Médecins Sans Frontières: 20 years old.

tance, althdugh this high degree of penetrance is rare.89 Peters and others emphasised good nutritional habits and complete avoidance of precipitant causes as the greatest priority in treating acute intermittent porphyria.'9 In that context it is unsettling to read in van Gogh's letters the recurring theme that sickness, or something less than full health, is compatible with or even encourages creative work. While contemplating leaving the asylum at St Remy and returning to the north Vincent wrote, "As for eating a lot, I dobut if I were my doctor, I'd forbid it. I don't see any advantage for myself."3 If he suffered from acute intermittent porphyria his own advice was the worst possible.