The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-06-24
FAMILY MEDICINE.
How Muscular Rheumatism Begins and
How It May BE Cured.

How Muscular Rheumstism Begins and
How IL May Be Cured.
Muscular rheumatism usually COM
mences as an acute disease, but exhibit.
a decided tendency to become chronic
1t may effect any of the muscles OF the
limbs or trunk, but is Tar 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 a
certain movement, or TO perform some
particular act, without experiencing o
the most exquisite pain. Usually there
is no pain while the muscles of the part
a'e quiet, but the slightest movement
suffices to excite paroxysm. On ex-
amining the seat of suffering nothing
can as p. rule be detected, but some
times there is a slight tenderness on
pressure. There is often no fever or
constitutional disturbance-at all events
at first; but as the complaint progresses
there may he thirst, loss of appetite,
and even considerable elevs tion of tenn
perature, as the result OF the long-con-
tinued pain and the want of sleep which
it occasions. We know very little re-
specting the causes of IL uscular rheu-
matism. 1t is most commonly met
with in people 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 engenders liability to its
return. The duration of the complaint
cannot be definitely fixed. As an acute
disc tse 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
prime. pal varieties are lumbago and
crick in the neck, and we shall now
speak of the treatment of lumbago. This
is rheumatic affection of the muscles
OF the loins, those on one or both sides
being involved. 1t is frequently very
sudden in its mode of onset, the pain
seizing the patient "all of a 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.
If they are told to touch their toes'
they generally express their inability to
do so, although in many cases it 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
ment 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 a fact which has been
known TO medical men and extensively |
for many years. The only |
objection that can be urged against it is, |
that in many people morphia gives rise |
TO headache, giddiness and other un-
pleasant symptoms. Quite recently a
French physician made a somewhat |
curious discovery. He had a 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
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 had used the same morphia
solution Us 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
she had accidently upset the bottle and
spilled the contents, and that fearing
detection she had filled 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-
oeared from the testimony of numerous
trustworthy observers that even the
water was not essential, that it was the
Duncture with the needle which did
good, and that equal benefit might be
obtained without the injection of any
substance at all.
USE OF THE NEEDLE.
The treatment of lumbago by" "acu-
ouncture," as it is called, is attenced
with the most favorable results. We
nave seen cases in which the relief has
been instantaneous. The mode of pro.
,edure is very simple. The patient
stands upright, holding his shirt behind
30 as to expose the loins. The only ap-
oaratus required is a good, strong, sharp
needle, such as is ordinarily used as "A
The person who is about to
perform the friendly office for the
patient grasps the needle firmly in his
hand, and sud denly thrusts it for the
distance of an inch or two into the loins
,ver the painful part. The pain of the
'uncture is but momentary, and the
needle, instead of being withdrawn,
nay be advantageously left sticking in
or a few minutes. When the lumbago
5 double, the operation should be per-
ormed on both sides of the loins. We
lave cured many cases of lumbago by
his method, and have never known it
o be followed with any unpleasant
Most instrument makers
,eep needles fitted in bone handles for
he performance of this operation, but
he domestic substitute to which we
ave referred will answer equally we'll
'he Turkish bath, which is such
aluable remedy for nearly all COM
aints of rheumatic nature, may be
sed with advantage in lumbago. When
Turkish bath is not obtainable the
rdinary domestic linseed poultice may ;,
rove of service. In acute lumbago.
oulticing often brings speedy relief, the ,
everest cases being greatly benefited in !