An essay of the true nature and due method of treating the gout. Written for the use of Richard Tennison, Esq., together with an account of the nature and quality of the Bath waters, the manner of using them, and the diseases in which they are proper: as also, of the nature and cure of most chronical distempers, not published before / [George Cheyne].

  • George Cheyne
Date:
1724
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay of the true nature and due method of treating the gout. Written for the use of Richard Tennison, Esq., together with an account of the nature and quality of the Bath waters, the manner of using them, and the diseases in which they are proper: as also, of the nature and cure of most chronical distempers, not published before / [George Cheyne]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    104/154 (page 86)
    [ 8-5 ] only tell what Cleannefs contributes to Health, The eaftern People (whofe Lazinefs, in other Things, isowing to their Climate) have found cold Bathing and Ablution fo neceflary to their Health, that they have made it a part of their Religion, as it is a Precept of a Religion of a nobler Extraft, from whence they borrow¬ ed it. If the modern Doftrine be true, as I real¬ ly think it is, that the.fmalleft Fibres ^ or thole of the laflr Divifion, in animal Bodies, be not open and pervious, but folid; then it may be affirm’d, that warm Water, (I mean pure Ele¬ ment, endu’d with no medical Principle) by the active Power of its Heat, muftnecelfarily relax fuch Fibres. And that cold Water, from the Nitre which produces its Coldnefs, muft neceifarily contract them. The Tumor of the Gout, like other inflammatory Swellings, is owing to an Obftruftion, or to the gouty Hu¬ mours flowing fafter by the Arteries, than it can be receiv’d by the Veins; the fmalleft or capillary Veflfels are thereby extended and ftretch’d, beyond their natural Power of Re- ftitutioji; fo that when the gouty Humour is fpent by Perforation, or driven into the Veins, by the fuccefiive Stroaks of the Circulation ; the Obftruction remov’d; and the Pain entire¬ ly gone off; the Veflels continue thus widen’d and ftretch’d, beyond their Power of Reftitu- tion,for a long Time after. And this is the foie Caufe of the long and tedious Weaknefs on the Part after the Fit is over; which wou’d yet continue