A middle-aged stockbroker had been told by a ‘specialist’ that the pains in the feet of which he complained were caused by chronic gout. He was put on a strict diet, but, being fond of the pleasures of the table, did not take kindly to the treatment, especially as he found that it did him no good. One day, however, when ordering a pair of new boots, he complained bitterly to his bootmaker of the pains, and of the disagreeable treatment he was undergoing for them. The bootmaker promised to cure him by introducing instep supports, which he did with complete success. The patient’s sarcasms on ‘gout specialists’ afterwards were amusing but, to a doctor, humiliating hearing.