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Yesterday I was favoured with your
letter upon my cousin's case, and you may be assured
that it was very satisfactory to me to have the account
of it from so good a hand, and from a person that
I could so much rely upon for assistance, in propos¬
ing the best method of care.

I perfectly agree with you in supporting the
whole or most of his complaints owing to an ill¬
formed Gout, and for that reason I should be
for his repairing to Bath without loss of time, hav¬
ing had more experience of the efficacy of that water
in similar ailments than of any other remedy.
I do not think the asthmatic part of his disorder

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a sufficient objection, as it is not constant nor
in other respects of that nature which do not bear
waters of that kind. And as to the disorder of
the stomach, under which he also labours, I know
of no means so likely to remove it. In gouty
habits, such as my friends, when people are sent to
drink the waters at Bath, it is Vulgarly thought
that the intention is to bring on a fit of the gout,
& that if that view be not fulfilled, the journey
of the patient will be to no purpose. But that
notion is certainly erroneous, as we have every
day instances of those affected with stomachic
complaints & arising from a gouty cause who
perceive much benefit from those waters, without

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getting a fit. For the rest, he may be assured
that this season is as good for the purpose as
any other; I mean for drinking the water; &
as for the journey, though it may be less agreeable
to travel {illeg}, I should hope he would rather
improve in his healh by it than otherwise.

✍

Sir J. Pringle
Query
Mr J. Pringle.
November 1778.
✍ 9. p. 82