virulence; as unctuous things likewise cure venomous bites, if timely apply'd, and before the poyson has diffus'd its self into the blood. Our oyls are but a succedaneum to nature's oyl in the joint-glands, too little in quantity to perform the cure; either naturally where the gouty matter exceeds the antidote in one joint, or where these oyl-glands have been much debilitated, shrivel'd, and injur'd thro' frequent lifts, in which case our oyls come as a timely auxiliary, and effectually turn the fortune of the battle, to the patient's advantage.
4. I argue the matter of the gout is a poyson from that Common appearance of the skin coming off, after a long fitt of the gout. Nature has been strugling for months to subdue this internal poyson, by dint of time and patience, by affusion of blood and humors upon it, to quench this fiery venom, and at last, and with her best endeavors; 'tis but imperfectly and partially done. 'Tis quieted, not extinguished. Like embers it lyes lurking, till additional strength enables it to break out into another fitt. But that part of the humor which nature by long time and force drives out thro' the skin, so taints its emunctorys, as Virgil's harpys, so leaves its pestiferous sordes behind, that nature is forc'd to throw it off and form a new
