The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-25 00:00:00

CURE OF RIII.UNIM ISM.

IN my last paper, I promised to communicate a suc-
cessful method of curing rheutnatian, which might be
adopted without danger, if any patient can persevere in
the voluntary infliction of pain necessary in the early
stages of the proceedure. The lute heavy rains and con-
sequent diffusion of moisture being unfavoumble to the
spontaneous cessation of the complaint, static, among my
numerous readers, may perhaps be inclined to put the
plan into execution. The recital is as follows : " I usu-
ally proceed to my sweating walks in the fiillowing man-
ner :—Next to my skin I wear stockings, drawers, and a
shirt, all of fleecy hosiery : over these I put one, two, or
three pair of flannel drawers; one, two, or three flannel
waistcoats ; and npund my hips and loins, I gird six yards
of thick flannel, making, besides the drawers and waist-
coats, eight thicknesses of fennel on the chief seat of 1 air,
and the origin of the sciatic nerve. Over all this I wear
warm pantaloons and a great coat. When I have walked
one or two miles, more or less, according to the heat of
the day, lam generally in a prothse perspiration. I re-
turn home, take off my wet clothes, have a couple of
changes of well aired flannel, and then lie down tpon a
bed not warmed. I use no means to excite further per-
spiration after the muscular action is over ; but, on the
contrary, rather incline to check it as speedily as 1 can,
taking particular care, however, to avoid catching cold.
I do not perceive, that the quantity I perspire, has any
influence on the efficacy of the remedy. 1 imagine that
a violent action produced in the general system is the
chief cause of its salutary effect. In consequence of this
opinion, I cease the exercise the moment that a very in-
creased action is well established. This is filly produced,
with the above quantity of clothing, in moderately warm
weather, by walking from one to two miles. For ratients
who are very much disabled, the quantity of clothing
might be increased, and the distance diminisi!ed. When
the excitement is well established, I find my pulse rise to
between 90 and 100, and it is full and strong. When I
began to experience relief from this mode of treatment, I
was eager to prosecute the cure, and took my walks every
second ;lay. Being now relieved, I resume them only
every flairth, fifth, or sixth day, as most convenient. I
do not find myself under the necessity of any particular
precaution, as to avoiding cold the day I exercise ; and in
this respect, sweating by muscular action has an immense
advantage over warm baths, vapour, or heated air ; par-
ticularly in a climate so damp us that of an island situated
in the north seas must Le. Physiology will easily point
out many other advantages, in exciting perspintion by a
stimulus which invigorates, rather than by the enervating
methods of heated air er water. Since beginning this
process, I do not find that I am grown thin ; and in my
general health, lam infinitely better. I feel mvself more
strong and active, and less sensible of cold. /4by diet has
been much as usual, but my appetite rather increased. I
have occasionally taken a little bark to maintain the ge-
neral tone of the system ; and, on returning home, after
each walk, I have found that a few drops of bartshorn in
water were refreshing, and prevented thirst during the
rest of the day."

In the French armies, during the Government of Lino-
naparte, it was strictly enjoined, and the rule appears to
have been rigidly enforced, that no person should be ex-
cused the service on account of any rheumatic affection,
however severe. An opinim seems to have been Enter-
tained by that General, that nothing is more easily coun-
terfeited than rheumatism, it being impossible to discover,
by external examination, the degree ef pain a person
feels. Whilst he thus prevented the attempted evaslon
of duty, he justified the proceeding, by stating, that, ad-
mitting the existence of pain to be real, the motions of
the affected limbs, thus performed by force, were often-
times effectual in alleviating, or removing the complaint.
Certain it is, that after the active state of the disease l,•as
subsided, the occasional motion of the stiffined limbs will
expedite the recovery of their perfect use ; but sew per-
s9na have resolution enough to encounter the pain gene-
rally attending such an etlbrt. This pain, however, is
said to be much alleviated, and the cure greatly hastened,
by enveloping the affected limb in an extensive covering
of flannel, by way of bandage or roller. A physician of
much experience, (Dr. 13Ateoc•a, of Edinburgh,) pro-
fesses to have made several cures by this mciais ; limbs
which were before stiff and motionless, have, by being
lxmnd up with a flannel roller, become easy and suscep-
tible of motion, soon after the application of the bandage,
which, at first, is to be adjusted aminling to the feelings
of the patient, and to be tightened as the cure aulvances.
In the early ages of medicine, before it had yet assumed
the form of a distinct science, notices of cures obtained by
individuals, and a descriptiun of the method employed,
were hung up in the temples of the (hids, tier the
intor-
mution of future sufferers. The mass of facts thus re-
cordixl, allizthsl ample materials fi,r investigation by the
scientific enquirer, and laid u broad foundation for the de-
duction of general principles. Even in the present tu'.
vunced state of medical science, a similar plan ini;;ltt have
its advantages. Unusual accidental occurrences or insu-
lated facts, communicated to the MoznToa, might become

