Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/77

tism is the same as that of the gout; and that both is of a truly poysonous nature, This operation then must not be ca11'd repelling. Every one that knows the gout, remark, 'tis usual for it in common instances, to make quick transitions from one part to another, and after it has extended one limb, as much as may be, it flys to another. Repelling is a word to be taken in a double sense, properly and improperly but in neither sense can I admit of our oyls repelling. Strictly and properly by no means must that be said to be repell'd from a certain part, which never was in that part. To say the humor would have come into the part, had not the oyls been supply'd is but a guess. And be it fact, 'tis a happiness to divide the field of battle and spread the enemy's troops thin, that they may the easier be circumvented and attack'd on all sides. 'Tis a happiness to hinder an enemy from retiring a part already weakned and incapable of resistance or resisting with difficulty: and to meet him bending his forces against a fresh wing unbroken. And this is assuredly the case in the application of the oyls. The enemy retires continually weakened with real loss of its virulence and quantity upon every unction. And which plainly shows that there is not the least danger to be ap-