Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/27

 Therefore I shall make no apology for this present treatise, supposing 'tis become a just debt from me. The importance of the subject claims it. That from a whole years farther consideration and experience, I may give my maturer sentiments about this practise. And I profess sincerely should I happen to be mistaken in whole or in part, I should be as early to acknowledgacknowledge [sic] it. Whoever have felt the weight of the distemper, would be glad for any safe lenient in the case, any approach toward a cure. Nor should I think much at the hazard I might run of an unjust attack upon my character (if any I had or deserved) for so desireabledesirable [sic] an end. All lovers of mankind will be pleas'd to have their fellow sufferers exempted from so excessive a misery; even those that are not obnoxious to it. For my own part, I cannot but look upon it as a most auspicious piece of fortune in my life, that I thus became acquainted with a method which may render my future days comfortable. But how small a pleasure is that, in comparison of being an instrument of benefiting mankind! Nevertheless the use of these oyls has been generally decry'd at home, and it took its share even in party-contests, as usual in the country. 'Tis not to be conceiv'd with what diligence and malice it was pursu'd here, as if the author of it had