Has understanding of Gout advanced over the centuries? The list of foods to avoid and eat given out by the medical establishment is about 0% true. Here is some advice from the past that is about 45% true attributed to Aulus Cornelius Celsus (30 AD), who described the
linkage with alcohol, later onset in women, and associated kidney problems:
Again thick urine, the sediment from which is white, indicates that pain and disease are to be apprehended in the region of joints or viscera... Joint troubles in the hands and feet are very frequent and persistent, such as occur in cases of podagra and cheiragra. These seldom attack eunuchs or boys before coition with a woman, or women except those in whom the menses have become suppressed... some have obtained lifelong security by refraining from wine, mead and venery .[52] ^ "LacusCurtius • Celsus — On Medicine — Book IV".
31![Description: [Legamen ad versionem Latinam]](file:///C:\Users\ELECTI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png)
Joint troubles80
in the hands and feet are very frequent and persistent, such as occur in cases
of podagra and cheiragra.81
these seldom attack eunuchs or boys before coition with a woman, or women
except those in whom the menses have become suppressed.82
Upon the commencement of pain blood should be let; for when this is carried out
at once in the first stages it ensures health, often for a year, sometimes for
always. Some also, when they have washed themselves out by drinking asses'
milk, evade this disease in perpetuity; some have obtained lifelong
p457security by refraining from wine, mead and venery for a whole year; indeed
this course should be adopted especially after the primary attack, even
although it has subsided. But if the malady has already become established, it
may be possible to act with more freedom in those seasons83
in which the pain tends to remit; but he should adopt more careful treatment at
those times in which it recurs, which is generally in spring or autumn.
Again thick urine, the sediment from which is white, indicates that pain and disease are to be apprehended in the region of joints or viscera... Joint troubles in the hands and feet are very frequent and persistent, such as occur in cases of podagra and cheiragra. These seldom attack eunuchs or boys before coition with a woman, or women except those in whom the menses have become suppressed... some have obtained lifelong security by refraining from wine, mead and venery .[52] ^ "LacusCurtius • Celsus — On Medicine — Book IV".
31
Joint troubles80
in the hands and feet are very frequent and persistent, such as occur in cases
of podagra and cheiragra.81
these seldom attack eunuchs or boys before coition with a woman, or women
except those in whom the menses have become suppressed.82
Upon the commencement of pain blood should be let; for when this is carried out
at once in the first stages it ensures health, often for a year, sometimes for
always. Some also, when they have washed themselves out by drinking asses'
milk, evade this disease in perpetuity; some have obtained lifelong
p457security by refraining from wine, mead and venery for a whole year; indeed
this course should be adopted especially after the primary attack, even
although it has subsided. But if the malady has already become established, it
may be possible to act with more freedom in those seasons83
in which the pain tends to remit; but he should adopt more careful treatment at
those times in which it recurs, which is generally in spring or autumn.
3 Now when the pain requires it, in the morning the patient should be
rocked; then carried to a promenade;84
there he should move about, and in the case of podagra he should take short
turns at sitting down and walking about: next before taking food and without
entering the bath itself, but in a hot room, he should be gently rubbed,
sweated, and then douched with lukewarm water: the food following should be of
the middle class; diuretics are given with it, and an emetic whenever he is of
a fuller habit. When the pain is very severe, it makes a difference whether
there is an absence of swelling, or a swelling with heat, or swellings which
already hardened.
Now when the pain requires it, in the morning the patient should be
rocked; then carried to a promenade;84
there he should move about, and in the case of podagra he should take short
turns at sitting down and walking about: next before taking food and without
entering the bath itself, but in a hot room, he should be gently rubbed,
sweated, and then douched with lukewarm water: the food following should be of
the middle class; diuretics are given with it, and an emetic whenever he is of
a fuller habit. When the pain is very severe, it makes a difference whether
there is an absence of swelling, or a swelling with heat, or swellings which
already hardened.
4 For if there is no swelling, hot foments are needed. Either
sea-water, or strong brine should be heated, then poured into a vessel; and as
soon as he can bear it, the man puts his feet in, over the vessel is spread a
cloak, and over him a blanket; after that hot water is poured over the lip of
the vessel, a little at a time, to prevent the contents from losing heat: and
then at night heating plasters are applied, especially mallow root boiled in
wine.
For if there is no swelling, hot foments are needed. Either
sea-water, or strong brine should be heated, then poured into a vessel; and as
soon as he can bear it, the man puts his feet in, over the vessel is spread a
cloak, and over him a blanket; after that hot water is poured over the lip of
the vessel, a little at a time, to prevent the contents from losing heat: and
then at night heating plasters are applied, especially mallow root boiled in
wine.
5 But if there is swelling and heat, refrigerants are more useful, and
the joints may be rightly held in very cold water, but not every day, nor for
long, lest the sinews become hardened. There is to be applied p459also a
cooling plaster; this, however, is not to be kept on for long, but a change
made to those which soothe as well as repress. If pain is greater, rind of
poppy-heads is to be boiled in wine, and mixed with wax-salve made up with rose
oil; or wax and lard, equal parts, are melted together, and then the wine mixed
with these; and as soon as this application becomes hot, it is to be removed
and another immediately put on. But if the swellings have grown hard and are
painful, the application of a sponge frequently squeezed out of oil and
vinegar, or out of cold water, or the application of pitch, wax and alum, equal
parts mixed, gives relief. There are also several emollients suitable alike for
the hands and feet. But if the pain does not allow of anything being put on,
when there is no swelling, the joint should be fomented with a sponge which has
been dipped in a warm decoction of poppy-head rind, or of wild cucumber root,
next the joints are smeared with saffron, poppy-juice and ewe's milk.
