Colchicine was given to 75 patients with gouty arthritis and 50 patients with other forms of arthritis. The doses were large enough to produce diarrhea in all cases. The relief of pain was dramatic in gouty arthritis, whereas little relief was experienced by the others. A diet relatively low in carbohydrates, low in purine and high in fat was given to patients who had recovered from an acute attack of gouty arthritis. In 9 of the 10 expts., exacerbations of the gouty arthritis occurred within a few days after the diet was started.