Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/79

Rh upon a plentiful application of the oyls, the patient has recovered in two days time in the most surprizing manner. There is little need to make long harangues and observations upon this and like cases. They speak for themselves. And if you kill an enemy as fast as he advances, it may be call'd repelling him, but very improperly. Polyænus would not wish for a better stratagem: I am sure 'tis a safe one, either in war or in the practise of physick. So that if upon using the oyls, the part swells exceedingly, or if you find it begins upon a new joint, be not discourag'd; it shows only a large quantity of the morbific matter, and requires an immediate application there.

I know full well it will be objected to this method of cure, which we are inculcating: that all kinds of tampering with the gout are pernicious and deadly. That many instances are known of it, in every body's observation. That both internal and external remedys have cur'd the gout, but the cure has been attended with consequences worse than the distemper; and such persons cur'd have generally wish'd they had never medled with it. These kind of objections are very obvious, and will be made to our method, as well as the rest; and have been the great discouragement in all ages from attempting relief Rh