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I have no doubt about the nature of Mrs.
Hamiltons constitution. I am fully persuaded that
She has a gouty disposition, and as its taking to the
extremities, and remaining fixed there for any time
is precarious and uncertain, so the management
of her health must become a little nice and difficult
and it has given me much anxiety and thought.
I shall however endeavour to say what is most
necessary and proper.

One of the first and most important atten¬
tions is the guarding against cold, and for this pur¬
pose Mrs. Hamilton should constantly wear
warm Cloathing over her whole body, and she
should constantly wear flannel next her skin
and a special attention should be had to her
feet and legs by warm under Stockings and
warm Shoes, and with all this Cloathing, care

Nothing is more necessary or mo[re]
useful to gouty persons than a great deal o[f]
exercise. When Mrs. Hamilton is in the [Cou[ntry]?]
and the ground is dry, a good deal of walking
will be proper, but as a great deal of exerc[ise]
cannot be taken in this way, it will be ve[ry]
adviseable for her to take a good deal mo[re]
on horseback or in a Carriage, and the form[er]
is much the best, and even going on horse
behind man will do more service tha[n]
going in any four wheeled Carriage, but if [She]
can take to a single horse Chaise, and [drove]
it herself, it will do nearly as well as

In diet some care must be taken, but I hope
much nicety is not required. She may take apart
of any plain meat, that is usually set upon our
tables, and it is only from her own experience of light
or heavy that I could direct any choice, nor do I
believe that any difference of dressing need to be
much studied. I think fish may be taken as well
as meat, anly not so often, and some of the heavier
kinds as Salmond or Herring, or Turbot should
be taken very sparingly.

Mrs. Hamilton may take some Vegetables with
her meat at dinner, but it should be always very
moderately, and carefully avoiding the more windy
kinds. On this ground I doubt much if she can
safely take our Scotch broth with barley and
grains, but a little plain Soup will be very
safe, and in case of any sharpness of appetite, it

All that is said relates to dinner, for at Supper
I would have her to be very sparing, to take little meat
and that of the lightest kind. I know that a heavy
Supper is pernicious to every gouty person, and that
some kind of milk meat is the most proper.

At Breakfast, and indeed at all other times
Tea and Coffee are improper, except {illeg}
the former be Bohea and made weak, but if Mrs.
Hamilton must have a liquid of that kind, it would
be safest made at Balm, Rosemary or Sage
and of all other teas I think Cocoa to be the best

In the article of Drinking I think plain
water, or toast water to be the safest for ordinary
draught. I think Small beer is very improper
but if she desires somewhat of more taste than
water she may take good Porter with an equal or
two parts of water. I am clearly of opinion that
Mrs. Hamilton should every day at dinner
take two or three glasses of [wine], and it should

It is very necessary that in such a constitution
the belly should be kept regular, and for what may be
necessary to this purpose I refer to former experience.

In all such cases as this I trust to regimen
more than to medicine, but it is possible that medi¬
cines may be necessary, and for what may be so, I
have spoken as fully as I can to Doctor Robertson.