Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/8

seem to have given over all quell for a remedy, and sit down contentedly to bear the cruel torture. 'Tis certain that the gout is a crisis of nature, and the many unsuccessful and fatal attempts upon it, have altogether discourag'd the professors, from countenancing even enquiries after a cure. Nevertheless 'tis agreed that many other distempers are but crise's; still they admit of medicin and a happy solution thereby. Even a fever, as Dr. Sydenham well defines it, is no other than an endeavour in nature, to relieve her self by exterminating with all her power; the morbific matter, This in few words is but a crisis: And should any one say; that physicians cannot assist in the case, and even cure a fever; they would think it an unworthy treatment. Therefore my self who have suffer'd many years under an hereditary gout, cannot still judge any otherwise, than that we ought not to despond of finding a remedy for it: which is, to assist nature in making that crisis more easy and truly salutary, as doubtless she designs it. 'Tis plain, by throwing the morbific matter upon the extremities, she saves the individuum: relieving the whole by punishing a part. And the patient (as he may justly be call'd) after a fitt well solv'd, finds himself perfectly in health for a considerable time, and till

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