Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-04-10

The Heal ReiAilsH astWsei the
Human Dody and the Weather
scientifically Explained.
Scientific Americana


ments Of modern science along thl
line Of human necessity is the Nationa
Weather Bureau at Washington
Experience has shown that eighty ST,
per cent of the predictions of the sigma
service are accurate; and these pre-
dictions are PROFESSIONALLY of tn,
greatest advantage to the seamen, tn,
agrioulturist and the entire CONNER.
cial world, The service has proven I'll
necessity by its usefulness, for in pas
times the facilities for foretelling at
mospheric changes were meagre In.
deed. The only indications our father,
had of coming changes in the weather
were aching limbs, twinging joints o.
painful corns. These indications,
though crude, were usually correct
and hence naturally suggest the en-
quiry as to the relation between the
human system and the weather, The
body is PROFESSIONALLY an excellent
barometer. 1t foretells changes in the
atmosphere long before they occur
and this fact has been taken advantage
of by physicians who, when all other
agencies fail, prescribe a change of air
thus hoping the body may find an
atmospheric condition better suited
to its needs. And yet the real re.
lation between the human body
and the weather has never been fully
understood, nor has there ever been, un
til now, a correct explanation of what
rheumatism (which seems in league
with the atmospheric really is. 1t
was originally thought by many to be
a trouble in the joints, sud as such was
treated in the most strs age, not to say
ridiculous, manner. This theory be-
came dispelled when Tie same trouble
attacked the muscles, and the feeling
then prevailed that it was purely a
muscular disorder. But this idea was
found to be too narrow, and now it is
universally conceded that rheumatism
is blood disease. And what terri
bic disease it is. 1t often comes with
out warning and prOstrates the system
with agony. Again its beginning is
gradual, and its growth slow. In its
acute form it manifests itself in every
conceivable shape and always accom-
panied by intense pain. AT one time
1t is infammatOry, at another neural
gic. Sometimes it assumes the form
of govt, and again that of pleuriSy or
lumbago; but in whatever manner it
appears it is terribly painful and
always to be dreaded. The pain and
annoyance of rheumatism are in
creased by its great danger, for it is
liable to attack the brain or heart at
any moment, thereby causing instant
death. Indeed, nearly every case of
heart disease, with all its dreadful
suddenness which has ever occurred,
can be traced more or less directly to
rheumatic causes. In its chronic
form it stiffens the joints, contracts
the muscles, undermines the health
and ruins the life. 1t frequently at
tacks men and women who are appar-
emily in perfect health. Indeed, it is
as greatly to be dreaded as any possible
form Of physical woe.
But, however severe its effects may
be, the exact cause Of this blood
trouble has been an undecided cues.
ton, and it is only within the past
year that any decision upon the sub
ject has been reached. In order to
July determine what the cause Of
rheumatic disorders really was, GER
tain authorities sent letters OF inquiry
from Washington to the leading prac-
ticing physicians of the land, and
these inquiries we're responded to
quite generally, thus furnishing data
of great value to science and mankind.
The views held by the doctors are of a
varied nature, but so overwhelming
proportion hold to one belief as to
leave but little doubt that it is the
correct one. This belief, briefly
stated, is that uric acid in the blood
causes rheumatism, and that it is
only by removing this poisonous acid
that rheumatic or neuralgia troubles
in all their terrible forms can be cured.
This being true, the important ques-
ton arises: How does this poison
Gus uric acid get into the blood, and
how can it best be removed" Uric
acid is a waste material Of the body
which the kidneys should carry out,
but because they are weakened they
cannot throw it from the system.
Restore the kidneys and you restore
the power that will force the uric acid
from the system and thus Danish the
rheumatic agonies which it causes.
This is reason; it is science. No one
whose kidneys are in perfect condi-
ton was ever troubled witch rheuma.
tism, and no rheumatic sufferer, how
ever slight the pain may be, has per-
feet kidneys. The conclusion of this
truth is inevitable-periect kidneys
mean freedom from rheumatism.
When rheumatism has manifested
itself in any special part Of the body,
attempts have usually been made TO
treat that part of the body. AS re
suit, the pain has departed but the
disease has remained, lying subtly
concealed and ready to break out at
some unexpected moment. Checking
the pain in any singular locality only
scatters the disease through the sys.
TEN, when, if the seat Of The disorder,
which are the kidneys, we're reached,
a complete cure would be the result
The way, therefore, to expel this rank
and ynosonpouo aid hafora IL aaa,,,,, 90
an infammatory or chronic form is by
keeping the kidneysin absolute health.
This is no easy thing TO do, and no
means has, until within the past few
years, been known which would sue
cessfully reach and effect these great
organs. At last, however, scientists
have discovered that the leaves of a
tropical plant, previously but little
known to science and unknown to
medicine, possessed marvellous quail
ties adapted for the kidneys. These