Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-22

How Muscular Hhsumatism Begins and
How IL May Be cured.

How IL May Bo cured.
Muscular rheumatism usually COM
mences rs an acute disease, but exhibits
a decided tendency to become chronic.
1t may effect any of the muscles of the
limbs or trunk, but is ar more likely to
occur in certain situations than In
others. The seizures are not uncom-
monty quite sudden-for example, the
patient may find on awaking in the
morning that he is unable to make n
certain movement, or TO perform some
particular act, without experiencing
the most exquisite pain. Usually there
is no pain while the muscles of the part
arequiet, but the slightest movement
suffices to excite paroxysm. On ex-
amining the seat of suffering nothing
can as - rule be detected, but some
times there is slight tenderness on
pressure. There is often no fever or
constitutional ldisturbance-ata all events
at first; but as the complaint progresses
there may he thirst, loss of appetite,
and even considerable elevation of tenn
perature, as the result OF the long-con-
tinued pain and the want of sleep which
1t occasions. We know very little re-
spectiEg the causes Of muscular rheu-
matism. 1t is most commonly met
with in paople of full adult age, and not
uncommonly in individuals OF gouty
habit. Exposure to cold and damp,
and the overuse of the affected part,
may act as exciting causes. One attack
of the disease cngenders liability to its
return. The duration of the complaint
cannot be definitely fixed. AS an acute
disease it is usually of brief duration.
but in the chronic forms it often proves
very rebellious to treatment, and its
| duration may be protracted almost in
definitely.
LUMBAGo.
Muscular rheumatism is not confined
to any particular region OF the body, but
may occur in almost any locality. The
principal varieties are lumbago and
crick in the neck, and we shall now
speak of the treatment of lumbago. This
is rheuma matic affection of the muscles
of the loins, those on one or both sides
being involved. IT is frequently very
sudden in its mode of onset. the pain
seizing the patient "all of n moment"
! The pain is usually increased by every
movement of the lower part OF the spine,
and by pressure upon the muscles OF
tie affected part. 1t is not uncommon
to see patients with lumbago leaning
forward and walking almost double.
II they are told TO touch their toes"
they generally express their inability TO
! do so, although in many cases IL appears
on Investigation that the pain is caused
not so much by bending down as by the
effort to get up again. Sometimes, how
ever, the mere effort OF STOPPING Is very
painful.
The remedies for lumbago are, as
might be supposed, chiefly local. There
are. however, other methods of treat
meht which are often attended with
satisfactory results. When the pain is
very severe. relief may. in the majority
of cases, be obtained almost Immediately
! by an injection of morphia under the
skin. This is fact which has been
known to medical men and extensively
employed for many years. The only
! objection that can be urged against it is,
that IN many people morphia gives rise
to heacache, giddiness and other un-
pleasant symptoms. Quite recently
| French physician made somewhat
| curious discovery. He had n patient
whom he had frequently treated with
| hypodermic injections of morphia for
acute attacks of lumbago, but Always
with the production of train OF un-
| pleasant constitutional symptoms. One
| dav the patient called TO say how glad
he was to find he had made some alter
alton in the medicine, for the last in
| lection had relieved the pain as usual,
but had not produced any headache or
| giddiness. The doctor at once declared
| that he bad used the same morphia
solution as usual. and in order to con
! vince the patient, sent Tor the bottle TO
show him. On examination the bottle
was found to contain nothing but water,
and on inquiry being instituted the ser
want confessed that some days before
| Ia huh l.-t h.,eg la 4
| spilled the contents, and that fearing
detection she had filed It with water.
The doctor at once saw that the fact was
of value, and hastened to publish the
discovery to the world. 1t then ap-
peared from the testimony of numerous
trustworthy observers that even the
water was not essential, that 1t was the
puncture with the needle which did
good, and that equal benefit might be
obtained without the injection of any
substance mt all.
USE or THE NEEDLE.
The treatment of lumbago by"
puncture," as it Is called, is attended
with the most favorable results. We
have seen cases in which the relief has
been instantaneous. The mode of pro-
cedure is very simple. The patient
stands upright, holding his shirt behind
so as TO expose the loins. The only ap-
paratus required is good, strong, sharp
needle, such as is ordinarily used as q
shawl-pin. The person who Is about to
perform the friendly Office for the
patient grasps the needle firmly in his
hand, and suddenly thrusts Il for the
distance of an inch or two into the loins
over the painful part. The pain of the
puncture is but momentary, and the
needle. instead of being withdrawn,
may be advantageously left sticking In
or few minutes. When the lumbago
double, the operation should be per-
formed on both sides Of the loins. w
have cured many cases of lumbago by
this method, and have never known Il
to be followed with any unpleasant
consequences. Most instrument makers
keep needles fitted in bone handles Tor
the performance of this operation, but
the domestic substitute TO which we
i a.