After a short survey of the purine metabolism, excretion of uric acid, theories of gout and urate nephropathy methodical references are given for the estimation of excretion of uric acid, a normal region on test persons was established and compared with other authors. The quantities of excretion and concentrations of uric acid from the 24 hours urine found on patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and manifest gout are the basis of the discussion of the diagnostic and therapeutic value of these examinations. In patients with gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia the excretions of uric acid are a little higher than in healthy persons. A treatment with uricosuric remedies might not reduce the factor of risk hyperuricemia, since this does not lead to a prevention of the gout nephrophathy, on the contrary it furthers it.