But so it is, that through the Difference of Constitutions, or different Habits superinduced, many cannot bear a strict Attendance upon one kind of Food; it shall disagree with the Body, be nauseous to the Stomach, fail in giving proper Nourishment, or if too strictly persisted in, may Cure the Gout, and bring on some other more fatal Distemper, or bad Habit, and even this hath been the Case of Milk it self. It is not within the Compass of my present Design, nor indeed, I am afraid, within my Power to enumerate all the several different Constitutions of gouty Persons, and the different Modifications of Diet necessary for them: A Constitution that will bear living upon Bread and Milk, will no doubt be in an happier Way of being cured of the Gout, than one that cannot. But what will not bend, must not be broke; vegetable Food is too flatulent, and gives too little Nourishment to many Constitutions, who require Food already assimilated into animal Substance. Stomachs long used to Wine, require it in Digestion, and in many Cases and gouty Constitutions, even while a Cure is attempting by Diet, a little Flesh Meat must be allowed at certain Times, and the Powers of the Body kept up, by the Moderate use of Wine, chusing the easiest of Digestion, and the softest of each Kind; taking especial Care never to overload the digestive Powers, by too great Quantities; which is a Rule that will hold at all Times, and in all Constitutions; and is of so great Consequence, that if not attended to, it will invalidate the Force of any other Rules that can be given for Diet in the Gout, or any other Distemper.
The Necessity of varying from the strict Milk-Diet, in which the Cure of the Gout absolutely consists, according to the Unhappiness of particular gouty Constitutions; must be left to the Observations of the Patient, of the Agreement or Disagreement he shall have experienced of particular Kinds of Food, to his own Body; and to the Judgment and Advice of a skilful and diligent Physician.
DOLÆUS
Upon the CURE of the
GOUT
BY
MILK-DIET.
