ON THE TREATMENT 
OF 
GOUT 
AND 
RHEUMATISM, 
ACCOKDING TO 
DOCTOR LAVILLE’S METHOD, 
DY 
DOCTOR VERLIAC 
Of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris. ON THE TREATMENT 
OP 
Going 
AND 
RHEUMATISM, 
ACCORDING TO 
DOCTOR LAVILLE’S METHOD. 
BY 
DOCTOR VERLIAC 
Of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris. Dear Doctor: 
Paris, January, 1884. 
We desire to call the serious attention of 
the medical profession to the treatment of Gout, 
by the method of Dr. Laville, of Paris. 
This treatment, which for more than forty 
years in France, and subsequently in all other 
countries, has met with unequalled success, and 
given most convincing proofs of its rapid and 
certain results with absolute freedom from after 
ill effects. 
Its use does not expose the patient to any of 
the dangers, ascribed truthfully or otherwise, to 
most remedies used in this disease. Moreover, 
Dr. Laville’s treatment has now entered into the 
domain of regular therapeutics, and physicians 
find in it a valuable means of curing or relieving 
patients whom gout has rendered helpless, and 
whose lives are threatened by its ravages. It 
has been clearly demonstrated that in the treat- 
ment of gout, it is not only necessary to subdue 
the constantly recurring pains in the joints, but 
especially to prevent the viceral complications 
the gouty cachexia predisposes the patient to. 
Modern authorities, and particularly the re- 
searches of Quain, Stokes, Gairdner, Garrod, 4 
and Charcot, have abundantly established the 
fact, that after repeated attacks of gout, serious 
lesions supervene in the internal organs, espec- 
rally the heart and kidneys. 
The heart gradually undergoes fatty degenera- 
tion of its muscular fibres, impairing the force 
and contractility of the organ. 
This condition, indicated by the weak and in- 
termittent pulse, exposes the patient to all the 
dangers from dyspnora, angina pectoris, and 
syncope, terminating by sudden death. 
The kidneys in their turn are subject to chron- 
ic inflammation, similar to that in Bright’s dis- 
ease, producing in these organs a deformity so 
characteristic (contracted kidney), that English 
authors have given to it the name of “ Gouty 
Kidney,’’ and as a result of this inflammation 
the secretion of urine is scanty and albuminous, 
and following this pathological condition comes 
the slow blood poisoning, which, interfering with 
the functions of the organs of general nutrition, 
diminishes the vital forces. It is these lesions, 
which endanger the lives of gouty subjects much 
more than those of the joints. 
Dr. Laville’s remedy is based upon two prepa- 
rations ; 5 
First.--The curative liquid, to be given dur- 
ing the acute stage of the attack. This is an 
Elixir of Quinine and Colocynth. 
Second.—The preventive pills administered 
only between the attacks, to lessen their severi- 
ty or prevent their return. The basis of these 
pills is Silicate of Soda and Extract of Alke- 
kenge, which act slowly as a gouty depurative. 
These remedies have been commended by the 
highest testimonials, and we cite the following : 
Professor Fleury, the celebrated founder of 
French Hydrotherapy, writes the following: 
“ For ten years I have prescribed Dr. Laville’s 
liquid to a great number of gouty persons, and 
I can affirm that it has never exercised the least 
harmful influence either upon the kidneys, or 
upon the digestive organs. On the contrary, it 
has been possible for me repeatedly either to 
prevent the attacks or to lessen their intensity, 
and without causing the slightest symptom of re- 
lapse, metastasis, etc.” 
Could we desire stronger proof, or a testimo- 
nial from a more skillful professor ? 
Professor Nelaton, the famous French Sur- 
geon, wrote thus to Dr. Laville: 
My Dear Friend; 
I send you Mr. , and beg you to 
inquire into his case. I think that Mr. 6 
is one of those whom your method of treatment 
will suit, and who, like so many others, will be 
benefited thereby. I rely entirely upon your 
judgment in this matter. 
