Gout

(gowt). A disease marked by attacks of acute pain and swelling of the joints, usually of the big toe or the thumb. Chalky concretions form about the joints in time. The nurse has to attend to the local applications (often tincture of opium, iodide of pota ium, or carbonate of lithia, applied on charpie and covered with oil-silk); she has also to see to the diet, for dyspepsia generally accompanies gout. It is common to forbid sugar and fruit. Hot baths followed by pa ive manipulation may be ordered. The urine must be measured and tested, the presence of lithates being specially watched for. — s. 68 —