It is necessary in the next Place to propose and confute some
Objections of Persons who refuse this Diet as extremely noxious.
Altho’, _say they_, Persons have found great Benefit by strictly
adhering to this Diet, yet upon returning again to the Use of common
Food, however mild and gentle, they have been afflicted with the Gout
worse than ever. The Powers of the Body being weakned by this Diet,
have been less able to resist the Force of this Distemper, it hath
become more dangerous, and the Fits of longer Continuance. If we
may give Credit to Experience as well as Reason, we shall find this
Matter far otherwise, for it appears from what we have said, that
many Persons have not only been freed from the Gout in this Method,
but have likewise continued free many Years after they have left it
off; particularly the three Gentlemen now living at the _Hague_, the
Marquiss _de Bongi_, Monsieur _Chamar_, and the Counsellour _de Talo_.
It is observable, that having gone through the Diet, they returned
to different kinds of Food, and have now lived with their Friends
as usual without any Inconvenience for several Years, excepting the
Marquiss, who twice or thrice in the Compass of nine or ten Years
hath been afflicted with it, (probably owing to some Error in the
Non-Naturals;) it is no less reasonable to believe, that where the
Aliments are easier changed into good Chyle, and communicated to the
Blood in proper Quantities, better Spirits should be produced, and of
Consequence the Vigour of the Parts should be restored and augmented.
That this is natural to Milk, appears from common Experience in the
Diet of such as use chiefly Milk and Water, (as the Country People in
_Switzerland_) for they exceed those of other Countries and Places who
live upon Flesh-Meats, in the Largeness and Health of their Bodies, and
the Floridness of their Complections, and you shall seldom find any
among them subject to the Gout, the Scurvy, Hypochondriack, or other
Distempers.