even completely annihilate them. The incessant desire for sleep, the somnolence with which fat people are tormented, is sufficient proof of the correctness of the assertion. The experience of all medical men goes to shew that when persons of obesity are attacked by any acute form of disease, they succumb more easily than those possessing an ordinary _embonpoint_. Death usually occurs in such cases unattended with great suffering. Destruction goes on so quietly and imperceptibly, that the physician becomes aware of it only when it is too late to grapple with it. Excessive corpulence is promoted by want of sufficient exercise, riding in a carriage, lying in bed too much, and the continued use of the warm bath. Having been told by many females, as I have said before, that their _embonpoint_ had commenced after giving birth to their last child, which they had not suckled, and that they attributed the development of this _embonpoint_ to their not having suckled the child, it may be asked, can this be assigned as one of the causes of excessive corpulence in females? I mention these facts without venturing at present to give an opinion. Some physicians, and many of the laity, think that repeated bleedings tend to the development of fat. For my part, the fact is indisputable, both theoretically and as the result of experience. Bleeding removes a portion of the blood, which is flesh in a fluid state, having for its object not only the nutrition of the several organs, but also the stimulation of the heart's movements, and thus the maintenance of life. Taking a little blood, is taking a little of that which maintains life, and is therefore a weakening of every organ of the body. Areolar tissue, which becomes more extensible in proportion as the body becomes more feeble, must have its power of resistance diminished by the bleeding, and more readily permit the deposition of adipose matter. This affords an explanation of the fact stated by many of my female patients, that their excessive corpulence had manifested itself subsequent to repeated blood-lettings.