The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-04-30
WHAT is RAEunArIsMar


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Ii the diverse conditions that pass current
as rheumatism were by some good angei
suddenly removed from the world, tw,
classes of persons would be very much bur
lnte adversely affected those who are halt
and lame from this disease and the doctors.
Exactly what rheumatism is none can GER
tainly 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 to cold. and
wet, acting together ere the usual causes of
the disease. Malarial poisoning and micro.
scopic fungi have also been regarded as
causes of rheumatism by some observers
Excessive and frequently recurring bodily
fatigue is very active ia the production M
the disease, and the influence of hereditary
predispositiop is very marked. ss
Many are said to have rheumatism who
90 not have it at all, and doubtless some.
especially among the young have his cons
plant Without It's 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 pains," or attributed to the
effects of cold. The joint swelling is also
very much less marked in the young. Thu
JOINT trouble just mentioned, the acid
sweats and the very common heart com
ohcations 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 inflammat on either
OF the membrane covering the heart or
lining that organ. In the course of rheu-
matism it sometimes happens that fbrin,
substance normally suspended in the blood,
lodges upon the valves, the fiood-gates o.
the heart. This is very serious event
by it the valves may be made to leak, ant
some of this lodged fibrin may at any tim,
become detached and washed away in the
current of the circulation till il reaches nm
artery that will not permit it to pass. This.
of course, Immediately obstructs the proper
circulation of the blood and is followed by
events of greater or less gravity, according
to the position of the INSTRUCTED artery 1t
is believed, doubtless correctly, that some
Eases of paralysis are due to the circulation
# the brain being thus impeded.
Those who are familiar with Rheumatism
will at once perceive that " acute rheu
matism " of the joints has been referred Il
here, mainly. A less active form of the
trouble is described as sdbacute,n and the
form of the disease that hangs on Indefinite
ly, " chronic rheumatism When the
muscular tissues are involved it is very
Usually described as /" muscular rlieuma.
ism" neuralgia affecting the back,
lumbago, is often reckoned to be rhauma.
tism by those who are Lot familiar with
neuralgia. Rheumatism 10 frequently com.
plicated by other Diseases notably govt
lung and skin affections and certain erup-
tive feversr Occasionally yely 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. Probably NO cases of uncomplicated
rheumatism ever terminate fatally. Such
An unusual result is due to some of the
complications already named.
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 reies from the q acid
sweats, before mentioned. Manifestly, il
is we'll in these cases 10 encourage this
operation. Some distinguished physicians
have recommended preparations o. iron in
the treatment of the disease Cod liver oil
first came into vogue, it is said, because
some sailors were cured of chronic rheuma-
tism by its internal use. .Yhen q case of
acute rheumatism has so far recovered rs TO
permit, travel, change of mir, scene and diet
would doubtless be useful The judicious
uso of electricity Inns been found beneficial
in some cases of the so-called muscular
rheumatism. Philadelphia Press. s.b