INFLAMMATIONS. 



109 



do no better than translate Dr. SydenhanTs history of the dis- 



ease. 



CCCCXCIII. The gout is generally a hereditary disease ; 

 but some persons, without hereditary disposition, seem to ac- 

 quire it ; and in some a hereditary disposition may be coun- 

 teracted by various causes. These circumstances may seem to 

 give exceptions to our general position, but the facts directly 

 supporting it are very numerous. 



CCCCXCIV. This disease attacks especially the male sex; 

 but it sometimes, though more rarely, attacks also the female. 

 The females liable to it are those of the more robust and full 

 habits ; and it very often happens to such long before the men- 

 strual evacuation has ceased. I have found it occurring in 

 several females whose menstrual evacuations were more abun- 

 dant than usual. 



CCCCXCV. This disease seldom attacks eunuchs ; and 

 when it does, they seem to be those who happen to be of a ro- 

 bust habit, to lead an indolent life, and to live very full. 



CCCCXCV I. The gout attacks especially men of robust 

 and large bodies ; men of large heads ; of full and corpulent ha- 

 bits ; and men whose skins are covered with a thicker rete mu- 

 cosum, which gives a coarser surface. 



CCCCXCVII. If, with the ancients, we might ascertain by 

 certain terms the temperaments of men, I would say that the 

 gout attacks especially men of a cholerico-sanguine tempera- 

 ment, and that it very seldom attacks the purely sanguine or 

 melancholic. It is, however, very difficult to treat this matter 

 with due precision. 



CCCCXCVIII. The gout seldom attacks persons employed 

 in constant bodily labour, or persons who live much upon veg- 

 etable aliment. It is also said to be less frequent among 

 those people who make no use of wine or other fermented liquors. 



CCCCXCIX. The gout does not commonly attack men till 

 after the age of five-and-thirty ; and generally not till a still 



jr period. There are indeed instances of the gout occurring 

 lore early ; but these are few in comparison of the numbers 

 rhich agree with what we have given as the general rule. 

 When the disease does appear early in life, it seems to be in 



