Abstract
Cases of gout have rapidly increased also in Japan in recent years, and the case reports of it are no longer mere a subject of curiosity but this disease has come to be recognized as one of the diseases of principal joints. In Europe from early days hot springs are known empirically to be beneficial in the treatment of this ailment. However, its action mechanism is not yet necessarily clear.
In order to clarify this point the author studied the effects of drinking and bathing on the uric acid metabolism at the Misasa Hot Springs where it is known that the spring water is composed of radioactive saline water containing sodium bicarbonate. As the result of the study it was found that the drinking of Misasa hot springs water accelerates the blood circulation in the kidneys, which in turn increases the quantity of urination and also decreases the acidity in urine. Thus it increases uric acid lysis in the urine and decreases blood uric acid concentration. The result is acceleration of the excretion of uric acic into urine. It has been proven that bathing at this hot springs improves the values of P. S. P. tests, especially bathing at a relative low temperature for a long period of time enhances the uric acid clearance. This has demonstrated that Misasa hot springs water is effective for the treatment of gouty patients. The author has thought that simple alkaline hot spring water is also the one to be indicated for the treatment of gout.
