New-York tribune., 1889-10-13
OATMEAL DIET AND GOUT.
AN EXPERIENCE THAT SEEMS TO POINT TO A

AN EXPERIENCE THAT SEEMS TO POINT TO
CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM.
10 me EditOr OF The Tribune.
Sir: When Dr. Johnson undertook TO quiz Boswell
by proposing TO define, I'm his forthcoming dictionary,
oats as a grain used in England food for horses
and in Scotland as food for men, Boswell replied ::
True. And where do you find such horses as in
England, and such men in Scotland?' When
sydney smith, Brougham and Jeffrey were about
publishing the first number of The Edinburgh Re
vlewn and were in quest of motto for It, the witty
dean proposed this:
"Tenul musam medtamur avena.s
1--WE cultivate literature upon little oatmeal'
In these modern days, the faith of the canny Scot
has spread far beyond the shores OF Scotia; and not
literature alone, but we'll nigh half the work OF the
American and European world. may be attributed
TO the strength derived from oatmeal. II that diet
does really tend to produce that arstocratic disease
tbe qout the fact ought TO be known. My own ex-
porence leads me to believe that oatmeal does Just
that
can trace my pedigree back in this country to
1910. MY ancestors have been ongllved, temperate,
healthy and active am confident that for at least
$50 years. there has been no case of gout among my
progenitors That pedum door parius," as Pliny
called it 300 years ago. was no Inheritance of mine.
Nor was IT, In my case, the result either of highly
Ing or Of low-lvng of a dyspeptc condition of
health have now lived 10 almost the verge Of the
ago allotted 10 man. think l may assert have
been temperate in eating and drinking. Few have
cnjoyed better general health. l know of few who
have been equal to greater labors, constant
and faithful attention to the duties of their caings.
But some ten years ago, two medical mon. who
bsppened TO be with me, but not physicians. and
whose names n given would be recognized as among
tho highest authorities I'm medicine suggested to me
that for one of my years and somewhat sedentary
habits a regimen consisting less Of meats and more
of farnqceous food would probably be better Tho
suggestion was followed And, after some coqueuInS
with cracked-whcat homny and the lke my morning
meal gradually became Of oatmeal WITH ordinarily
very little of any kind of flesh.
Two or three wears later came trouble in the
Joints of tho left foot II new acute and severe
Nv family physician. after a careful examination
,.,,,,rced It rout | could not and did not believe
bIr, thon but tho malady pretty soon yielded to his
tr.at,,ent After that | travelling not lltue
aud no doubt varied my diet from what had become
tbe home routine. After year or two' the attack
n.as renewed It yielded once more But IL came
arNn and again. each time after shorter period OF
ouesccnce, and usually with increasing acuteioss
riranv II inerfered seriously with the performance
~ nv accustomed labOrs. That whole portion OF
rho foot became nnamed, swollen, angry evidently
tho scat Of a deposit Of bony matter was COM
oclIcd 10 yield, in some degree at least 10 what
scanned the advance Of years and inc approaches VI
fecbleness and perhaps disability
But. now many months ago. some one aSKed III
, hearing II there could really be any foundation
fT what seemed to be the foolish notion that eSuhs
freely of oatmeal tended 20 produce diseases OF uc
oints The mention Of the subject set me 70 thlnKhs
somew hat after this manner: or laie, gout mas %
famed sure foothod III my constitution ana IL
nromscs /, hold It's possessions III cannot Well Do
an Inherited malady. 1t never gave me trouble VII
oatmeal became regular and substantial part OF my
9ood mas n any other cause; None IS apparent
From that day | have given physic To the Gogs,
apd All OATS IN my horses and my neiglIbors. rom
fhat dav I have continued TO improve. There have
been ono or two slight returns OF the malay per
hans Iinrnrinr remnants Of IT, but rather. II seems
IN me evidences that in stress OF lahors and journey
inVs and Hroxcn Te,t that point in the system was
he weakest and most open 10 attack. Many weeks
have now passed without sign from the Zoe.
The bony drposlt is gone. The swelling, soreness
and heat have vanished. My foot, so long the offend
Ing and offensive member has come to be rogarIed
v'ifh entire cOmpaoency. Tho slipper Is no longer
irdisnensable That "best OF all good friends" my
Old shoe is no more the dearest and sworn brother
nf nv soul. The change prompts me To submit
tbrourb your columns ths little personal sketch, 10
others rho may be suffering In like manner, and 70
the medical profession. II my experience Is foundeI
ON a general law, or may lead 10 the discovery M OF
one. the cause OF much suffering may perhaps 10
traced and so alleviated or removed. SEMEN
Now York, Oct. 3, 1889.