Rheumatism: its nature, causes, and cure : gout: its nature, causes, cure, and prevention / by James Alexander.

  • Alexander, James.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rheumatism: its nature, causes, and cure : gout: its nature, causes, cure, and prevention / by James Alexander. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    267/292 (page 247)
    is the sole object; so that the organs of digestion already enfeebled and incapacitated for the assi- milation even of the most proper nourishment, are daily oppressed with a task for which they are altogether unequal. The consequence is, that though for a time the labour be sustained, the digestive energies are at length overcome. The dyspeptic being passes half his days in misery; his offspring inherit their parent’s consti- tution, and if they persist in a like course of slow poison, after a few generations the race becomes extinct, ‘his name even is cut off among men.’ Providence has gifted man with reason, to his reason, therefore, is left the choice of his food and drink, and not to instinct, as among the lower animals; it thus becomes his duty to apply his reason to that object, to shun excess in quan- tity and what is noxious in quality; to adhere in short to the simple and the natural, among which the bounty of his Maker has afforded an ample selection, and beyond which, if he deviates, sooner or later he will pay the penalty.” Although in the strong and plethoric, a low diet is necessary during an attack of gout, it is not so during the intervals; moderation, especially if combined with strong exercise, is all that is absolutely essential, although there can be no doubt that total abstinence from wine or spirits.