William Cadogan [His essay on gout] / by John Ruhräh.

  • Cadogan, William, 1711-1797.
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: William Cadogan [His essay on gout] / by John Ruhräh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of high experience bear me testimony, that this is true of all the luxuries of the table, wine, music, women, and every sensuality. These men may tell me, perhaps that I have made a mighty fine declamation against luxury and intemperance: but what is this to the purpose? they desire not to be told of their faults, nor to hear disagreeable truths which they know already. Have I no art or skill to reconcile health and luxury, no remedy, no rare secret to repair and restore sensation and vigour worn to rags? No Medea’s kettle to boil anew? If not, do not describe to us a life of moderation, temperance, and exercise: it is not worth having upon these terms. I am aware of the unreasonable expectations of many, that their demands would rise high, some of them to the impossible. At present I am only setting forth the causes: when I come to talk of remedy, I will endeavour to convince them that the artificial helps they expect are not in nature, but that there are in nature ways and means by which many gouty, broken constitutions, that have been despaired of, might be repaired and restored to a very desirable degree of health and enjoyment. But I must first say a word or