Gout

Gout was a disease that caused pain. An individual suffering from gout could be said to be "gouty".

Acquisition
Gout was thought to be caused by overeating.

Effects
Gout caused great discomfort and pain, particularly in a sufferer's big toe. However, it had its origin in other parts of the body, even if the sufferer only noticed the pain in one place; this was an aspect the great physician-priest Odum spoke of. Hence, a physician would need to examine a patient's whole body, naked if need be. It could cause a limp if it affected the toes.

If untreated or improperly treated, gout would progress and worsen over time.

Treatment
Suffers of gout might be recommended to modify their diet, such as by eating less and particularly by consuming less ale and red meat.

Frankincense was generally thought to be useful for curing gout. Autumn crocus was used in the Western Heartlands to make a tincture to treat the condition, and in the Eastern Heartlands, pills and salves might be used to treat it, including salves made from the dung of snakes. Medications to blunt the disease's symptoms could take a day for a skilled healer to make.

History
In the mid-to-late 14 century DR, Mayor Tobald of Ghars, Cormyr, suffered from gout&mdash;notably in his big toe&mdash;despite the efforts of the local doctor, Braum, and the wizard Benelaius. Braum advised Tobald to eat less, but the mayor complained this was an absurd thing for a physician to say. Braum also prescribed snake dung salve, of which Tobald was equally scathing.

In the late 15 century DR, a blacksmith named Sampson from Moonhaven suffered from gout.