A treatise on the nature and cure of gout and rheumatism, including general considerations on morbid states of the digestive organs; some remarks on regimen; and practical observations on gravel / By Charles Scudamore.

  • Charles Scudamore
Date:
1819
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the nature and cure of gout and rheumatism, including general considerations on morbid states of the digestive organs; some remarks on regimen; and practical observations on gravel / By Charles Scudamore. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    63/368 (page 37)
    Bu not only from being so rendered by the sufferings of the gout, but for the most part, from the influence of their original constitution. The Male Sez.—The comparative infrequency of the gout in females, naturally suggests the inquiry,—Whence does the male sex derive its peculiar predisposition to the disease, if its greater frequency in them really arise from a stronger predisposition? But if not, what other causes for this fact can be assigned? The more common occurrence of this disease in men than in women, must, without doubt, be principally referred to the chief remote cause, excess in living, and especially excess in wine, being applied in a greater degree by the former. But in addition to this circumstance, the superior delicacy of the female structure and habit, puts some restraint on the acquirement of the inflammatory and plethoric state of vessels which appertains to gout. The actions of the uterus are not without effect in counteracting a general redundancy of blood.* A gout of imperfect development, or of a chronic form, is more common in women than in men. It is of unfrequent occurrence in the former, unless with the concurring influence of strong here- ditary predisposition. In the few exceptions which do occur to this general rule, we meet with the circular chest, large full veins, relaxed solids, and tendency to corpulency, which have been already described as prevailing in gouty men. Station of Life and Occupation—Sydenham, speaking of the calamity of the gout, says, with equal modesty and beauty of ex- pression, ‘* But what is a consolation to me, and may be so to other gouty persons of small] fortune and slender abilities, is, that kings, princes, generals, admirals, philosophers, and several other great men, have thus lived and died. In short, it may ina more espe- - cial manner be affirmed of this disease, that it destroys more rich than poor persons, more wise men than fools; which seems to de- monstrate the justice and strict impartiality of Providence, who abundantly supplies those that want some of the conveniencies of life with other advantages, and tempers its profusion to others with equal mixture of evil; so that it appears to be universally and absolutely decreed that no man shall enjoy unmixed happiness or * Hippocrates gives an aphorism on this subject (Aph. xxix. Sect. vi.), which is usually thus rendered. Mulier non laborat podagra, si non menses ipsi defecerint. In the Medical and Physical Journal, No. 214, the Reviewer has called in question the accuracy of my interpretation of this aphorism, He attaches to the word defecerint, very improperly as I think, the literal signification of deficient, considering it as a comparative expression, to me it appears clear, that the Greek word in the aphorism ¢ex,uzv, signifies derelique- — rint, or having left entirely. ‘Those females who suffer gout are such as are very liable to menorrhagia, and have the disease either at the early part or about the middle of life; or those who have been so liable, and have the gout come on a few years, sooner or later, after the final cessation. It is at the latter period that the gout most occurs with females; and to this, I think, the aphorism is intended to apply.