Since it appears that Milk, by reason of its oily Particles, is thus
serviceable in mitigating and curing these Disorders, there is no room
to doubt, from Parity of Reason, that the frequent Use of it in the
Gout should not break and invert the austere, sharp, saline Particles,
and drive them forth of the Body by Perspiration, Urine, or other
Discharges; for, (as _Waldsmid_ observes) Salts predominate in this
Distemper, which is evident from the itching in the Skin observed to
attend the Decline of a Fit. The volatile Salt of the serous Humour
going off, insensibly frets the Skin, while that which is fixed in the
thick and viscid Humour, and cannot easily fly off, hardens into Knots.
I have observed, upon the Application of Blisters to gouty Persons, a
Liquor of an high corrosive Nature to flow from the Part.