All vegetables, especially spinach and Brussels sprouts, have lately been shown to produce marked improvement in gouty conditions; and experimental evidence has proved that their action upon gout is a definite chemical one. That gout is often in some way connected with an excessive meat diet has long been known, but it is not even now certain what it is in meat which tends to cause gout. But that the condition is markedly benefited by a vegetable diet, there is no question. The only difficulty in applying this observation to practice—and it is a real difficulty, although enthusiasts will persist in shutting their eyes to it—is that a vegetable diet is far more difficult to digest than a meat diet, and gouty persons are frequently dyspeptic. Sweets served after dinner should always be simple. Stewed fruit, cabinet puddings, farinaceous or milk puddings, or pancakes, etc.; but not rich plum puddings or highly flavoured concoctions of any kind. Rich sweets are worse than rich _entrées_, for besides being equally rich in extractives, they are exceedingly indigestible. The question as to whether ices and iced water are good to take with dinner is worth a moment’s consideration. In very small quantities iced water is the best of all fluids to take with dinner, but the quantity taken should be very small. And the same is true of ices. A very little ice after dinner helps digestion, but a large quantity seriously injures the stomach. Coffee in small quantities is a digestive stimulant. If taken it should be drunk immediately the dinner is completed. Having thoroughly considered the subject, we have come to the decided conclusion that by far the best dinner for those who can afford it, with very few exceptions, is one of two courses. The first course to consist of light fish _with vegetables_, or a very simple _entrée with vegetables_; and the second to consist of a joint of meat or some equivalent also _with vegetables_. This may be followed by a simple sweet or savoury. Also, we believe that the average person does not eat too much, but that she takes too much meat, far too much extractives, and too little vegetable. FOOTNOTES: [2] Peptones and pre-digested albumens are also soluble in boiling water; but these substances do not naturally occur in our food stuffs. Some, but very few, of the patent meat extracts, consist of peptones or altered albumens soluble in boiling water. [Illustration] QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. GIRLS’ EMPLOYMENTS.