The Management of the Gout. By a Physician, from his own Cafe. With the Virtues of an English Plant, Bardana, not regarded in the prefent Practice; but fafe and effectual in alleviating that Difcafe. 8vo. 1s.6d. Baldwin. F the root of the woolly headed Burdock, the medicine recommended here, will really foften the agony of the fits of the gout; improve the health of the intervals, and, perhaps, prolong them, which the Author of this pamphlet thinks he has experienced in his own cafe; doubtlefs there is fome me. rit in the publication of it. A decoction of this root, however, with the addition of Tartar of Vitriol, has been already recommended in rheumatic complaints, (which are often related to this difeale) and stands in the Edinburgh Difpenfatory. The Author's fuppofition, that the Gout [efpecially if appearing towards the decline of life and vigour] is not certainly curable by any thing hitherto difcovered, is fufficiently experi enced; notwithstanding the partial fuccefs of a late famous compofition in fome arthritic habits, which has not feldom difagreed with others: and, indeed, after our Author's utmost commendation of this medicine (of which he makes his breakfast and fupper, with the addition of a lit le milk) we are only to confider it as a mitigator of the difcafe; and that in conjunction with an abstinence from wine, beef, pork, and falmon. The allowance of venery in the Gout, is difcufled in a particular chapter, and, upon the whole, in a manner fo reafonable, that any married Arthritic, who has not outlived that natural inclination, nor that natural vigour neceffary to a gratification of it, can scarcely err in regulating his conduct, in this refpect, by the advice it cont.ins. In the chapter which treats of difcharging the chalky matter of the Gout by urine, he recommends a double dofe of the Bardana, which, he obferves, has done great things; adding, that no ill can attend it, and that the hope of advantage is rational and juft.On this head we fhall take leave to obferve, that this increase of the dofe of Burdock, will be most seasonable, when. ever a chalky fediment in the urine fhall evince the critical dif charge of gouty matter by the urinary paffages. Of this we have pofitively feen a moft convincing inftance, where the urine being difcharged very plentifully (tho' with a fenfible heat and ftimulation) depofited a very confiderable proportion of a cretaceous fediment; which being feparated by filtring, and dried, had the fame confiftence, and chalked exactly as gout-ftones do. The fame perfon, at another time, after the ufual symptoms of an approping gouty paroxyfm, was feized with a fpontaneous Mm 2 white white flux, which continued about feven days, without any fever, and entirely prevented the fit: but the folution of it by urine, tho' equally compleat, was accomplished within fortyeight hours, at the moft. The diuretic powers of this medicine, as well as of its feed, have been long acknowleged; but fuppofing Nature to incline to a perfect feparation of the matter, by an inflammation and tumour on the extremities, which makes itself both feen and felt, it seems rather advisable then to excite no evacuation that may interfere with her purpose; and on the first approach of gouty fymptoms, it feems prudent to difcover by what paffages fhe endeavours to relieve herfelf, before Art attempts to relax or open any: the Patients or Phyficians who imagine their own counfel and conduct more fagacious than her's, generally having caufe to repent of their vain temerity. Befides, before he has prepared fome matter for a difcharge, any evacuation is as abfurd as the prefering another to that he had effected, would have been; both these Aphorifms of Hippocrates, in fuch circumstances, being equally agreeable to reafon and to experience. What can be thought then of any attempt to cure the Gout, like another inflammation, with repeated bleeding and purging? What fo contrary to an adequate obfervance of Nature? fo repugnant to the most effential principles of healing? Our gouty Author having exulted too imprudently on his fuppofition of the fuperior faculties and endowments of those who are fubject to the Gout; and a few occafional inflances of his botanical reading having concurred with that, and fomeother circumftances, to point out the real Author of this pamphlet, (who affumes the name of George Crine*, M. D.) it might appear fafhionable, from thence, to confider the production in a very trivial light but as we conceive our duty to confift rather in a juft reprefentation of books, than in a difquifition about their Authors, we acknowlege, that this pamphlet afforded us fome entertainment and fatisfaction. The diction is eafy and perfpicuous, the ftyle generally agreeable, and lefs abounding with a ftudied quaintnefs and affected laconicifm than fome other pieces of this manifold Author. The fubject is interefting to many more than he confines it to, Wits and Dunces, State/men and Aldermen, being promifcuously affected with it. The medicine and regimen here recommended feem very generally fafe; we heartily with they may prove as effecEtual and we think the pamphlet really deferves the perufal of thole who are afflicted with the Gout. This name (from a Greek etymology) feems to contain a compli ment of the Author to himleif: a very pregnant circumflance! K A Col A Collection of Poems. Vols. V. and VI. 12mo. 6s. Dodley. My R. Dodley, to whom the Lovers of Poetry are greatly obliged for this elegant and valuable Mifcellany, informs us, in an Advertisement at the end of the fixth volume,That having now, by the advice and afliftance of his friends, brought this Collection to a competent fize, it has been thought proper that the further progrefs of its growth should here be stopped. This Collection, therefore, is compleated in fix volumes; and, perhaps, a more excellent Mifcellany is not to be met with in any language: for though the pieces of which it confists are not all equally valuable, yet the number of thofe which cannot fail of proving highly acceptable to Readers of true judgment, and tafte, is fo confiderable, that, we fancy, very few who are poffeffed of the whole, will repent their purchase. Among the names of thofe whofe pieces have chiefly contributed to fill the two volumes now before us, we find Mr. Shenftone, Mr. Merrick, Mr. William Whitehead, Mr. Denton,. Dr. Akenfide, Mr. Jennyns, Mr. Cole, Mr. Scott of Ipfwich, Dr. Lifle, Mifs Carter, Mr. Alfop, Mr. Marriot, Mr. Cambridge, Mr. Mason, and Mr. Gray; befides many others, wholly fuppreffed, or denoted only by Initial Letters, Afterifks, or Dashes, and affixed to pieces on the merit of which, we apprehend, their Authors might fafely have rifked the credit of their names at length. As a mere expanded Advertisement of this publication might be thought to convey but little entertainment to our Readers; and would, indeed, fail of anfwering every purpose of a Review, we fhall close the article with a tranfcript of two of Mr. Shenftone's elegant and truly poetical pieces; the firft, entitled, An ODE to HEALTH; the fecond, An irregular ODE after SICK NESS. O Health, capricious maid! Why dost thou fhun my peaceful bow'r, Since thou, alas! art flown, It 'vails not whether Mufe or Grace, With tempting fmile, frequent the place: Age not forbids thy flay; Thou yet might'it act the friendly part; Thou yet might'ft raife this languid heart; Mm 3 Thou Theu fcorn't the city-air; I breathe fresh gales o'er furrow'd ground, I plunge into the wave; Thou wilt not deign to fave. Amid my well-known grove, Thou hear'f the sportsman's claim; Is Thought thy foe? adieu Is it the Clime you flee? There was, there was a time, Who then more bleft than me? When the glad fchool-bay's talk was done, How jovial then the day! Thus climbing life, to gaze around, Wert thou, alas ! but kind, Methinks no frown that Fortune wears, Nor leffen'd hopes, nor growing cares, Could fink my chearful mind. Whate'er my flars include; What other breasts convert to pain, My towering mind fhould foon difdain, Should fcorn-Ingratitude! |