De podagra et podagricorum curatione doctrina

foods, especially those that are phlegmatic, fish, and fresh, moist fruits.
18. Such are primarily seasonal fruits that easily rot in the stomach.
19. Included here is the unaccustomed drinking of cold liquids and the frequency of drunkenness.
20. And indeed, history and experience show that the excessive use of stronger wine holds the primary place among those causes.
21. History, because the head is most quickly and easily filled with vapors from this, with which the nerves originating thence and the membranes are immediately struck and rendered weaker.
22. Experience, because all have been taught that the gouty are immediately injured by wine consumed too liberally. Hence, Gout is not ineptly pictured as the daughter of Bacchus and Venus.
23. Containing or internal causes possess the nature of both the matter and the efficient cause.
24. These are required to be combined in such a way that if either is lacking, Gout is not generated.
25. For the efficient cause is worth nothing if the matter is not present for it to move, and matter achieves nothing without some mover.
26. Hence it happens that many who live most intemperately are immune to this disease, while others who lead a sober life are bothered by it.
27. Hence it happens that some are afflicted less and more lightly, while others are afflicted more and more vehemently by this affection.
28. The material cause is the redundancy of a vicious humor.
29. A humor, namely, that is either hot or cold.
30. Hot, either sanguine or, more rarely, bilious.
31. Cold, either mostly phlegmatic or atrabilious black bile.
32. However, whatever it may be, it must necessarily be thinner so that it can flow promptly by the guidance of its thinness.
33. Although, once cooked by heat, it gradually thickens and acquires a sluggishness.
34. The containing cause possesses the nature of the efficient cause; it is the member that moves the matter, either by transmitting it or by receiving it.