Scanned, proofed and corrected from the original hardcover edition for enjoyable reading. (Worth every penny spent!)
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William Stukeley, M.D.deserves to be remembered for his part in the debate and for his autobiographical account of the gout, an analysis of which provides a comprehensive overview of the rationale underlying the practice of Georgian medicine.
Gout was a common malady during the times of Dr. Stukeley (early 18th century). Its victims were
often immobilized for weeks on end, but this condition was not entirely unwelcomed.
Predominately, it is a male disease, and closely associated with extravagant lifestyles high social status. For this reason it was perceived as socially desirable.
In addition, and on the upside, there was strong speculation that gout protected one from more life-threatening
disorders such as palsy, dropsy or apoplexy.
On the downside, physicians were less reluctant to treat attacks of acute gout.
William Stukeley's concerns about his own gout are, therefore, of particular importance. His interest leaves no doubt about the diagnosis and provide insights into the disease from the his point of view as a physician. Stukeley's intense efforts about a cause and cure led him to debunk much of the conventional treatment of the time.
This book, published in 1734, presents his study and interest in gout. One cannot help but think of him as an astute and open-minded physician who, on the one hand, broke with the 'humoral tradition' by proposing a specific disease mechanism and cure, and, enthusiastically embraced the Grecian precepts of regimen before it became fashionable to do so.
For the next few years Stukeley had at least one severe attack annually. Although he continued to try whatever was current treatment, he finally placed more emphasis on regimen to moderating his diet, drinking and of course, he included exercise with long walks in the country.
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An excerpt from the beginning of the author's: Preface
Preface
I AM sensible of the boldness of the title-page and at first sight it will hardly be excused from the charge of great presumption. The smallness too of the volume which promises so much, whereon an infinite number of tracts has been wrote, seems insufficient to any great discovery: and where authors hitherto scarce durst pretend to a remedy, without imputation of quackery. But so it is, that at length, if I am not mistaken, Providence has put into our hands a perfect cure for this dreadful hydra. And if we be wise and temperate; as often as its snaky head repullulates, so often shall we be able to cut it off with great safety. However, I am fully satisfied, that I have ground enough for this publication, and should thing myself inexcusable, if I did not do it. Those that find benefit by this remedy, will, I hope, make suitable returns to God Almighty for it.
That the size of the book is little, is owing to the cure. For 'tis not much to purpose, to trouble the publick with copious theorys, long cases, and pompous nicetys upon a disease; if we can but cure it. I have indulg'd myself no further liberty in speculation, than might be useful to discover the nature of the distemper; whereby we may better treat ourselves in a fitt and out of a fitt, better know how to prevent or protract its returns, or moderate them when they come. I hope the world will not receive this work with less candor, because I don't give them a recipe of the remedy here recommended, which I do not know myself; and which in all right reason ought to be the property of the Inventor.
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N.B. This book was written about 250 years ago. To facilitate reading, spellings of words, i.e., "dyet" (diet) and "poyson" (poison) and many others, have been standardized to conform with current spelling convention.
