Over the centuries and into the present era, innumerable regimens have been proposed for prevention of recurrence of acute attacks in the intercritical period of gout. These alleged preventives include an extraordinary assortment of diets, drugs, lotions, and waters, to say nothing of bizarre manipulations (such as acupuncture) apparently derived from ancient ritualistic practices. Each proposal in turn has had its coterie of claimants but none has stood the test of time except, perhaps, for the qualified success of dietary restriction of purines, proteins, and fats.
Curiously enough, until comparatively recently there has been only occasional passing reference in the