I Have now delivered the Directions I proposed, partly from the
Authors before-mentioned, and partly from my own Experience; by a
due Observation of which many Persons have been perfectly relieved
from this grievous Distemper; of which I shall give some Examples.
_D. Sorbait_, p. 741, tells us, that he knew several Persons, by the
Use of the Milk-Diet, either perfectly cured, or their Gout so much
overcome, that their Pains were dwindled to nothing. _John Pilus_,
the Emperour’s Surgeon told me, that tho’ he frequently had Fits of
the Gout, and almost lost the Use of his Limbs, so that he was in a
very miserable Condition, yet for these three Years past, by the Help
of this Diet, he hath been perfectly free from Pain, his Countenance
is now become fresh and healthy, he hath had several Children, and
appears as if he were born a-new. Count _Coningseck_, his Imperial
Majesty’s Counsellour, found the same Benefit by this Diet; and Count
_S. Hillario_ of the Emperour’s Bed-Chamber; several others, who were
almost worn out with the Gout, grown pale and wan, have in a manner
become young and florid again by this Diet. The Bishop of _Wallendorf_,
tho’ quite impotent by the Gout, was cured by Milk. Three noble
_French_ Refugees, the Marquess _de Bongi_, Monsieur _de Chamar_, and
the Counsellour _de Talo_, have been now many Years free from the Gout,
as appears by the Letter before inserted. I am told that a Consul, and
several others at _Hambourgh_, are now using this Diet with Success. A
Counsellour of _Oldenbourgh_, the Sieur _Van Velden_, hath used this
Diet this last Winter with very wonderful Success; for tho’ he could
neither use his Hands nor Feet, he uses both now readily and perfectly
well. A Miner here in the Neighbourhood hath used Milk for these six
Months past with great Benefit; he was almost a cripple, but now walks
very well to the Mines. All the World knows that the famous Prince
of _Conde_ was cured of the Gout in _France_ by Milk-Diet. There are
two Citizens of _Hambourgh_, one of which, tho’ he hath had the Gout
fifteen Years, is well recovered by the Use of Milk, and the Knots in
his Joints are quite wore away. Colonel _Haste_ hath used Milk for six
Months, and been free from the Gout; and tho’ he hath left off the
Use of it, the Fits are much easier than before. There is no Occasion
to multiply Examples; many more may be found in _Sorbait_, _Sacks_,
_Greizel_, _Waldsmid_, Authors already named. I have experienced the
great Benefit of this Diet in myself; I was so cruelly handled by
this Distemper, that I almost lost the Use of my Limbs, and at last
had a Fit every Month or Six Weeks; I was at the same Time violently
afflicted with the Stone, and difficulty of Urine; but now that I have
confined myself to this Diet for an Year and upwards, I have not only
been free from any Fit in that Time, but the Strength of my Limbs is
returned, the Dysury is abated; and what is wonderful, the Stone in my
Bladder is lessened and dissolving, so that I now hope I shall get the
better of the Gout, having been in a manner free from it an Year and an
half; I have had some Fits indeed, but very mild ones. I take Milk to
be a Medicine beyond any yet discovered for the Stone, since within the
Space of one Year, the Stone in my Bladder diminished an Ounce, as I
judge from the Bits I have voided and collected in that Time; and since
I have left off the Cure, I have not voided one Bit. I am of Opinion,
contrary to most Physicians, that Milk doth not breed the Stone in the
Bladder, but only a viscid kind of Phlegm in that or any other Part.