Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/18

Rh possibly, as the bark, prepare that critical matter for a beneficial and salutary evacuation, which we cannot at present account for: tho' this seems to be the intention desired in the case, by such as with other methods attempt to cure it. A small matter critically applied will drive off distempers; as a fever is sometimes cured with a fright, a fancy, a charm. And manifestly, when nature thus makes a discharge of the arthritic matter upon the solid parts, she makes a false crisis, and 'tis a dreadful remedy to prevent a worse present inconvenience. But this among many other matters, necessary or expedient to be considered, in the affair, must be left to a further judicious tryal and observation. What I know of it at present, I was willing to recite, if but to stir up an endeavour of mitigating, at least, this untamable evil.

The operation of the moxa, and application of an actual cautery to a venomous bite, illustrates and confirms my way of reasoning, for they destroy the texture or essence of the poison, before it gets head. So likewise the application of the fat of venomous creatures, in the bite, as us'd by the Indians, seems strongly to plead in our favor. They seek the fat of the viper, perhaps other fat may do as well, unless that of the creature be of a more volatile