The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-15
rheumatism.

rheumatism.
What is .ri,t .Tbdumatism9 Simply, inflammation
of the structures and tissues of and around the
larger joints. But why, it may be asked, does
tinfamasion of the joints aiheH IN so many
WAYS from inflammation OF other Psfts-the vis-
cera, for example7 = Becausetheir styucfure IS
different The impurities which lodge in and
obstruct the dehser str9etures,of the joints can
| be carried through the more soft and porous
structures of flother parts. 2T,--TTIc'
when the joints are but slightly infanned,
the affection is called chronic rheumatism.
This is unattended with ,feyer.. Il. the joints
are more severely affected, With slight feverish-
ness, the term subacute rheumatism is employ
ed. When the fever is, violent and the joints
greatly swollen and very painful, the. phrases
acute rheumatism, atticplar rheumatism and
rheumatic fever are 'indiscriminatelY used (;
and when the whole surface is swollen and
painful, with eorrespohdingfy less degree of
inflammation in the joints, the term infammato-
~ rheumatism is applied. ThestechhDlogy is
exceedingly awkwardy aud rendered still more
complicated to thes ,nen-prpfessionah reader
from the fact that medical mel, i! who are care
| less III their nomenclature, employ these phra-
ses INTERCHANGEABLE and loosely,
/ The immediate cause OF all rheumatic affec-
tiqngis- the lodgment- -ofparticles qf foreign
matter IN 1.-The dense 'sttuctdres6f the JOINTS.
These may be earthly, mineral, saline, or aka
line Lime and ammonia are common bases
of saline and alkaline matter which accumu-
Elate inapd- around vthei joints. ifdnaolds gohty
subjects! these concretions form .protuberances
Or srinngs" around the joints of the fingers and
| toes. In some cases liberation takes place,
and the part discharges carbonate OF Lime and
otherfearthly Ingredients -l,'.lu sioe ~ e"
All. substances of asaline or earthly nature,
which are not digestible, and asSimiable, tend ,
to the formation Of rheumatic and equity oh
structions and when accumulated to- the ;ex-
tent of seriously interrupting the circulation,
1.-THE vital powers make special effort to expel
them. This remedial effort is rheumatism.
Where the obstruction happens to be the
greatest, the blood accumulates, and the part
ssred,-hetr ollen-and- -painful-This-is-sn -sn-
Aammation hence all rheumatism is. infam-
matory. If the accumulation is great, and
tons OF more lafge j6iAts} 6F'several small ones,
are affected dsinalt altaAeoaslyJ the whole system
will be so disturbed that fever will co-exlst
| hence the term rheumatic fever, meaning a To-
! tcal inflammation of the joints and q constltn-
tional fabIle disturbance. ru ..e;nisi;9 ifdl =
+ rSuchebeing the re'of allrheumatlc aztec
tions, the. proper treatmentCand that which
mas DeGQ IuFaIlauiy ttiu PAUt.iHyty
in the hands Of all hygienic physicians, SO far
mwe know+-ispot1 difficult to indicate.
| The frst attention should be given to the
fever when that exists, for it is ayple that
should never be forgotten by hygienists, that
general treatment is always more important
thaiin 6caLEii fe6file diseases of all kinds
! TheIeEer skoaldIbsnianaged according. to the
degree of heat; and the greater the heat OF
| the surface the more frequent should it be
bathed with jtepid 'or cold water; The infiamed
liunts should be. bound in cold, wet cloths,
covered with dry, ones, and renewed as often as
they become warmer than the normal tempera-
tnre. They should be continued until the heat e !
and swelling are permanently abated. The
diet must be simple and ahstemious, and when
the fever is violent. no food should be taken
except adittlegruell and baked apple, or. some,
thing equivalent' once orstwice a day, until
the patoxyns subside..i The bowels require nc
attention. save an enema or two of SIMPLE wa
With this simple yet effective treatment or
dinary, rheumatic, feyers arer ended within ~ q
week extreme cases rarely, ,c0nti91e ,bey9nd
two weeks. But under the ordinary. drgg
treatment the patient frequently suffers fol
months or years, and often- becomes Cripple
for life at last. Chronic rheumatism, of course
requires a longer course of medcation-usual.
lsiysoue to three morthE laln TINS case, diet ano
|ssxsercises and SbS Whole Rygeljc regimen
should be attended to.-Ph. Journal.
TsF = TTtS ~