Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/55

Rh thought contagious and inflammatory. Sydenham more than once pronounces the constitution of podagrics to be luxurians & virosa, which we may translate poysonous, that is, their blood is of a rich nature apt to secern a juice of a poysnous quality, in other words the gout. Havers makes the matter of a Rheumatism or running gout acrious, subtle, hot and volatile, of a burning and fiery quality, saline, pungent, lancinating, corroiive. That it falls upon the mucilaginous glands in the coats of the muscles and coagulates their juices, just as spirit of nitre does, and the like acids when pour'd upon them.

They had reason enough even from the observation of sense to say so much. I add, that this is not to be understood in a poetical or figurative sense only, but literally and strictly. For I scruple not to affirm the matter of the gout is a true poyson. These are some reasons that justify me in the affirmation. 1. I argue the gout is an actual poyson from the violent inflammation, swelling, pain, heat, thirst, and all the concomitant symptoms; the very fame to all intents and purposes, wherever it fixes, as in a venomous bite: and the humor probably is as little in bulk. We see how terribly the sting even of at wasp or bee will swell and inflame a whole