It may be alleged that a glass of brandy after a heavy dinner facilitates digestion, and therefore cannot do harm. I admit at once, that, when we eat too much, or fill the stomach with indigestible food, a dram of brandy, from its temporary stimulus, enables us to get rid of the load sooner than we could do without it. But it seems to me, that a far wiser plan would be, to abstain from eating what we know to be oppressive to the stomach; and that, by this means, we shall attain our end infinitely better, than by first eating a heavy meal and then, taking a stimulus, the efficacy of which is diminished by every repetition of its use. If we were _compelled_ to exceed the bounds of moderation in eating, there would be some apology for our conduct. CHAPTER VI. ON THE PROPER REGULATION OF THE BOWELS. Functions of the intestines--The action of the bowels bears a natural relation to the kind of diet--Illustrations--And also to the other excretions--Practical conclusions from this--Different causes of inactivity of bowels--Natural aids to intestinal action--General neglect of them--Great importance of regularity of bowels--Bad health from their neglect--Especially at the age of puberty--Natural means preferable to purgatives--Concluding remarks. Having now taken a general view of the objects, nature, and laws of digestion, and of the structure and mode of action of the various organs concerned in its performance, and made ourselves acquainted with the principles on which our conduct ought to be regulated, so as to second the intentions of Nature for our welfare and happiness, I have only to add a few practical remarks on the proper management of the bowels, and then conclude. The proper uses of the intestines are, as we have seen, to serve, _1st_, for the performance of chylification; _2dly_, for the absorption of the nutritive chyle; and, _3dly_, as a reservoir for the indigestible residue of the food, and an outlet for both it and the effete matter which requires to be thrown out of the general system. The processes of chylification and absorption having been treated of in a former chapter, it is in the last capacity only we have now to consider the intestinal canal.