CHAP. XII. What diet is convenient for such as have the Gout.
AFter the body is once fed, they must not return to meat before that the concoction be per∣fected in the stomach, least the liver be forced to draw by the mesarick veins that which is yet crude and ill digested, and as it were forced thence. Whence the depravation of the nutriment of the whole body; for the following decoctions do not amend the default of the first.* 1.1 Let them make choice of meat of good juice and easie digestion, rosted for such as are phlegma∣tick, but boiled for such as are cholerick: As they shall shun much variety one meal, so must they eschew the use of pulses, milk-meats, sallads, and sharp things; as verjuice, vinegar, the juice of oranges, and citrons. They shall not eat unless they be hungry, and shall desist there∣from before they be fully satisfied, if it be but for this, that whilst the native heat is busied in the digestion of meat plenteously eaten, it is diverted from the concoction of the noxious hu∣mors▪ The flesh of great fowl, as swans, cranes, peacocks are not of laudable juice, and are with more difficulty digested in the stomach. Some of the antients have disallowed of the eating of capons,* 1.2 and such like birds, because they are subject to be troubled with the Gout in the feet. Fishes are to be shunned, for that they heap up excrementitious humors, and are easily corrupted in the sto∣mach, yea and relax it by continual use. Of the flesh of beasts, veal is most to be commended, for that it breeds temperate blood, and laudable juice, and is easily digested. Neither in the mean time is m••tton to be found fault withal. But the like hunger or abstinence must not be appointed to all men troubled with the Gout, for such as are of a sanguine and cholerick complexion,* 1.3 because they are endued with much, and much wasting heat, are to be refreshed with more plentiful nourish∣ment; for hunger sharpens choler, and so augments their pains; neither in the interim must they be fed with too much moist meats▪ for too much moisture, besides that it is the author of the putre∣faction, will cause defluxions, and draw down the matter to the joints. Therefore the cholerick hu∣mor must be incrassated and refrigerated by taking things inwardly, and applying things outwardly least by its tenuity it should fall down into the grieved parts. To this purpose conduce broths alte∣red with lettuce, purslain, sorrel, and the like herbs,* 1.4 and barly creams made with a decoction of the four cold seeds. Phlegmatick bodies, by reason that they have not so vigorous heat, do as it were carry their provant about them, wherefore they must not be fed, neither with many, nor with moist meats. All that are troubled with the Gout, must shun those things which are hard of digestion, and which are soon corrupted, for they all have a certain remiss fever, which diminisheth the native heat, and makes the meats apt to putrefie. Too plentiful drinking not only of wine, but also