I was surprised that your article on gout made no mention of colchicine, which I find clears up my gout in hours (I’m 35 and I have gout – and it’s not for the reasons you think, 18 August). Colchicine, in the form of the autumn crocus, was used as early as 1500BC to treat joint swelling. The plant is highly toxic because of the colchicine, so my GP will only prescribe 12 tablets at a time. But they do work, without the side-effects of painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Paddy Moindrot
Llanfyllin, Powys
• In contrast to the letters about tactless firms making grieving worse (14 August), I would like to pay tribute to the government’s Tell Us Once service, which I found when my wife died a few months ago. It offers a list of public services that can be selected if they seem likely to be relevant, and they will be informed following a single message with the details. It doesn’t solve all the problems, but is a rare example of consumer benefit from government automation.
Alan Bailey
London
