134 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



" I would say, that, if the system is remarkably full, purga- 

 tives may take off a part of the predisposition to the disease ; but 

 if the system is not in this state, or if there is any evident de- 

 bility, certainly violent purging would be extremely pernicious, 

 not only with regard to the system in general, but more espe- 

 cially with regard to the alimentary canal, upon the tone of 

 which so much depends in gout. I have often had occasion to 

 say, that Evacuations in general are not the best means of ob- 

 viating plethora ; with respect to the whole system, therefore, 

 purging cannot be advisable : only, in certain circumstances of 

 the alimentary canal, it may prove useful to remove the crudi- 

 ties occurring and stagnating there, and in cases of certain con- 

 gestions, to open the various excretories of that canal. 



" Any crudities remaining in the stomach may increase the 

 atony which prevails there, and contribute to bring on the dis- 

 ease ; and where we can perceive such a cause, vomiting, by eva- 

 cuating these, may obviate the fits ; moderate vomiting, not fre- 

 quently repeated, does rather contribute to strengthen the stom- 

 ach by that exercise. But the employment of it to obviate every 

 indigestion, is often a hurtful practice, and I know that the tone 

 of the stomach may be entirely destroyed by the too frequent 

 use of emetics. In favour of vomiting used with discretion, I 

 would further say, that its operation is not confined to the 

 stomach, but that it powerfully determines to the surface of the 

 body, and supports the perspiration which is necessary to obviate 

 the gout. 



" Sweating, by determining to the extreme vessels, may 

 seem more adapted to obviate the gout than purging ; but, if 

 urged by heating remedies, or a heating regimen, it may readily 

 do harm by increasing the inflammatory diathesis in the system ; 

 and we think it is attended with this danger, that it exposes 

 the parts subject to sweating to be afterwards weakened, and 

 more liable to the operation of cold. " 



DLX. These are the several measures (from DXLJI. to 

 DLIX.) to be pursued in the intervals of the paroxysms ; and 

 we are next to mention the measures proper during the time 

 of them. 



DLXI. As during the times of paroxysms the body is in 

 a feverish state, no irritation should then be added to it ; and 



