Drink, — Co^pious flushing of the urinary tract hy the intake
of plenty of plain water should be encouraged, especially
with alkaline waters of low salt content, such as Contrexeville,
Vittel, Vichy, potash, lithia and magnesia waters, and aerated
distilled water such as Salutaris and Puralis. Excess of
alcohol and especially the heavy sweet wines must be avoided,
such as port and sherry, but digestion may be aided by the
moderate use of very dry champagne, light claret. Moselle,
or a light dry cider.
The general hygiene of the body must receive attention. The
vicarious action of the skin and bowel must be encouraged,
the bowel being kept clear because of the risks of haemato-
genous renal infection and to diminish intestinal toxaemia.
The skin is kept clean by regular bathings and friction with
a rough towel, and perspiration encouraged by exercise or
by Turkish baths.
Regular exercise in the open air of the more moderate
varieties must be insisted upon in those who lead sedentary
lives. As Bacon wrote : " Bowling is good for the stone and
reines ^' — an admirable picture of the kind of moderate,
steady exercise required.
Drugs, — Certain drugs can be used to increase the solu-
bility of uric acid by rendering the urine alkaline, and
encouraging the formation of potassium and lithia salts of
uric acid, which are more soluble than the sodium salts.
Potassiunr citrate in doses of 30-60 gr. four times a day is
of undoubted value, or the carbonates and citrates of lithium
and magnesium may be substituted, and boracite of magnesia,
in drachm doses, has been warmly recommended.
Piperazin and piperidin form soluble compounds with uric
acid, and are a favourite remedy.
