A letter to Dr. Chambers ... on several important points relating to the nature and proper treatment of gout / by Sir Charles Scudamore.

Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to Dr. Chambers ... on several important points relating to the nature and proper treatment of gout / by Sir Charles Scudamore. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    strict restraint which I have mentioned ; the return of gout being an object of their dread. In all cases, the middle course of self-denial in reality carries with it the truest enjoyment of life ; the greatest freedom from indigestion ; the clearest head ; the sweetest sleep by night* ; and the most elastic state of the nerves by day. It requires, doubtless, fortitude and determina- tion to break through the habits of false indul- gence ; but the reward to be obtained is large and certain. It would be an ill compliment to the intel- lectual accomplishments of any one, to suppose that his cheerfulness at the social hoard would be necessarily dependant on the stimulus of wine. The necessity for the use of wine or other stimulating liquor, imaginary or real, is created by habit; custom ; delicacy of constitution ; or ill health. It cannot be said to be a natural want. Horace, although he speaks with great de- light of the pleasures of wine in such passages as * Fuseli is said to have summoned the night-mare to his aid, by supping on pork chops.