Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-04-12
A Human Barometer.
The REAL RELATION BETWEEN THE
HUMAN BODY AND THE WEATH-
ER SCIENTIFICALLY EX-
PLAINED
Scientific american

| One Of The most valuable develop
ments of modern science along The line
of human necessity Is the National
Weather Bureau at Washington. Expc-
rience has shown that eighty-six per
ceut. of the predictions of The signal ser.
vice are accurate (; and these predic-
lions are uaquestionably of the greatest
advantage to the seamen, the agrcul-
luriSt aud The entire commercial world.
The service has proven its necesity,by
its usefulness, for in past tlmes the
facilities for l,retellng atmosphere
ch nges were msagre indeed The only
Indications our fathers had Of coming
changes in the weether, were aching
lin bs, twlnging jo ints or painful cOrns.
These "indica ions," though crude we're
usually correct, and hence naturally
suggest the enquiry as 10 the relation
between the human system and the
weather. The body is unquestionably
an excellent barometer. 1t ioretels
changes III the atmosphere long before
they occur, and this fact has been taken
advantage OF by physicians who. when
all other agencies fai;, prescribe
change of air, thus hoping the body
may find an atmospheric condition bet
Ter suited to Its needs, And yet the
real relation between the human body
aud the weather has never been fully
understood, nor has there eyer been,
until now a correct explanation ofwhat
rheumatism Cwhice seems in league with
the atmosphere) really is. TWAS ORR
ginally thought by many TO be trouble
In the Joints, aud as much was treated
in the most strange, not 10 say, rldi-
culous manner. This theory became
dispelled when the same trouble attack
ed the muscles, and the feeling then
prevailed that it was purely muscular
disorder. But this idea was found 10
be too narrow, and now it is universal.
lY conceded that rheumatism 10 blood
disease. And what a terrible disease
it is. 1t often comes without warning
and prostrates the system with agony.
Again its beginning is gradual, and its
growth slow. In its acute form it man.
| ifests itself in every conceivable shape
and always accompanied by intense
pain. At one time it ia infammaLory,
at another neuralgia. Sometimes 1t as.
sumes the form OF gout, and again that
OF pleurisy or lumbago but in whatever
manner it appears it is terrible painful
and always 10 be dreaded. The pain
and ANNOYANCE Of rheumatism are in
creased by its great danger for 1t is liza
Bile to attack the brain or heart at any
moment, thereby causing instant death.
Indeed nearly every case OF heart dis
ease with all its dreadful suddcnness
which has ever occurred, can be traced
more or less directly to rheumatic cau'
ses. In its chronic form 1t stlffens the
Joints, contracts the muscles, under
mines the health and ruins the liie
1t frequently attacks men and women
who are apparently in perfect health
Indeed, it is as greatly to be dreaded
as any possible form Of physical woe
But. however severe its effects maj
be, the exact cause of this blood trou'
D Bile has been an undecided question
0 and it 1t only within the past year that
Q any decision upon the sbcject has beer
reached. In order TO fully determine
0 what the cause of rheumatic disorder
u really was, certain authorizes sent let
B. ters of inquiry from Washington to tn
leading practicing physicians OF the lanc
and these inquiries were responded t.
o quite generally, thus furnishing data o
a great value to science and mankind
l. The views held by the doctors are OF
It varied nature, but so overwhelming
o proportion hold to one belief as 10 leaV
o but little doubt that 1t is the correC
o one. This belief, briefly stated, is tina
Is uric acid 10 the blood cause rheuma
h tism, and that it is only by remoYini
e this poisonous acid that rheumatic Q
'r neuralgic troubles in all their terrible
y forms can be cured. This beng true
a the important question arises: "Ho'
id does this poisonous uric acid get mi
lg the blood, and how can it best be n
to moved?" Uric acid ia waste mate
rt ial of the body which the kidneys shonl
to carry out, but because they are weaker
D. ed they cannot throw it from the sy'
r. ten. Restore the kidneys and sc
40 restore the power that will force Il
r. uric acid from the system and thus bar
70. ish the rheumatic agonles which
be causes. Thls 10 reason it Is sclenc
ne No one whose Kidneys are III perie
10 condition Was ever troubled Wi
ho rheumatism, aud no rheumatic sutere
l't however slight the pain may be- h
en- perfect kidneys. The conclusion
'r- this truth is inevitable perfect kdne
ho mean freedom from rheumatism.
's' When rheumatism has manifest
Ve itself in any special part OF tie bod
,l- attempts have usually been made
q treat that part of the body. AS
II suit, the pain has departed but the dI
ne sass has remained, lying subIIy co
en- cealed and ready to break out at son
unexpected moment. Checking Il
main 10 any single locality ouly seattle
~ The disease though the system, whe
"a If the seat OF the disorder, which q
p" ,he kidneys. were reached, a compile
u curs would be the result. The wa
ys therefore, TO expcl this rank aud polso
u GUS acid before it assumes an lnramu
IN ,ory or CHI onic forms is by keeping
. kidneys in absolute health. ms Is
" sasy thing 10 do, and no means h'