Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-07
WINTER DISEASES.
RheumaatiSzaas
From food and Health,

RheumatiSm.
From food and Health"
Rheumatism Is certainly not only winter dis
ease. but 1t is brought about especially by cold,
oraughty, damp and wet weather and we have
therefore reason to call it winter disease.
rheumatism is a tedious and painful complaint
which having once taken hold of constitution
10 difficult to drive away. When the pain is
localized in the joints, it is called articular
rheumatism, and when it is distributed in the
bones and tendons and muscles it is called gen.
eral rheumatism. The one thing the patient
wants to get rid of in rheumatism is the pain,
but the one thing which has to be seen to is the
state Of the blood. There are various phases
of this insidious and painful disease.
the principal feature being, whether it
ia accompanied with fever or not. Rheu-
matism or rheumatic pains without fece1'.
when situated in the joints, will sometimes be
accompanied with swelling and some amount of
general feverish symptoms; it then becomes
sub-acute rheumatic fever. Those who suffer from
slight rheumatic fever. in one or more attacks,
usually recover therefrOm. and are not liable TO
prolonged rheumatism; on the other hand. rheu-
inatism may exist for years, aud generally does.
without any attacks Of rheumatic fever. Al
though the phases Of the complaint may be diff
ferent its nature ana the state of the blood are
similar. The blood In rheumatic fever contains
excess of acid; this is Tie key-aote of all rheu-
matte affections In rheumatic fever not only is
the blood in an acid state but the urine also
and the perspratiOn, which has a sour odor.
Therefore a great indication is here given for
treatment, namely, the use of altolies.
Again, there is another indication i'm rheu-
matism; the surface of the body, the joints and
whole person are very sensitive of cold and wet,
and the sufferer from rheumatism feels con-
tinualy chilly. Hence, warm tonics and warm
drinks are very beneficial and cold ones should
be avoided.
An acute attack of rheumatic fever generally
begins with a sensation of GOODNESS and chilli
ness the first day, accompanied with shiyeriEg.
Next day the symptoms of fever become ap-
parent in the quickened pulse aud the increase
OF temperature: loss OF appetite. furred tongue.
etc, occur with costive state of the bowels. The
skin, at first dry, soon becomes covered with
perspiratOn especially during the night time,
and together with the pain in the joints, pre-
vents sleep. The joints begin to swell, either
the knees or elbows or wrists or ankles: several
joints are usually affected, but not all at once,
Tor there is this peculiarity-the pain and swell
ing shift about. SO that, as they diminish in one
joint, they will re-appear III another.
With this local symptom of swelling Of the
and JOG deg Fair. The perspiratiOn is peculiarly
ACID and sour smelling, and will sometimes be
excessive. The urine is also acid and deposits
copious sediment Of lithates or urates; it has
q very high color
The treatment at this stage of rheumatic fever
is most rational, when it embodies fluid food.
alkalies with tones and purgative pills. Fo-
mentatlon can be applied to the joints with al
ka!ine and sedatiye lotions. Opiates should
only be taken with very great care, when pain
ls excessive and restlesSnesS prevails. OF useful
drinks, warm barley water or sweetened lemon
ade can be mentioned. The chief care TO be
taken is to prevent inflammation around the
heart (pericaditis) or within it, with deposit on
the valves (endocarditus); therefore the
slightest chill or check Of perspiraton should be
avoided. Owing to the acid state of the blood.
there is constant tendency to ''fbrination" or
formation OF fibrne, which is Immediately de-
posted in certain inf1amed parts-hehce upon
the valves OF the heart, producing one form of
heart disease; besides there is in rheumatic
fever tendency to Inflammation of all fibrous
membranes, especially those Of the joints and
those around the heart (pericardium) and ofthe
lungs Cpleura.) If the treatment is successful
the symptoms Of acute rheumatic fever dimin-
ish after some days, the perspiration becomes
less. the urine is paler and less sedimentcus the
temperature and pulse are lower, coincdent
with and dependent upon diminutiOn in the
pain and swelling of the joints.
An attack Of rheumatic fever leaves the pa
tlent weak. and good deal of after care is re-
CURED especially continual warm clothing
more particularly flannel body-clothing If the
attack does not give way and pass Off speedily
1t passes over into the subdued form of chronic
rheumatism.
General rheumatism in which there is no fever.
has for its chief symptom pain. The aggravat-
ing pain in the joints is due to infiammatory af-
lection and deposit in the tibrous membranes
thereof, whereby the nerves are irritated and
compressed; therefore after time the Joint be-
comes stiff. 1t is possible to get rid OF this by
stimulating the surface OF the joint with lotions
spirits of turpentne rubbed in with flannel or
spirits OF wine and camphOr. or hartshovn and
oil can all be applied with benefit. great re-
lief and ultimate cure may be prodUded by
wrapping the afflicted joint in new flannel not
one but several thicknesses. and in such a man
ner, that air is positively excluded The best
way is to make the wrap or bandage crossWays
IN various strips. Bicarbonate OF potash with
lodide of potassium in peppermint water is "a
useful remedy, rhubarb pills for costiveness
The pains in the bones, tendons and muscles are
due to aslight inflammation and deposit of mat
ter in the fbrOus membranes surrounding the
bones and muscles, making the whole body ache
and feel stiff.
The three great features of dealing with gen.
remedies. To wear flannel Undertaking in
such manner. that bodily heat is not eyapO-
rated; to avoid chills and draughts; to take
aikaIles and warm tOnics, or a mixture of sui
phate and carbonate of magnesia with col
chcum wine. Nothing is SO much to be recon-
mended as warm, nourishing food and drink,
and nothing is so much to be avoided as wet
and damp weather and inflammatory food and
drink.