gout (gowt)

An acute or chronic diathetic disease manifested by the exce ive formation of uric acid. Clinically, there are repeated attacks of acute arthritis most frequently localized in the joints of the toes. After a number of attacks, urate of sodium is deposited about the affected joints forming the so-called "tophi." abarticular g. G. affecting other organs than the joints, acute g. A specific febrile disorder characterized by non-sup purative inflammation of certain joints chiefly of the hands and feet, and tending to culminate in a paroxysm at longer or shorter intervals, when various joints or parts of the body are apt to be affected. chronic g. A persistent constitutional affection, characterized by stiffne and swelling of various joints, with deposit of sodium urate, guanin g. See under guanin. saturnine g. Gouty symptoms induced by the defective elimination of uric acid in some cases of lead poisoning. [Old Fr., goute, goutte, from the Lat., gutta, a drop, from the old humoral pathology, suggesting a dropping of morbid fluid into a joint.]