174 The Bath Thermal Waters ; 



(3) Concerning the action of our thermal Waters on Gout, 

 there is a remarkable unanimity of opinion among the phy- 

 sicians of the last and present centuries. A composite thing 

 gout is ; easy to formulate according to the frigid moonlight 

 of chemical symbols ; but this is the pathology of a laboratory, 

 not human error and sickness. When we think of gout as 

 a human quality, and not merely, a chemical perversion of 

 so much blood and tissue, we shall treat the man first and 

 his gout afterwards. Our aim is to get out of the body as 

 fast as possible, and in the most easy manner, the essential 

 morbid poison which constitutes gout. 



Much care and skill are needed in the treatment of gout 

 with any natural thermal Water. A quiescent stage of the 

 malady is soon kindled into fire by baths of too high 

 temperature and of too long duration. The work we have 

 to do is that of a long and steady siege ; we promote tissue- 

 metamorphosis by proper medicines and copious drinking 

 of the Waters. Hear what Sydenham says : — " No man in 

 his senses can expect that momentary alterations wrought 

 in the blood by medicines or diet can perfect the cure of 

 gout ; the whole habit must be changed, the body must be 

 hammered out (as it were) anew.'' Changing a diathesis is 

 a serious business. Generally it is beyond our power ; but 

 it is well within our scope to " tame down " those disease- 

 storms which surely undermine the health, even though they 

 become milder with the advance of age. 



In all times rheumatism and gout have been accepted 

 as symbols of blood-disorder; but the nervous system is 

 involved too, and requires its own special treatment. 



(4) How peace is brought to the tumults of brain and 

 nerve, we see in the management of Chorea and other sorts 

 of muscular spasm by gentle washings and douchings. They 



