CLASS IV. i. 2. 15. OF ASSOCIATION. 



tack of gout ; that fit was very fevere, and of many weeks con- 

 tinuance. I now determined upon a more abftemious method 

 of living, in refpedl to wine ; and indeed the fociety, in which 

 I had before been accuftomed to live, being confiderably chang- 

 ed, I had lefs frequent temptations to excefs. From this time I 

 enjoyed the moft perfect good date of health till Auguft 1784, 

 when I had my fecond attack of gout. I never perfectly recov- 

 ered from this attack through the fucceeding winter, and in 

 March 1785, was advifed to try the Bath waters, and drank 

 them under the direction of one of the faculty of that place. 

 I was there foon feized with a fever, and a flight attack of gout 

 in one knee. I fhould obferve, that when I fet out from home, 

 I was in a weak and low ftate, and unequal to much fatigue ; as 

 appeared by my having a fainting fit one day on the road, after 

 having travelled only about fifty miles ; in the courfe of the 

 fummer I had two or three more flight attacks of eout of lefs 

 confequence, till the month of October ; when I was afflicted 

 with it all over me in fuch a manner, as to be without the pof- 

 fibility of the lead degree of removal for fome days ; and was 

 about two months without being able to get into the air. This 

 was the fevereft attack I had then experienced ; though I have 

 fmce had feveral equally fevere. In the courfe of this fummer 

 1 had a fall with my horfe 5 and foon after it, having difcovered 

 an enlargement on one elbow, I concluded I had hurt it at that 

 time ; but in the courfe of this laft attack having a fimilar en- 

 largement on the other elbow, I found my miftake, and that 

 they were collections of gouty matter ; thefe increafed to the 

 fize of pullet's eggs, and continue in that ftate. I had foon af- 

 ter fimihr enlargements on my heels ; the right heel being fe- 

 verely bruifed, I was under the neceflity of having it lanced, and 

 a large quantity of chalky matter was difcharged from it ; and 

 have fmce that time frequently had chalky matter taken from 

 it, and fometimes fmall bits of apparently perfect chalk. My 

 right hand was foon afHidled in the fame way, and I have fcarce- 

 ly a joint on thofe fingers now in a natural ftate. My left hand 

 has efcaped tolerably well. After this laft attack (viz. October 

 1 785), I had two or three flight attacks before the month of June 

 1787, when I had a very fevere intermittent fever; from that 

 time I continued very well till the latter end of the year, when I 

 began to feel the gout about me very much, but was not con fin- 

 ed by it. I was in this ftate advifed to try what is called the 

 American Recipe (gum guaiacum and nitre difiblved in fpirits) ; 

 it had apparently been of cflential fervice to a friend of mine, 

 who from the inability to walk a mile for fome years, was be- 

 lieved to be reflored hv the \if.- of this medicine to a good (late 



of 



