CLASS IV. 1.2. 15. OF ASSOCIATION. 33 ( 



then totally abstained from all fermented liquors, not even tasting 

 small-beer, or a drop of any kind of wine; but ate plentifully of 

 flesh-meat, and all kinds of vegetables, and fruit, using for his 

 drink at meals chiefly water alone, or lemonade, or cream water; 

 with tea and coffee between them as usual. 



By this abstinence from fermented liquors he kept quite free 

 from the gout for fifteen or sixteen years; and then began to take 

 small-beer mixed with water occasionally, or wine and water, or 

 perry and water, or cyder and water; by which indulgence after 

 a few months he had again a paroxysm of gout, which continued 

 about three days in the ball of his toe; which occasioned him 

 to return to his habit of drinking water, and he has now for 

 above twenty years kept in perpetual health, except accidental 

 colds from the changes of the seasons. Before he abstained 

 from fermented or spirituous liquors, he was frequently subject 

 to the piles, and to the gravel, neither of which he has since ex- 

 perienced. 



In the following case the gout was established by longer habit 

 and greater violence, and therefore required more cautious treat- 

 ment. The Rev. R. W. was seized with the gout about the age 

 of thirty-two, which increased so rapidly that at the age of forty- 

 one he was confined to his room seven months in that year; he 

 had some degree of lameness during the intervals, with chalky 

 swellings of his heels and elbows. As the disease had continued 

 so long and so violently, and the powers of his digestion were 

 somewhat weakened, he was advised not entirely to leave off 

 all fermented liquors; and as small- beer is of such various 

 strength, he was advised to drink exactly two wine-glasses, about 

 four ounces, of wine mixed with three or four times its quantity 

 of water, with or without lemon and sugar, for his daily pota- 

 tion at dinner, and no other fermented liquor of any kind; and 

 was advised to eat flesh-meat with any kind of boiled vegetables, 

 and fruit, with or without spice. He has now scrupulously con- 

 tinued this regimen for above five years, and has had an annual 

 moderate gouty paroxysm of a few weeks, instead of the confine- 

 ment of so many months, with great health and good spirits 

 during the intervals. 



The following is a more particular account of the history of 

 this case; being part of a letter which Mr. Wilmot wrote on that 

 subject at my entreaty. 



u I entered into the army with an excellent constitution at 

 the age of fifteen. The corps I served in was distinguished by 

 its regularity, that is, the regular allowance of the mess was only 

 one pint of wine per man each day; unless we had company 

 to dine with us; then, as was the general custom of the time. 



