The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-10
An Interesting Account of the Rise and
Progress of a Powerful Enemy.

At no period of life is the system ex-
empt from rheumatic attack. 1t is
painful, wearing and facilitating dis
ease. 1t incapacitates for labor, consumes
the sufferers time, robs him of his money.
1t is mainly disease of northern
climates with their excuses Of cold, heat
and moisture, and rapid changes of tenn
perature. 1t sometimes attacks the mus
cles only. At others the joints And a
still more dangerous form involves the
stomach, liver, heart, kidneys and internal
organs.
Direct causes of rheumatism are: First,
exposure to cold and damp; rest, after
violent exercise, in moist cool places-a
shade, damp room; drenching wet
tings, insufficient clothing, sitting in
drafts, working in sunless places, living
in malarial regions.
Second, weakened health from over
exertion; poor blood from insufficient
food.
Third, too free use of improper food
and stimulants.
Fourth, hereditary tendencies, and
some kinds of previous or existing dis
eases.
Excessive or improper fo'd begets
acid dyspepsia, stomach disease. This
acid is absorbed into the blood AMI finally
deposited in the line of muscles and about
Joints. Uterine troubles and tardy men
situation, in females, tend to acid, and
consequently, rheumatic conditions.
Stimnlants, hot, rich foods, nlalarial poi
Sons, congest the liver, alter the blood,
and end in rheumatism.
Muscular rheumatism may attack any
muscle or group ofmuscles. In the back,
it is lumbago. In the chest, it is inter
costal neuralgia. In general, the part of
the body attacked gives it name. 1t
may come suddenly. 1t may also grow
gradually and become fixed. Its symp-
toms are intense pain and Discrimination
to use the muscles affected
Acute inflammation of the joints is
another form of rheumatism. Its symp-
toms are headache, chilliness, high pulse,
feverishness, for hours in advance. Then
toe, knee or other Joint, suddenly be-
comes red, swollen and terribly painful.
Another joint is attacked, and still
another, till few escape.
Chronic rheumatism is the result OF
postponed or improper treatment of an
acute attack. The general health may
be good The joints are enlarged, stiff,
and painful. 1t is a stubborn form.
Without proper treatment, the bones
become involved, the stiffness increases,
and permanent disability ensues, hard
nodules forming in the joints after time
Dln,1,1.n+,O inSiIIp1rS form
of rheumatism At first joint, say Of
toe or finger, enlarges and stiHens; a
muscle aches; a sore spot comes in the
flesh. Neuralgia witches are felt in head,
| back or legs. The sufferer feels old,
requires shaking NJ after rest, feels well
one day but not the next, puffs and
wheezes when walking, fills about the
throat, perhaps coughs a little, lacks
appetite and does not digest well, has
frequent bilious spells, pain in stomach,
paIpitation, rllshes Of blood to head,
fears apoplexv. The joints enlarge,
chalk stones form. Then may come a
sudden gouty attack on one point, with
| quick movement to others; sometimes to
the heart, when it becomes dangerous.
| Its leading cause is the thickening Of
tissues and the failure to eliminate waste,
which come with advancing years and
Discrimination to exercise.
1t is wonderful Low easy rheumatism
begins, how tenacious its grip, how insid-
iously it grows in the system, till one is
startled by its appearance in acute OF
chronic form
Can it be cured ? Yes. Every con