PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 463 



he was told by fome body, that he might 

 free himfelf of the gout, if he would, at 

 its firft appearance, eat one or more fak- 

 ed herrings at bed-time, by way of fup- 

 per, and tafle no other food or drink 

 that night ; that one herring would cure 

 a flight fit ; but that, if the fit was very 

 fevere, it would require two or three ; thac 

 this Ihould be continued for three nights 

 fuccefiively, if the gout fhould not be en- 

 tirely gone before that time ; and that 

 it was neceflary to take the herrings 

 ftreight from the pickle, without wafh- 

 ing them, and to roaft them. He accor- 

 dingly followed the prefcription, and the 

 firil time he was feized with the gout, 

 that he might -make fure of fuccefs, he 

 eat three whole herrings at bed-time, af- 

 ter the method prefcribed, and next 

 morning was fo well, as to be able to go 

 abroad about his bufinefs ; nor did he 

 ftand in need of a fecond night of the 

 cure at that time. Every year fince, he 

 has followed the Gme method, eating 

 three herrings at bed time, when the fie 

 attacked him j and, when he did it at the 



be- 



