354 DISEASES OF METABOLISM 



reduction in the amount of drinking water should be 

 attempted. 



The medical treatment consists in administering small doses 

 of magnesium sulphate (5.0 to 12.0) daily, or Carlsbad salts 

 (4.0 to 10.0) once or twice daily. Care should be taken to 

 avoid a too severe laxative action over a long period of time. 



Thyroid extract is of value in increasing the oxidation of 

 fats. Thyroidinum depuratum (0.2 to 0.75), or iodo- 

 thyrin (0.1 to 0.2) administered once daily has given 

 the best results. The proteid food elements should be 

 increased slightly when these medicinal agents are adminis- 

 tered. Complications, should they arise, are given appropri- 

 ate treatment. 



GOUT. PODAGRA. ARTHRITIS URICA. 



Definition.— A disturbance of nutrition with an excess of 

 uric acid in the blood. It is characterized clinically by 

 attacks of acute arthritis, a gradual accumulation of sodium 

 biurate in and adjacent to the articulations, and with the 

 development of irregular constitutional symptoms. The con- 

 dition may involve the internal organs, or both the organs 

 and the articulations. 



Occurrence. — Old dogs are most commonly affected. 

 Birds, especially chickens, pheasants and pigeons, are also 

 common sufferers. Experience has shown that it is far more 

 common in fowls than in any of the other small animals. 



Etiology.— The real factors in the production of gout are 

 not definitely known. The following, probably predisposing 

 causes, are the most important: (a) The diet evidently 

 plays an important role in the production of the disease. 

 Foods rich in albumin, particularly nucleoproteids, seem to 

 favor the development of the condition. Chickens and other 

 birds when fed on meat, and meat scraps, are often found with 

 the disease. Feeding offal from slaughter houses has the 

 same effect. (6) Certain chemical substances, such as lead, 

 chromic acid, corrosive sublimate, carbolic acid, acetone, 

 etc., seem to have some effect in bringing on the disease, 

 (c) It may be due to the change in the metabolic processes. 



