The Opelousas courier., 1884-10-04
WHAT IS

Very Common, But Rarely EaaaI SfcA'
meas.
If the diverse conditions that pass
current as rheumatism were by some
| good angel suddenly removed from the
world, two classes of persons would DC
very much but quite adversely affected
- these who are halt and lame from
this disease and the doctors. Exactly
what rheumatism is none can certainly
say. About this, as about many things.
the doctors differ. 1t is, however,
believed by the most learned physicians
that excess of Tactic acid in the blood
and chill, following undue exposure te
cold and wet, acting together, are the
usual causes Of the disease. Malarlal
poisoning and microscopic fungi have
also beer. regarded as causes OF rheuma-
tism by some observers. Excessive
and frequently recurring bodily fatigue
is very active in the production of the
ulSGdSG, duu Tic iAliuClCC Va hOAOuiooiy
predisposition is very marked
Many are said to have rheumatism
who do not have it at all, and doubt
Jess some, especially among the young,
have this complaint without its being
recognized. This may be due to the
fact that rheumatic pains are very
much less severe in adolescents than in
adults and are likely to be regarded as
growing palms," or attributed to the
effects of cold. The joint swelling is
also very much less marked in the
young. The joint trouble just mem
toned, the acid sweats and the very
common heart complications make it
hardly possible for this complaint to be
overlooked in the adult. The last
mentioned trouble is, as a rule, noticed
only by the medical attendant, and is
Of the nature of an Inflammation either
of the membrane covering the heart OF
lining that organ. In the curse of
rheumatism it sometimes happens thai
fbrin, a substance normally suspended
in the blood, lodges upon the valves.
the ~food-gates of the heart. This is 8
very serious event; by it the valves
may be made to leak. and some of this
edged fbrin may at any time become
detached and washed away in the
current of the circulation till it reaches
the artery that win not permit it to
pass. This, of course, Immediately OBJ
structs the proper circulation of the
blood and is followed by events OF
greater or less gravity, according to
the position of the DISTRACTED artery.
It is believed. doubtless correctly, that
some cases of paralysis are due to the
circulation of the brain being thus inn
peded.
Those who are familiar with rheuma-
tism will at onc perceive that "acute
rheumatism of the joints has been re-
ferred to here, mainly. A less active
form Of the trouble is described as
'ssubacute,' and the form of the disease
that hangs on indefinitely, schronie
rheumatism" When the muscular
tissues are involved it is very usually
described as muscular rheumatism "A
neuralgia affecting the back, lumbago.
is often reckoned TO be rheumatism by
those who are not familiar with neu-
ralgia. Rheumatism is frequently
complicated by other diseases, notably
govt, lung and skin affections and GER
tain eruptiye fevers. Occasionally a
very high body temperature is observed
in the course Of rheumatism. and it is
probable that some of the phenomena
of the disease are due to this. Proba-
bly, no cases of uncomplicated rheuma-
tism ever terminate fatally. Such an
uAuDud4 ACSuAb ID uuE w 0OutC Vi bilG
complications already namod.
About the cure Of this disease the
doctors differ as much, IL not more,
than they do about its cause. Some
rheumatic patients experience much
relief from the "acid sweats'' before
mentioned. Manifestly, it is wen in
these cases to encourage this operation.
Some distinguished physicians have
recommended preparations Of iron in
the treatment Of disease. Cod liver oil
first came into vogue, it is said, be-
causesome sailors were cured Of chronic
rheumatism by its internal use. When
a case of acute rheumatism has SO far
recovered as to permit travel, change
Of air, scene and diet would doubtless
be used. The fudicious use of cleo
tricity has been found beneficial in
some casss Of this so-called muscular
Observation-Disclosures Times.
An earthquake observatory ii being
erected in the coal mines near Naga-
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