GOUT. 305 



increase. He tries all kinds of treat incut, but never sticks to one for long at a time. 

 He consults every one of any note in London, but derives little if any benefit from 

 their advice. The majority of them express no opinion as to the nature of the 

 complaint, but hint in a guarded way that he should take nothing but light claret. 

 Finally, some one bolder than the rest tells him it is all drink, and that he will 

 get better if he will only become more abstemious. The advice is considered an act 

 of impertinence, and is promptly disregarded, although the patient feels in his heart 

 of hearts that it is right. He would give up the drink if he could, but he can't, 

 His self-reliance is gone, the alcohol has stolen away his will, and he is utterly 

 incapable of giving up the dangerous fascination. He will take an oath to-day that 

 he will never touch another drop of spirit, and will probably break it to-morrow. 

 Sometimes he wishes that some one would lock him up in an asylum, or that by 

 some chance or other he could have six months' imprisonment, but he never feels 

 able to put himself under restraint. After a time the liver gets smaller, and this, 

 instead of being a good sign, is a bad one, for it is contracting. The belly begins to 

 swell, and gradually fills with a dropsical effusion. He now feels that he cannot get 

 about any more, and has to take to his bed. Doctors come to see him, he has the best 

 of advice, but they can do little or nothing for him. He would willingly enough 

 consent to knock off drink now, but it is too late ; the mischief is done, the liver is 

 in a state of cirrhosis, and no medicine can restore it to its natural condition. The 

 fluid in the belly gradually increases in quantity, and after some months of suffering 

 the patient dies from exhaustion. Is there any remedy for this horrible complaint ' 

 Y , one, teetotalism absolute abstinence from alcoholic liquors of all kinds. This 

 remedy must be applied early. If you wait till your liver has undergone serious 

 organic change, it is too late. No half-measures will suffice ; you will have to giv<- 

 up drink of all kinds. Do this, and you will recover ; go on on your old plan, and 

 you will quickly die a painful and degrading death. If you feel that your will is so 

 weak that you cannot be trusted, get your friends to put you in an institution for 

 dipsomaniacs for a month or two. It would probably save your life. There is 

 never any danger in cutting off drink quite suddenly. For a day or two you will 

 feel terribly depressed, but this will soon pass off. The craving for stimulants may 

 often be allayed by some bitter infusion, say of gentian or cascarilla, containing 

 three or four drops of tincture of mix vomica or ten drops of sal volatile or tincture 

 of ginger to the dose. The perchloride of iron mixtures (Pr. 1 or 2) often servo 

 this purpose better than anything. 



Attention to the diet is also of importance. This ought to consist of such articles 

 as milk, eggs, plainly-cooked white fish, meat, poultry, and game. Rich sweets and 

 greasy dishes, as well as hot spices and indigestible foods of all kinds, are strictly 

 interdicted. Regular exercise in the open air and attention to the bowels are to be 

 enjoined. 



GOUT. 



The phenomena which constitute gout are, we fear, only too familiar to many 

 of our readers. 



In many cases the first attack comes on without any previous warning, but 

 20 



