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For M.r Potts.

After considering all the circumstances and whole history of M.r
Potts complaints I am of opinion that they depend upon a Gouty dis¬
position which has not taken its proper course from various accidents

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happening to weaken his stomach. It is very doubtful if ever he will have the
Gout properly formed, but it is to be hoped that his complaints may be ob¬
viated and in a great measure removed by the following measures --

1. His diet must be regulated very exactly. He must take every day at
dinner some animal food, but should avoid the heavier kinds as Pork, Ba¬
con or any other fat meat, and should avoid all heavy and greasy sauces.
He may take any kind of light white fish, but should take these sel¬
dom. His dinner may thus chiefly consist of animal food, but he should
take great care never to make a full meal of it, but when his appetite
requires he should fill up his meal with a great deal of bread, a light
bread pudding or some vegetables. In these last some caution is
necessary and he must avoid the cold and flatulent kinds. For the
winter season Potatoes of a dry and mealy kind are the saftest he can
employ. If his stomach will admit of any kind of liquid food, a
plain and not too strong a broth taken with bread will save his taking
too much animal food ---- At Breakfast he may take cocoa tea
or any tea of home growth, the Indian teas and Coffee being very im¬
proper. Honey and all kinds of sweat meats are very bad for him. --
The less supper he takes the better, and if any, it should be, a little meat
if he can digest it; but he does not digest milk he may take Rice,
Barley or Sago, prepared without milk. He may take a few Raisins
or Currants with his Rice or Barley, and he may take a little boiled
Pear or baked Apple, but of these or any kind of fruit very sparingly.
Acids of all kinds are bad for him and therefore he should take no
kind of Pickles. Spiceries of any kind he may take but always
moderately

2. For ordinary drink he must take water alone. No kind
of malt liquor whether weak or strong is safe for him, a little
good Porter is the safest, but even that should be taken very sparingly
Wines too of all kinds are uncertain with respect to his stomach
and there is none but a little very good Madeira I would admit
of. The only strong drink that is good for him is Rum or Brandy
with a large proportion of water ---- While his diet is thus
regulated he must give a constant attention to avoiding costiveness
But at the same time purging is very improper. He must

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therefore have a medicine that will keep his belly regular without
purging. For this purpose I have ordered some pills on a paper apart
and I expect that one or at least two taken every over night will
have the proper Effect. I would not have him however persist
long in the use of these, but often, three or four weeks he may
return to the use of Dr Nicolsons Electuary which after that
intermission may recover its force – 4. It appears that his sto¬
mach is from time liable to accumulate Phlegm, and when that has
gone to a certain length, there is nothing that will so certainly recover
it as vomiting, and therefore I cannot absolutely forbid him to take
at times a Camomile Puke. But at the same time I must observe
that frequent vomiting weakens the stomach and increases the disease
it is intended to cure. I would wish therefore to avoid frequent
vomiting and endeavour to remove the disorders of the sto¬
mach by other means. One means may be the drinking of lime
water or Seltzer water, and of either of these he may take half
a pint twice a day, that is about an hour before dinner and
four or five hours after it, and this he may do for about a week
about the time he thinks the disorder of his stomach is
breeding. Another means of correcting the disorder of his stomach
is the use of the Drops ordered in the paper apart. He is to take
fifety or sixty drops on a bit of sugar. The time of taking them
is when, threatened or affected with pains of his stomach, and then
he may take them two or three times a day, but they should be
reserved for these occasions, as a frequent repetition will render
them useless. They may be washed ↑down↑ with a little spirits and water
which on that occasion may be a little stronger than usual.

5. M.r Potts will be the better for being much in the fresh air
and in gentle exercise, moderate walking is proper, but it should
be always moderate and never go so far as either to heat or fatigue
him – The most useful exercise will be going on horseback

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but even this must be moderate and particularly the motion
should be as smooth and easy as possible ---- At all times he should
take great care to avoid cold and particularly in his feet and legs. I
shall think it very proper for him against Winter to change his cot¬
ton into a flannel shirt. If at any time his feet become cold he
should have them immediately restored to their warmth, and if he
is liable to any coldness of his feet in the night he should have
them well chafed with warm flannel before lying down, and wear
woolen foot stocks during the night ---- 6. After looking over
M.r Potts paper I find a question or two still unanswered. I
think any kind of cold bathing would be dangerous. At any rate
sea bathing could not be attempted at this season. It is possible
that in summer some bathing may be tried, and I would have
him begin with Buxton, but I would not speak positively of this,
till I should know the circumstances of his complaints towards
the beginning of next summer. ---- Eggs and shell fish are
both improper for him, a few raw Oisters would be the most safe