For these Reasons those that feed upon Milk should take Care that
the Animal they take it from have sweet and good Pasture; Cows give
sweeter and better Milk in Summer, when fed upon odoriferous Grass,
than in Winter on Hay and Straw. I do not think it necessary here, to
recite all the Virtues of the serous Part of the Milk in the Cure of
other Distempers, because they are well known to Physicians; but it
may be observed, that the several essential Parts of Milk, which I
have here explained, being united and thoroughly mixed, as they are
in the Milk, exert a greater Efficacy in dissolving and breaking the
Salts and viscid Humours that lodge about the Joints, and expelling
the gouty Matter. When the Blood is impregnated with Milk, it yields
a softer Liquor to the mucilaginous Glands of the Joints, so that the
Membranes and Tendons are lubricated with a soft insipid Mucilage, and
the natural Motions are performed without Pain or Uneasiness; or if
the Membranes be too dry, or complicated with any sharp Matter, which
occasions Obstructions, they are so relaxed, that upon removing the
Obstruction they regain their former Force and Vigour. Care must be
taken of what I before advised, that before the Milk be thoroughly
brought into Use, the latent Acid in the Bowels be first corrected
and discharged by absorbent and cleansing Medicines, and a laudable
Diet premised for some Time, that no Coagulation of the Milk, or
other Inconveniencies, be incurred. Upon this Foot a certain Cure is
to be expected. A prudent Physician will easily dispose a Body whose
Powers are not entirely destroyed to receive this Diet. Perhaps some
may object here, that the Gout being caused by an acid Salt, rendring
the Juices about the Joints more viscid and sharp, therefore so long
as there remains a Disposition to the Gout, from this Cause, Milk
cannot safely be brought into Use. To this I answer, That the Gout
is often caused by a singular lixivial Salt, and bilious Acrimony,
especially in Persons of a sanguine Constitution, where no volatile
Acid is observable, either in the first Passages, or in the Blood;
or if there be any acid Salts in the first Passages, by frequent
Circulations they are so joined with the volatile Salt of the Blood,
that they become lixivial and bilious. But when there really are acid
Humours in the Body, by taking alcaline Absorbents and Cleansers of
the Blood, and by proper Diet, they may be so corrected, as from Acids
to become lixivial, and assume the Nature of middle Kind of Salts.
Upon the frequent Use of alkaline Absorbents, the Pains of the Gout
are mightily lessened, because the solid _Spicula_ of the Acid are
broke and changed. Upon this Principle, Dr. _Willis_ his Mixture of
the Solution of Salt of Tartar, and _Sal Ammoniac_, in Rain Water,
externally applied, is an excellent Remedy. A Friend of mine used to
remove the Pains of the Gout instantly, by an Ointment made of Quick
Lime; and upon the same Principles, Spirit of _Sal Ammoniac_, Camphire,
Spirit and Oyl of Tartar, and even Urine, wonderfully remove the Pain;
as also Spirit of Scurvygrass, Cresses, _Sal Volatile_, Amber, and
others of that Class. When the Humours that cause the Gout are more
bilious, lixivial, and corrosive, these Medicines are not so proper;
for volatile and spirituous Medicines increase the Distemper; but the
more fixed nitrous Absorbents, oily and acid, ought to be externally
applied; as Balsam of _Sulphur_ with Amber, Bathing, and Spirit of
Pismires, sowre Buttermilk, Herring Brine, the Juice of Earthworms
expressed with Wine, as being full of nitrous Salts, a Poultice of
Bread and Milk, with a little Saffron, or Bole, or sealed Earth, or
the inward Use of the Decoctions of the Woods, and many other earthy
Absorbents. _Caspar Rheinbold_, his Highness’s Principal Apothecary,
prepares a Medicine from Gold chemically, which is an admirable Secret
in the Cure of the Gout, of which I can attest the Truth. It is also
excellent in the Stone, prevents its growing, and mitigates the Pain
of it. The Antients exhibited the Juice of Earthworms expressed in
Milk, with Success: By these Means the corrosive and volatile Salts are
inverted, fixed, and thrown forth of the Body by Urine and Sweat.