PURGATION. 261 



ficial evacuations. We may as rationally ex- 

 pe61 a common fewer to remain free and per- 

 vious, which is never cleanfed. The ancient 

 Egyptians fo much favoured this opinion, that 

 they purged themfelves weekly, and the Ro- 

 mans even outdid thofe ; but without being 

 mifled by its excefs, we may derive infinite ad- 

 vantages from rationally purfuing the principle 

 upon which they afted : we may thence be en- 

 abled, in great meafure to ward off the myriads 

 of evil confequences accruing from obftruftion, 

 the difeafes proper to which, according to the 

 divine Hippocrates, are of all others, the mofl: 

 fatal to the human body. By regular, timely, 

 and fufficient evacuations, with a very mode- 

 rate attention to regimen of diet, which however 

 irkfome at firft, would, from habitude become 

 even delightful, I have the fulled convi6lion, 

 mofl of thofe troublefome and ultimately dan- 

 gerous difeafes generally held incurable, might 

 be fubdued. I wilHvithout hefitation inftance 

 the GOUT, which moft patients hug as their dear 

 delight, and keep by choice ; wifely fuccumb- 

 ing under prefent pains, from the apprehenfion 

 that ftill worfe might enfue upon a change ; a 

 mod unnatural dialeftic, the early general ad- 

 herence to which would have eternized the 

 favage flate. It is precifely thus, that men a6l 

 with an antiquated, corrupt, and crazy body- 

 politic, and with the ultimate fuccefs merited by 



fuch 



