Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/68

Rh repelling. So Lucian in Tragopodagra after naming a thousand things try'd vain, introduces two Syrians, who cur'd it with an unguent deliver'd to them from their father, which is not unworthy of a particular remark. It seems to me that the progress of these oyly experiments upon the gout has been retarded, from a mistaken notion of such things stopping the pores and hindering transpiration; Riverius declares as much, after he had commended neats foot oyl in our case, and gives a recipe for making it. And we find at last, that what they have attempted to do from all ages, with remedys horrid, such as caustics, cauterys, issues, setons, moxa, with a thousand superstitious fancys, with medicins awkward, nauseous, uncertain; what they have been aiming at imperfectly, is fully and adequately accomplish'd in our oyls. And the highest reason, we have to adore Providence for so great a blessing.

Hitherto we have treated of the history of the distemper, and of its cause: wherein we have shown that 'tis a really poysonous, fermentative humour thrown out of the blood. We are next to speak of the remedy, or antidote for this poyson, as we may now properly call it. The oyly preparation which Dr. Rogers has made, is as sure and specific a cure for it, in all spects