■Class IV. i. 2. 15. OF ASSOCIATION, 3 



vifed me to, and from which I reaped great benefit ; neVerthe- 

 lefs on the 29th of December I had a flight attack in compari- 

 fon of fome that I had before experienced, and from that 

 time I was free from gout, and enjoyed my health perfectly well 

 till the fourth week in October 1791 5 from that till the third 

 week in October 1792 ; from that till the third week in Octo- 

 ber 1703 ; and from that till June 1794. From what happen- 

 ed for the laft three years I dreaded the month of October 5 

 but I efcaped then, and have enjoyed my health mod perfectly 

 ever fince till within the laft week, that I have had a flight at- 

 tack in one knee, which is nearly gone, without any fymptom to 

 lead me to fiippofe that it will go further. 



" I adhered to your advice molt fcrupuloufly for the firfl year 5 

 and in regard to the not drinking malt liquor, and taking only 

 the two giafies of wine with water, I have never deviated but 

 two days ; and then the fir ft day I only drank one glafs of ale 

 and one glafs of champaigne 5 on the fecond only one glafs of 

 champaigne. With regard to the warm bath, I only life it now 

 when I have gouty fymptoms upon me, and in fuch Situations 

 l find it of infinite fervice ; and in other refpects I continue td 

 live according to your direction. 



"Many perfons have laughed at the idea of my perfeveranee 

 in a fyftem, which has not been able to cure the gout after five 

 years' trial ; but fuch perfons are either ignorant of what I be- 

 fore fuffered, or totally unacquainted with the nature of the dis- 

 order. Under the blefling of Providence, by an adherence to 

 your advice; I am reaping all the benefit you flattered me I 

 might expect from it, viz. my attacks lefs frequentj my fuffer- 

 ings lefs acute, and an improvement in the general ftate of my 

 health. 



" I have been particular in this account of rrtyfelf at your re^ 

 queft, and am, Sir, &c. 



Morley, near Derby, 

 February 10^,1795. Robert Wilmot." 



There are fituations neverthelefs in which a paroxyfmof gout 

 has been believed to be defirable, as relieving the patient from 

 other difagreeable difeafes, or debilities, or fenfations. Thus 

 when the liver is torpid, a perpetual uneafinefs and deprefiion 

 of fpirits occur j which a fit of gout is fuppofed to cure by a 

 metaftafis of the difeafe. Others have acquired epileptic fits, 

 probably from the difagreeable fenfation of a chronically inflam- 

 ed liver j which they fuppofe the pain and inflammation of gout 

 would relieve. When gouty patients become much debilitated 

 by the progrefs of the difeafe, they are liable to dropfy of the 



^ r 0L, XL B ^ b cheft. 



