^ • Curative Influence of the 



" Exercise not only prevents the formation of those concretions 

 which are frequently deposited around the joints in gouty disorders, 

 but it enables the absorbents more readily to remove such as may 

 already exist. It tends also to preserve that motion in the limbs, 

 which is too liable to become impaired or destroyed by contraction 

 of the tendinous structures in this disease. 



" It is, moreover, an important means of correcting that acidity, 

 which is almost an invariable attendant on derangement of the di- 

 gestive organs, but more especially in gout, in which disease even 

 the cuticular discharge is found by the chemical changes it produces 

 on vegetable colours, to be of an acid nature ; this beneficial ope- 

 ration it probably effects by increasing, not only the action of the 

 exhalents, but also the flow of bile into the alimentary canal, which 

 bile may directly tend to neutralize the existing acid, by its alkaline 

 properties. 



" To produce these useful effects, the exercise employed should be 

 moderate, but it should be pursued with great perseverance during 

 the absence of the paroxysm ; no day being allowed to pass, without 

 having recourse to it, when the weather and other circumstances 

 will permit." 



In the introduction to the diseases of children, are the fol- 

 lowing observations, — 



" In many of the diseases of children, I am particularly anxious 

 to call the attention of the reader to coast advantages, from the in- 

 valuable influence they are capable of imparting; and not less, 

 from the conviction, that such benefits are too often overlooked by 

 parents, who, in their tender solicitude, anxiously expect, from me- 

 dicine alone, that aid, which can only result from the union of the 

 most powerful means which nature herself has afforded. 



*' Independently of more humane considerations, the important 

 effects which the disorders of childhood produce on the health and 

 well-being of society, enforce the necessity of combining every pos 

 sible advantage in their favour ; yet I am convinced, that to the 

 unfortunate neglect of the more natural remedies, and the resort to 

 such only as are more readily attainable, may be attributed the de- 

 velopment of many of those chronic diseases, to which we so often 

 see youth subjected ; and which, in later years, are injurious, no 

 less to the comfort, than to the prospects in life, of the individual. 



" The constitution of children renders them not only more sus- 

 ceptible to those external circumstances, connected with peculiar 

 locality, which are productive of disease, but imparts to them the 

 capability of deriving more speedy and greater benefit from natural 

 sources, than is commonly possessed in after life ; and, although, 

 in every stage of existence, a pure and wholesome atmosphere tends 

 so materially to the acquirement and enjoyment of health, to the 

 young, this is far more essential ; whilst every other means of con- 

 tributing to its insurance, is no less imperatively demanded by them. 



