Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-19
About Rheuniatisnf.

Rheumatism is said to be unusually prevsleEt
here and hereaoout this winter. many persons
suffering who have never had IL before. as well
as those who have been free from It fer years.
The season has been much less damp than
ordlnary-dampnesS, combined with cold, is
always fertile cause of the disease-but TO the
low temperature with sudden and frequent me-
teor1c changes and the extraordinary amount
OF snow, the increase is In all probability,
ascr1baple. RheumatiSm-derfved from the
creek word rht'HHd, a fluX-iS a disorder OF
the blood. in which Inflammation OF the 6orous
tissues Is most remarkable. II is either acute
or chronic, but the two forms are not easily
distinguished, the chronic often resulting from
the acute: Acute rheumatism shows itself by
general feorile symptoms. Tedness. beat,
swelnng, and commonly by intense pain
10 ana around one or more OF the larger
Joints. t is apt to shift from joint 10 JOINT
or TO certain internal fibrous membranes, espec-
Tally to the pericardium. The pulse is strong
ana Iuii, accompanied with headache, though
rarely with dellrium, unless the heart b.
affected. The tongue is covered with creamy,
thick fur, and there is profuse perSpiration,
with SO peculiar an odor, like sour milk, that
the ply s!cian can frequently detect the disease
through the nostrils alone. The pain of the
Joints is aggravated by pressure or movement;
therefore, the sufferer is obliged for relief to lie
Ia one position. Acute rheumatism has TWO
varieties, In one OF which Inflammation begins,
not In, but near, the joint, attacking the ten
dons, fasciI, ligaments, sometimes the muscles
themselves. This form Is called f1brous or
difiused. In the other form, the synovtal men,
mud being poured into the Joint, disteadsng
the membrane, and making 1t bulge out around
the joint. This is synovial rheumatism, where
redness and swelling come earlier, and are more
marked than In the other variety. Ii is less
severe than the fbrous form. and is often named
rheumatic govt, aud not untitly, because Ii is
conuectlng link between govt and rheumatism.
The sole exciting cause or acute rheumatism,
SO far as known, is exposure to cold, pariicu-
larry to cold added to moisture. sud- IN changes
or temperature conGuce TO IL, because the Sc
cretlDg power or the skin being checked by
the cold, certain effete matters which should
Ge thrown OF by perspiration are retained.
accumulate 10 and poison the blood This only
occurs, however when there is predispositioD
to the disease. The danger In acute r.. ana.
tism is almost entirely from its going TO the
heart and causing percarditts, as II does oftener
than any other disease. There are TIVE kiuds
OF chronic rheumatism. In one there Is con
siderable local heat aud swelling, without any
corresponding constitutional disturbances. Ia
the other there Is coldnesS and stiffness OF the
affected joints The latter is frequently termed
passive, and occurs as an Independent diimenI.
patient liable to chronic rheumatism should
always wear flannel next TO the skin aud sleep
between blankets Despite numberlesS forms
or treatment, rheumatism 10 any form is c0u-
tlnually battling the SIKH OF the ablest ply
SiCianS.