The Opelousas courier., 1886-05-29
RIEUMATISM.
.wrMaNY FORMS OF THIS COM,
M mon AFFECTION.
rause of Rheumatic Fever
Sswntorns of Inflammatory Rheu-
.aatisn-Hfode of Treatment-
clareaie rheumatism.

WNM.lAAhK% 3H& 1nGAkhobAS - a. pAh OA-
esowp. 1t is very certain that an acid
s.etic. the same that Is found in sour
zaS~;s the great mischief-maker in
~ .,,sasse. This acid is always formed
..sssa muscles are exercised, and is de-
'.,nnosed and sent ont of the body by
ssny n the lungs and skin. A chilling
" lbe body seems to prevent this get
liz rid Of a poisonous substance, and
-. ~ vsrious inhammatory troubles are
q M by 1t. After they have once be-
CHI sSOg Fl appears that they may continue
IN some time iii spite of the acid being
,,onerly disposed OF afterward. This
xss;d has been given as a medicine in
some other affections, and a number of
ssuas are recorded in which rheumatic
|;nt troubles have followed with GER
tsiuty al soon as a certain (not very
F.soel quantity had been given. Another
,ssson for the baneful effects of a chill
cenrrine after excessive exertion is that
~ ;oipts are then in a weakened con-
s;tiou from overuse, therefore more dis
nnsed 10 become diseased than any other
naft of the body, except the heart, which
( Ia the same exhausted condition, has
about the same kind of structure as the
idnts. and is, consequently, at that time,
geFv liable to suffer in the same way.
me symptoms distinctive Of stinfam-
matoyv rheumatism are usually pre-
eeded for one, two or three days by in
definite feelings of being tout of sorts, +"
such Is WEAKNESS, dragging pains in the
limbs, loss Of appetite, etc. Then sets
iii moderate fever, beginning with a
Iharpch III or by chilly feelings, head
I'D, thirst, the pulse and breathing
bang quickened to correspond with the
ioints, almost always lone of the larger
I'D, becomes painful. If it is one near
he surface, it is noticed to be swollen
nd more or less Redeemed. In q few
hours, or 8 day or two, another joint is
asacked in the same way, the one first
saected becoming better, as a rule, but
hot always. The mor joints there are
Afeeted at n G the higher the fever.
Thus, nearly every j%ointin the body may
become affected; frequently all the
Iager ones, hip, knee, shoulder and
eEOw, are inflamed together. The pain
u intense and made worse by the slight
st movement. A heavy step upon the
EaoE causes the vibrations to be trans
niRed to the sensitive surfaces, and
causes untold agony. Sometimes the pain
u far greater than the amount of evident
illumination would seem to accountfo
SDd 1t is frequently worse toward even
ng. The skin is bathed in perspiration,
aEa does not seem hot to the touch, ever
when the fever run very high. The
respiration is sour in odor and in chemi-
@I reaction. The tongue is moist, usually
sOyered with a whitish fur; the bowels
enstipated. and the secretion of the kid
neys small in amount and intensely acid.
ghe pain causes loss of sleep, but the
mind il generally clear. In very serious
eases The teyer rises very high and delir-
ium il present. Sleeplessness, pains in
he joints and the profuse sweating cause
IL the discomforts of which the sufferer
complains in most cases.
This state o fthings, unless interrupted
BY proper treatment, goes on for three to
six weeks. New joints are attacked, OF
tie pains and inflammation return to
those they had abandoned. The invalid
loses flesh and strength, but recover in
large majority of cases. Sometimes
cue joint does not regain its natural
condition, but remains more or less
swollen and painful. In a few cases
two or three joints are affected and these
not very severely. In these, the fever
never runs high and the disease may ter.
inmate iii from eight to fourteen days.
III others, the fever rises to 100 to los
degrees Fahrenheit, the pulse becomes
Enormously quiekened, delirium followed
b anconseiousness and death occurs. For.
tanateIy such cases are rare. In drunk.
aFds and those whose constitutions have
been broken by previous disease, a wild
d especially toward evening, when tbs
feYef Is highest. In these the symptoms
ake Ant to become aggravated and 60 on
Nd u fatal termination In the second OF
third week Of the disease.
Although rheumatism of this variety
EiEl undoubtedly get well if not treated
WITH any drugs, is in fact q self-lIm1ted
disguise, still we have ii In our power to
lessen the danger Of heart complications,
sYs case to the sufferer, and cut the dis
sase short in a large proportion of in
sssnees, provided more than n joint i
SHected.
The alkalies, bicarbonate of soda, pot
ash 81 lithium, should be given In large
doses GEO, 30 to SO grains
every few hours, until The
seid In the blood and tissues become
neatralized. This is known by the Sc
cEetion Of the kidneys becoming alkaline
ahe alkali may be given with lemon
juice, with which il forms an eferves-
eng drink that is not very disagreeable
Whatever else is done, the alkalies should
not be neglected. Salicylic acid, o.
aalicylats Of soda, seems I'd act as q spe-
enc in controlling the inflammation In
large proportion of cases. One Of these
should be given along with the alkalies.
fof i does not insure safety from hear
eomplications, until about 100 grains
nave been given. This amount shouie
be taken within twenty-four hours X
Insure the best results. Then it should
be discontinued for q day or two. ther
resumed in smaller doses, and kent d,
for one or two weeksin this intermit
tent manner. AIS either of these drug
aepressss the hearts action, some form
Cf alcoholic stimulant. wine or whisky
should be taken with each dose. ]
these do not control the pain, opium o
morphine should be given in suficien
Quantity. The affected Joint or joint
Ah0uld be wrapped In cotton dipped i
III alkaline solution and kept at rest b
sing put into splints. Hotapplications
When well borne, sometimes givea grea
aAaR of comfort. IL is claimed by man,
At bIisters and leo bags q the u
seied joints Id good. These are yer
Iressing 10 most sufferers, and there ]