U9 



To this abstinence, then, from wine and fermented li- 

 quors; as also, perhaps, to the admixture of a large pro- 

 portion of the warmest spices^ ia their vegetable food, 

 tending to correct its acescent tendency; we may ascribe 

 the rare occurrence of this disease, in the more southern 

 climates. 



Now, these more general remarks, we find peculiarly to 

 coincide with the observations of the patients themselves, 

 as well as that of the physician: for such as have laboured 

 under these complaints, a sufficient length of time to be- 

 come acquainted with the juvantia and Icedentia, most scru- 

 pulously abstain from acids, and acescent drinks of all 

 kinds, and, what they find most particularly pernicious, 

 beer, or ales, turning over to the acetous fermentation, or 

 hard, as they are generally termed. And, indeed, nothing 

 is more common, than that an indulgence in cyder, cla- 

 ret, or acidulated punch, nay, a draft of hard beer or por- 

 ter, should be followed by a fit of the gout and gravel. 



The connection between these diseases forms an intie- 

 resting and curious subject of physological, as well as 

 pathological inquiry: but, proposing to offer some obser- 

 vations on this subject on a future occasion, I shally at 

 present, decline entering upon it, and pass on to observe, 

 that the bad effects of all acidulous drinks, are fully con- 

 firmed, by the experience of our many sufferers in Simp- 

 son's Hospital. Hewson, who lately died there, at the ad- 

 vanced age of 102, never tasted the beer of the house, 

 during the summer months, and substituted milk to it; 



being. 



