i. 2. i$. OF ASSOCIATION. 305 



vifed me to, and from which I reaped great benefit ; neverthe- 

 lefs on the 2pth of December I had a flight attack in compari- 

 fon of fome that I had before experienced, and from that 

 time I was free from gout, and enjoyed my health perfectly well 

 till the fourth week in October 1791 ; from that till the third 

 week in October 1792 \ from that till the third week in Octo- 

 ber 1793 j and from that till June 1794. From what happen- 

 ed for the laft three years I dreaded the month of October 5 

 but I Heaped then, and have enjoyed my health mod perfectly 

 ever fmce till within the lad week, that I have had a ilight at- 

 tack in one knee, which is nearly gone, without any fymptom to 

 lead me to fuppofe that it will go further. 



" I adhered to your advice moft fcrupuloufly for the firft year; 

 and in regard to the not drinking malt liquor, and taking only 

 the two glafles of wine with water, I have never deviated but 

 two days ; and then the firft day I only drank one glafs of ale 

 and one glafs of champaigne \ on the fecorid only one glafs of 

 champaigne. With regard to the warm bath, I only ufe it now 

 when I have gouty fymptoms upon me, and in fuch fituations 

 I find it of infinite fervice ; and in other refpects I continue to 

 live according to your direction. 



Many perfons have laughed at the idea of my perfeverance 

 in a fyftem, which has not been able to cure the gout after five 

 years' trial ; but fuch perfons are either ignorant of what I be- 

 fore fu fibred, or totally unacquainted with the nature of the dif- 

 order. Under the blefling of Providence, by an adherence to 

 your advice, I am reaping all the benefit you flattered me I 

 might expect from it, viz. my attacks lets frequent, my fuffer- 

 ings lefs acute, and an improvement in the general (late of my 

 health, 



" I have been particular in this account of myfelf at your re- 

 queft, and am,ir, &c. 



MORLEY, near DERBY, 

 February 10^,1795. ROBERT WILMOT.*' 



There are fituations neverthelefs in which a paroxyfm of gou-. 

 has been believed to be defirable, as relieving the patient from 

 other difagreeable difeafes, or debilities, or fenfations. Thus 

 when the liver is torpid, a perpetual uneafmefs and depreflion 

 of fpirits occur ; which a fit of gout is fuppofed to cure by a 

 metaftafis of the difeafe. Others have acquired epileptic fits, 

 probably from the difagreeable fenfadon of a chronically inflam- 

 ed liver j which they fuppofe the pain and inflammation of gout 

 would relieve. When gouty patients become much debilitated 

 by the progrefs of the difeafe, they are liable to dropfy of the 



VOL, IT. B B H cheft, 