2ARCYT 9-5.

the vniree of much useful Information to the public ; not,
howe'eer, by blindly and ignorantly recommending a me-
thud, f:)und to be once successful, as the very beg Ming
t/u• ►rvrld in all similar complaints, and under all cit.-
tnmstances, but by a candid examination of flicts, by the
lights of philosophy and science, to ascertain on what teal
grounds its future utility may be adjudged to rest. G.

INSOLVRNT DEBTORS ACT.

As this important and avowedly experimental measure is
bilinit to undergo revision, nil appearing, from the numerous
:positions presented to Parliament, to contend that some Altera.
•tiosi is necessary to avoid the destrnetion of private credit,' it
caning but be us onl to lay before the pnblic itimenutim,
col-
leeted with immense pains, in the form of an abstract, as the
reader may imagine, when he perceives, that it is the result of
seven liousand five hundred and nine petitions and schedules—
the in, tuber of petition+ presented down to the present time is
upwards of eight thousand three linndred! When the number
of petitions is compared with the small number of +1006E3, to
whose -effects assignees hove been appointed, and the still
smaller cumber +X returns made by those assignees, sixty-five !
may it not he slid that this act, hitherto Muttons in its effects,
has nut lid a fair trhil, and that according to all appearances,
there is too notch ground for the complaint made by Mr. Aber-
crombie in the llonse of Commons on Wednesday eight, that
there has been great negligence on • the part of the creditors.
Be that as it may, we shall give no opinion at present, the
whole case being very properly sent to n select Cmunittee of
the House of C.,inntoov. The following is the promised ab-
et, act, the accuracy of which to.) be retied tti .

There were 73179 petitions presented to the late and present Commis-
sioner by debtors to the Ist Feb. 1616.
Of these were withdrawn, in consequence of the passing of the Act
6401 Goo. 111. 1419 petitions.
So that 6090 petitions remained.
Of that number 3311 have been heard and determined, and dis-
charges ontensl.
There were 166 petitions remandtsi ; and
Petitions not flintily detemiined 593, making up the 6090 petitions.
The total rams.. amount of debts stated in schedules
in all the petitions -------
Total grn,s amount of debts stated in the schetitileA
of petitions withdrawn - .
I )itto of petitions renianded . -
On the other sick of the statement, we find Sen debtors ut whooe
effects assignees have been appointed ; and
The number of returns made by the assignees only 6.3.
The gross amount of property stated to have been got in by such as-
siguees is 1,4991.45.

1,17Y,171.
ttli.C99

Front this statement the amount of debts from which indis
duals base been almost wholly released appears to be enormous,
J.:098,57v.; but we are persuaded suck amount will be
found to be most fallacious. Where there are partners, for
instance, each partner ellilliterateN the debts of the firm, hills
of exchange, i‘c. besides separately noticing such bilk or debts
upon which the arrest took place, and opornie gross amounts
are made of the snme debts. Thus the general return is decep-
tive, no doubt une-fourth ur one fink
Time Committee sat on Thursday last, Sir C. Nortek in the
Chair ; but no examinations took place. Mr. ('lark, Clerk of
the Insolvent Debtor's Court, and Mr. Waal/mon were in at-
tendance to be examined ; but after asking Mr. C. some pro/ar-
r.! questions, the Co iiiii 'Rice adjutant. d till Monday (to-mor-
row).

We lament that the orders of the House of Commons pee-
s cnt its from floating the progress of the Committee, the exa-
minations they take, the documents and information they enter
upon the Minutes, and the opinions that may 611 from the
Nienthers constituting such Conintitte e, because the .%et is of
great importance; and should its principle be rightly put into
action, it doubtless may be of great and general use, although
of certain partial evil. .