671. TIMOTHY PICKERING (1745-1829) American politician and Adjutant General of the Continental Army, Secretary of War (1795) and Secretary of State (1795-1800). Excellent medical content A.L.S. 3pp. 4to., Wenham, Mar. 22, 1815 to Mrs. J. Sargent Murray concerning his health and the possibility of developing gout: "...By glancing my eye on a passage or two in your brother's history of his use, in a multitude of instances during two years, of the 'eau medicinale' d'Husson, I noticed the precision of description which I should expect from Govr. Sargent, and which is essential to render such details a practical & safe guide to others in the application of the same medicine. Yet I have forborne to read those numerous details, being determined never to have the gout...So, rather than be a subject of the Gout, I would neither eat meat nor drink wine while I live...I am readily disposed to believe, that while sound parents may have a healthy offspring, those who are unsound may transmit an hereditary trait to their children. At the same time, I am inclined to think that this predisposing cause of disease may be counteracted by a regimen, as to diet, air and exercise, which reason and the philosophy of medicine would prescribe, but which our appetites and love of ease too generally render it difficult to observe...several cases... of the gout quickly relived by that bath..." Separated at horizontal fold, light soiling, otherwise very good. $300-400