INFLAMMATIONS. 121 



Secondly, The suppositions concerning the particular nature 

 of the matter producing the gout, have been so various and so 

 contradictory to each other, as to allow us to conclude that 

 there is truly no proof of the existence of any of them. With 

 respect to many of these suppositions, they are so inconsistent 

 with chemical philosophy, and with the laws of the animal eco- 

 nomy, that they must be entirely rejected. 



Thirdly, The supposition of a morbific matter being the 

 cause of the gout, is not consistent with the phenomena of the 

 disease, particularly with its frequent and sudden translations 

 from one part to another. " One of the causes removing the 

 gout is the passions of the mind. We have instances of both 

 anger and fear giving the gout, and as suddenly and instanta- 

 neously taking it away. We can readily perceive how these 

 passions operate upon the motions of the nervous system." 



Fourthly, The supposition is farther rendered improbable by 

 this, that, if a morbific matter did exist, its operation should be 

 similar in the several parts which it attacks ; whereas it seems 

 to be very different, being stimulant and exciting inflammation 

 in the joints, but sedative and destroying the tone in the stom- 

 ach, which, upon the supposition of particular matter acting in 

 both cases, is not to be explained by any difference in the part 

 affected. 



Fifthly, Some facts, alleged in proof of morbific matter, are 

 not sufficiently confirmed, such as those which prove the disease 

 to be contagious. There is, however, no proper evidence of 

 this, the facts given being not only few, but exceptionable ; and 

 the negative observations are innumerable. 



Sixthly, Some arguments brought in favour of a morbific 

 matter, are founded upon a mistaken explanation. The disease 

 has been supposed to depend upon a morbific matter, because it 

 is hereditary. But the inference is not just ; for most heredi- 

 tary diseases do not depend upon any morbific matter, but upon 

 a particular conformation of the structure of the body, transmit- 

 ted from the parent to the offspring ; and this last appears to be 

 particularly the case in the gout. It may be also observed, that 

 hereditary diseases, depending upon a morbific matter, always 

 appear much more early in life than the gout commonly does. 



Seventhly, The supposition of a morbific matter being the 