Yours, very truly, 
Nelaton.” 
Mr. Ossian Henry, Chief of the Chemical 
Laboratory of the Academy of Medicine, Paris, 
who was commissioned to analyze the prepara- 
tions of Dr. Laville, concludes as follows:— 
“ Dr. Laville’s anti-gout liquid furnished me for 
analysis is found to be compounded from-febri- 
fuge, anti-periodic, diuretic and purgative sub- 
stances. 
‘‘lt is a happy combination with which to 
produce the desired result. 
His conclusions regarding the pills are as 
follows; “ They are both aperient and altera- 
tive in their action, and in the doses indicated 
unprejudicial to health.” 
Method of Administering. 
First.—The liquid. This is used during the 
acute stage of either gout or rheumatism, in 
doses of from one to three (1-3) teaspoonfuls 
within twenty-four hours, being guided by 
severity of the pain. 
During a violent attack, a teaspoonful of the 
liquid may be given in half a glass of sweetened 
water, or any other suitable menstrum. Six or 7 
seven hours later the dose should be repeated, 
and if no amelioration of the symptoms ensues 
or purgation is produced, at the expiration of 
an interval of six or seven hours a third tea- 
spoonful may be administered. 
A patient after taken three teaspoonfuls during 
the day, [24 hours.] should allow twenty-four 
hours to elapse before continuing the treatment, 
for the medicine though prompt in relieving the 
attack, may be slow in producing purgation. 
After this period of rest, if no improvement 
is noticed, one teaspoonful of the liquid should 
be given, followed, eight or nine hours after, by 
a second spoonful. 
By this time decided improvement has usually 
taken place, and to complete the cure, divided 
doses of the liquid must be prescribed for several 
days; for example, one teaspoonful, given either 
night or morning, according to the severity of 
the pain. 
Frequently, one-half or even a quarter of a 
spoonful will be found sufficient fora daily dose. 
Two things must be considered; should cathartis 
be produced, the liquid must be discontinued 
until it ceases; and upon the first evidence of 
improvement the dose must be diminished. 
Purgation is not necessary to insure a cure. 
In mild cases smaller doses should be pre- 
scribed, otherwise the general plan of treatment 
is carried out. 
One to two teaspoonfuls for the first day, and 
fractional doses on the second and succeeding 8 
day. will suffice. The liquid should be admin- 
istered fasting; say two hours before or four 
hours after meals. 
Taken by enema the liquid is equally efficient. 
Second.—The pills are an alkaline and vege- 
table depurative compound, intended to cause 
absorption of the nodosities in the joints, and 
eliminate the renal concretions, and must be 
taken after the acute stage, or in the intervals 
between the attacks, in doses of from four to 
ten pills daily, at meal times. 
They do not in the least impair digestion. 
After several months’ use of these pills, if no 
visible improvement (in the joints) is noted, it 
will be necessary for a few weeks to take a 
spoonful of the liquid, every third or fourth day, 
in addition to the pills. 
This combination is almost infallible. 
Experience for many years in the administra- 
tion of these drugs has led to the adoption of 
these general rules, but it remains in the phy- 
sician’s province to modify them when, in his 
judgment, the indications demand it. 
Dr. Laville’s remedies, so successful in the 
treatment of gout and rheumatism, are equally 
so in affections due to a gouty discrasia, particu- 
larly neuralgic disorders, and above all others 
we cite sciatica. 
Dr. VERLIAC, 
de la Faculte de Paris, 
Ex interne des Hopiiaux de Paris. In order to secure the genuine med- 
icines of Dr. Lavillc, the blue stamp of 
the French Government, as well as the 
signature of Dr. Laville, should be print- 
ed on each ladel. 
Full instructions accompany each 
bottle. 
For the United States of America, 
apply to 
Messrs E. FOUGERA & C 0.7 
Druggists & Importers 
No. 30 North William St., New York