On the Plica Voton'ica. 0,2$ 



days after, gouty pains are felt, fometimes in the arms, and 

 fometimes in the knees. The difeafe then more and more 

 manifefts itfelf, accompanied with a fever, at firft of a doubt- 

 ful nature, but which commonly exhibits a nervous charac- 

 ter, the affeftions of which ftill increafe. The phyficians, in 

 thofe countries where this difeafe prevails, often treat it in an 

 improper manner, and wafte the time in the application of 

 palliatives. The pains, uneafinefs, and other afteftions, are, 

 however, fometimes leflened by the common mode of treat- 

 ment, and the patient often recovers in fome meafure his 

 appetite, and might entertain hopes of a cure, did not a 

 ihivering of the whole body, and a ftronger or weaker heat 

 which follows, with violent pains and an uncommon heavi- 

 nefs, remind him too much of the lurking evil. Uncertain 

 refpe6ling the event, he wanders about for feveral months, 

 and, inftead of health, the difeafe returns with more violence 

 than ever. ' The pains in the limbs become more acute, the 

 itching in the arms greater, and the patient remains confined 

 to his bed. The hair begins gradually to fwell, and to be- 

 come clammy, and a fixed pain takes place arbove the focket 

 of the eye, and gradually extends over the whole forehead. 

 The funftions of the brain begin to be deranged • all objefts 

 feem to the patient to have an appearance different fiom what 

 they ufually have ; and he is frequently feized with fits of gid- 

 dinefs, and evenblindnefs. He is at the lame time tormented 

 with intolerable thirft, and experiences a violent fenfation of 

 burning in the throat, and over the whole fkin. The urine 

 is commonly turbid, almoft of a coffee-brown colour, and 

 gives a dark fediment. The body is coftive. 



" Under thefe circumftances the difeafe increafes, and it 

 then becomes high time to apply means for leffening, or ra- 

 ther removing, if poffible, thofe affeftions which threaten the 

 life of the patient. This is the critical period for bringing 

 the difeafe," as the Polifli phvficians fay, to maturity. When 

 this is acconiplifliod, the patient will be paft all danger. The 

 fureft means ofeffefting this end is, to endeavour to excite 

 perfpiration ; for which purpofe the warm bath, ftrengthened 

 with a decotlion of aromatic or other herbs according to 



Vol. \T. Gg circum- 



