The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-06-30
Rheumatism The Pathology Of the Dis
ease and How to Treat It.

Rheumatism is said &c be unusuall,
prevalent everywhere during the pas
few months, many persons suffering whit
have Q had 1t before, as well al
those who have been free from it fol
years. The season has boon much les,
damp than ordinary-dampness. com.
bined with cold, is always a fertili
cause of the disease-but I the low
temperature with sudden and frequen'
meteoric changes and the extraordinary
amount Of snow. tho increase is in oil
probability. ascribable. Rheumatism
derived from the Greek word rheumn
n ilux-is a disorder Of the blood, IL
which Inflammation Of the fibrous IT,,
sun ii most remarkable. It is cithei
scuio Or chronic. but the two forms ai3
not easily distinguished, the chronic
often resulting from the acute. Acut;
Rheumatism shows itself by genera
febrile symptoms, redness, heat, swell
ing and commonly by intense pain IL
and around n OF more of the larger
JOINTS 1t Is apt to shift from joint t.
joint or to certain internal fibrou,
. membranes, especially to the pericar.
dunn. The pulse is strong and full,
accompanied with headache, though
rarely with delirium. unless the hear,
be affected. The tongue Is covered
with a creamy. thick fur, and there IL
profuso perspiration, with so peculiar
an odor, like soul milk. that the physi.
clan al frequently detect the disease
through tho nostrils alone. The pain
iof the joints is aggravated by pressure
or movement; therefore, the sufferer Il
Obliged, for relief, to lie in n position.
Acute rheumatism has two varieties, in
,one Of which inflammation begins, not
In, but near the joint, attacking tho
.tendons. fascie. ligaments, sometimes
the muscles. themselves. This form is
called fbrous or diffused. In the other
form, the synoviAl membrane in the
joint Is affected, an excess Of fluid being
poured into the Joint, distending tho
membrane. and making 1t bulge oui
around tho joint This is synovia!
rheumatism, where redness and swell
ing come earlier, and are more marked
than in the other variety. 1t is les,
severe than the fibrous form, and is oft.
en- named rheumatic govt. and not I'M
fifty, because it Is o connecting link be.
tween govt and rheumatism. The soil
exciting cause so far as known, is expo
sure to cold, particularly to cold added
" oAaoNA Sh1AEoo VI ttni-
peraturc conduce to 1t. because tn
secreting power of the skin bein,
checked by the cold, certain effetu
matters which should be thrown of By
perspiration arc retained, accumulate
In and poison the blood. This only oc
ours, however, when there il predispo.
sition 70 tho disease. The danger in
acute rheumatism Is almost entirely
from its going to the heart and causing
pericarditis, as It does oftener than any
other disease. There are two kinds Of
chronic rheumatism. In ono there is
considerable local heat and swelling,
without any corresponding constitution
al disturbances. In the other there Is
GOODNESS and stiffness Of the affected
The latter Is frequently termed
passive, and cur a. an Independent
lilment. Tho patient liable TO chronic
should always wear flannel
next to the skin and sleep between
blankets. Despite numberless forms Of
rhsumatism In any form Il
continually bafiing the skil Of the
!ablsst physieiApi A--