Page:The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, Volume 1 - Smollett (1772).djvu/47

 nal, proceeded to shew, that many fetid substances were not only agreeable but salutary; such as assa fœtida, and other medicinal guns, resins, roots, and vegetables, over and above burnt feathers, tan-pits, candle-snuffs, &c. In short, he used many learned arguments to persuade his audience out of their senses; and from stench made a transition to filth, which he affirmed was asoalso [sic] a mistaken idea, in as much as objects so called, were no other than certain modifications of matter, consisting of the same principles that enter into the composition of all created essences, whatever they may be that in the filthiest production of nature, a philosopher considered nothing but the earth, water, salt, and air, of which it was compounded; that, for his own part, he had no more objection to drinking the dirtiest ditch-water, than he had to a glass of water from the Hot Well, provided he was assured there was nothing poisonous in the concrete. Then addressing himself to my uncle, "Sir (said he) you seem to be of a dropsical habit, and probably will soon have a confirmed ascites: if I should be present when you are tapped, I will give you a convincing proof of what I assert, by drinking