Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/63

Rh and to Nessus the centaur's poysonous garment, which he gave to Hercules. The analogy goes so far, as that after the bite of a viper the swelling continues some time, and the inflammation; and often more considerably upon the abating of the pain and other symptoms. And as Dr. Mead observes, one good drop of a viper's poyson does all she cruel execution: so by what we can observe, one drop of the gouty poyson is enough for a limb or joint. Again, there is the same timourousness induc'd from the spirits snd nerves which Sydenham so much complains of in the gout; as 'tis one symptom of the bite of a tarantula. Hic accedit, says he, miserarium culmulus, quod durante paroxysmo animus etiam ceu contagio ''afflatus, eo usque corpore compatiture, ut haud facile sit dictu, utro horum æger calamitousius doleat. Non enim rectius podagre quam iracundiæ paroxysmus omnis dici potest: cum mens & ratio usque adeo ab infimatio corpore enerventur, ut vel livissimo affectuum motu impellantur & vacillent: unde non magis ipsi quam aliis gravis est. Quid quod & cœteris quoque passionibus est obnoxius, tmori, viz. sollicitudinique atque aliis id genus: a quibus pariter torqueter, donec morbo evanescente animus quoque pristina transquillitate recepta una convalescet.'' These observations are agreeable to the effect which actual sons