a violent
fit of the gout. The pains, indeed, at length abated, and this
unfortunate epicure returned to all his former habits of intemperance.
The interval of ease, however, was short, and the attacks of his disease
becoming more and more frequent, he was at length deprived of the use of
almost all his limbs.

"In this unhappy state he determined to consult a physician that lived
in the same town, and had the reputation of performing many surprising
cures. 'Doctor,' said the gentleman to the physician, when he arrived,
'you see the miserable state to which I am reduced.' 'I do, indeed,'
answered the physician, 'and I suppose you have contributed to it by
your intemperance.' 'As to intemperance,' replied the gentleman, 'I
believe few have less to answer for than myself; I indeed love a
moderate dinner and supper, but I never was intoxicated with liquor in
my life.' 'Probably, then, you sleep too much?' said the physician. 'As
to sleep,' said the gentleman, 'I am in bed nearly twelve hours every
night, because I find the sharpness of the morning air extremely
injurious to my constitution; but I am so troubled with a plaguy
flatulency and heartburn, that I am scarcely able to close my eyes all
night; or if I do, I find myself almost strangled with wind, and awake
in agonies.' 'That is a very alarming symptom, indeed,' replied the
doctor; 'I wonder so many restless nights do not entirely wear you out.'
'They would, indeed,' answered the gentleman, 'if I did not make shift
to procure a little sleep two or three times a-day, which enables me to
hold out a little longer.' 'As to exercise,' continued the doctor, 'I
fear you are not able to use a great deal.' 'Alas!' answered the sick
man, 'while I was able, I never failed to go out in my carriage once or
twice a-week, but in my present situation I can no longer bear the
gentlest motion; besides disordering my whole frame, it gives me such
intolerable twitches in my limbs, that you would imagine I was
absolutely falling to pieces.' 'Your case,' answered the physician, 'is
indeed bad, but not quite desperate, and if you could abridge the
quantity of your food and sleep, you would in a short time find yourself
much better.' 'Alas!' answered the sick man, 'I find you little know the
delicacy of my constitution, or you would not put me upon a method which
will infallibly destroy me. When I rise in the morning, I feel as if all
the powers of life were extinguished within me; my sto