Old persons are very subject to obstructions in the urinary passages; and often the various degrees of the gravel and stone follow. These are disorders difficult of cure but they are easily prevented in most constitutions.

Let those who are subject but to slight complaints of this kind avoid wine; and supply its place by clear malt liquor, of a due strength.

Let the diet be cooling: and in regard to exercise, the great and golden rule is moderation. Violent motion, or rest for a long time together, are equally wrong. Let the patient walk, or ride out every day at the proper hours; and when the weather does not permit that, let him use the same exercise in his chamber.

When the fits come on, let him take manna and oil: this is an easy and effectual medicine. Two ounces of manna should be dissolved in half a pint of water, and six spoonfuls of salad oil added to it. A spoonful of this taken every half hour will stay upon the stomach, asswage the pain, stop the vomitings which usually attend these complaints; and at the same time procure stools: and while it eases the cholicky pains, it will give passage to the stone.

This is the course in the violence of a fit. When it is perceived coming on, an infusion of BURDOCK ROOT slic’d, is the safest, best, and most effectual remedy. Two ounces of the fresh root, with a pint and half of boiling water poured on it, makes this infusion. The liquor is to be strained off as soon as cold: and half a pint, a little warmed again, with a quarter of a pint of milk, and sweetened with honey, is to be taken every four hours.

This is the medicine lately published also for the gout; and which many are now taking for that disease with very great success. The gout and gravel are nearly ally’d, and it is not strange the same remedy is so effectual also in this case. The wonder is, that a plant of so great virtue, and so common, has been so long neglected by the practisers of physic.

Of the gout it would be vain to treat here. ’Tis a peculiar subject, and requires a larger compass than any single article can be allowed in this work: and it has been considered separately in that treatise.