But if there is swelling and heat, refrigerants are more useful, and
the joints may be rightly held in very cold water, but not every day, nor for
long, lest the sinews become hardened. There is to be applied p459also a
cooling plaster; this, however, is not to be kept on for long, but a change
made to those which soothe as well as repress. If pain is greater, rind of
poppy-heads is to be boiled in wine, and mixed with wax-salve made up with rose
oil; or wax and lard, equal parts, are melted together, and then the wine mixed
with these; and as soon as this application becomes hot, it is to be removed
and another immediately put on. But if the swellings have grown hard and are
painful, the application of a sponge frequently squeezed out of oil and
vinegar, or out of cold water, or the application of pitch, wax and alum, equal
parts mixed, gives relief. There are also several emollients suitable alike for
the hands and feet. But if the pain does not allow of anything being put on,
when there is no swelling, the joint should be fomented with a sponge which has
been dipped in a warm decoction of poppy-head rind, or of wild cucumber root,
next the joints are smeared with saffron, poppy-juice and ewe's milk.
7 But if there is a swelling, this ought to be bathed with a tepid
decoction of mastic or some other repressant vervain, and then covered with a
medicament composed of bitter almonds pounded up in vinegar, or of white lead,
to which has been added the juice of pounded pellitory. The stone, too, which
corrodes flesh, which the Greeks call sarcophagos,85
is carved out so as to admit the feet; when these are painful, they are
inserted and held there, and are usually relieved. In Asia Minor Assian86
limestone is held in esteem for this purpose. When pain and inflammation have
subsided, which should happen within forty87
days, unless the patient is in fault, gentle exercise, spare diet, soothing
anointings, p461are to be employed, provided that also then the joints may be
rubbed with an anodyne salve or with a liquid wax-salve of cyprus oil.
But if there is a swelling, this ought to be bathed with a tepid
decoction of mastic or some other repressant vervain, and then covered with a
medicament composed of bitter almonds pounded up in vinegar, or of white lead,
to which has been added the juice of pounded pellitory. The stone, too, which
corrodes flesh, which the Greeks call sarcophagos,85
is carved out so as to admit the feet; when these are painful, they are
inserted and held there, and are usually relieved. In Asia Minor Assian86
limestone is held in esteem for this purpose. When pain and inflammation have
subsided, which should happen within forty87
days, unless the patient is in fault, gentle exercise, spare diet, soothing
anointings, p461are to be employed, provided that also then the joints may be
rubbed with an anodyne salve or with a liquid wax-salve of cyprus oil.
9 But riding on horseback is harmful for those with podagra. Those,
too, in whom joint-pains tend to recur at certain seasons ought both to take
precautions beforehand as to their diet, lest there should be a surfeit of
harmful material in the body, and to use an emetic the most frequently; and
those in any anxiety as to their body should make use of clystering, or of
purgation by milk. This treatment for those with podagra was rejected by
Erasistratus, lest a flux directed downwards might fill up the feet, though it
is evident that any purgation extracts, not only from the upper parts, but also
from the lower as well.
But riding on horseback is harmful for those with podagra. Those,
too, in whom joint-pains tend to recur at certain seasons ought both to take
precautions beforehand as to their diet, lest there should be a surfeit of
harmful material in the body, and to use an emetic the most frequently; and
those in any anxiety as to their body should make use of clystering, or of
purgation by milk. This treatment for those with podagra was rejected by
Erasistratus, lest a flux directed downwards might fill up the feet, though it
is evident that any purgation extracts, not only from the upper parts, but also
from the lower as well.
32 Now from whatever disease he is recovering, if his convalescence is
slow, the patient ought to keep awake from dawn, but nevertheless stay at rest
in bed: about nine o'clock he should be gently stroked over with anointed
hands, after that by way of amusement, and as long as he pleases, walk, all
business being omitted: then he should use conveyances 88
for a good while, be rubbed much, often change his residence, climate and diet.
Now from whatever disease he is recovering, if his convalescence is
slow, the patient ought to keep awake from dawn, but nevertheless stay at rest
in bed: about nine o'clock he should be gently stroked over with anointed
hands, after that by way of amusement, and as long as he pleases, walk, all
business being omitted: then he should use conveyances 88
for a good while, be rubbed much, often change his residence, climate and diet.
2 Having taken wine for three or four days, he should for one or two
days drink water only. For thus he will ensure that he does not lapse into a
complaint which causes wasting, but soon gets back his full strength. When he
has, in fact, completely recovered, it will be dangerous for him suddenly to
change his way of life and to act without restraint. Therefore he should only
little by little leave off what has been prescribed, and pass to a way of life
of his own choosing.89
Having taken wine for three or four days, he should for one or two
days drink water only. For thus he will ensure that he does not lapse into a
complaint which causes wasting, but soon gets back his full strength. When he
has, in fact, completely recovered, it will be dangerous for him suddenly to
change his way of life and to act without restraint. Therefore he should only
little by little leave off what has been prescribed, and pass to a way of life
of his own choosing.89
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