246 Facts towards a History of 



greatest names in history are to be found in the Hst. We find 

 Mr. Burke furnishing reasons why the rich and the great 

 should have their share of wine. He says, they are among 

 the unhappy — they feel personal pain and domestic sorrow — - 

 they pay their full contingent to the contributions levied on 

 mortahty in these matters; — therefore they require this 

 sovereign balm. " Some charitable dole," says he, " is 

 wanting to these, our often very unhappy brethren, to fill 

 the gloomy void that reigns in minds which have nothing on 

 earth to hope or fear ; something to relieve the killing languor 

 and over-laboured lassitude of those who have nothing to do." 



This observation of Mr. Burke's introduces it to our notice 

 as a remedy — as a medicine, in the hands of the physician. 

 Thus we find particular wines recommended by particular 

 doctors, having a fashionable run as specifics : — at one time 

 all the gouty people were drinking Madeira ; and many a man 

 persuaded himself he had a fit of flying gout, for the sake of 

 the remedy *. Somebody, however, found out that Madeira 

 contained acid, and straight the cellars were rummaged for old 

 Sherry. This change was attributed to Dr. Baillie, who had 

 no more to do with it than Boerhaave, as he has been known 

 to declare. Sherry, and nothing but Sherry, however, could 

 or would the Podagras drink. 



Dr. Reynolds, who lived and practised very much with the 

 higher orders, had a predilection for that noble and expensive 

 comforter, Hoc ! which short word, from his lips, has often 

 made the Doctor*s physic as costly as the Doctor's fee. He 

 was of opinion, with the Poet — 



Hoc continet coagulum convivia ; 

 Hoc hilaritatis dulce seminarium ; 

 Hoc aegritudinem ad medendam inveniterunt. 



Wine has also been recommended, by the highest medical 

 authorities, as alleviating the infirmities of old age. *' Le vin 



* An eminent house-painter in the City, a governor of St. Bartho- 

 lomew's Hospital, got a receipt for the Painter's Cholic (cholica pictonura), 

 which contained all sorts of comfortable things — the chief ingredients 

 being Cogniac brandy and spices. It did wonders with the first two or 

 three cases ; but he found the success of the remedy so increased the 

 frequency of the complaint, that he was compelled to give up his medical 

 treatment ; for as long as he had the Specifc, his men were constantly 

 making wry faces at him, 



