Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-25
RHEUMATISM.
An Eminent Physician on Popular
Disease.

EDITOR: Will you please decide bet
by stating what muscular rheumatism
is, and if many people in this part of
the country are affected?
On receipt of the above communica-
ton San Francisco Examiner reporter
was detailed to interview a physician
who understood the disease thoroughly.
1t was shown by investigation that more
sufferers from rheumatism were treated
at the Cosmopolitan Dispensary, Market,
Stockton and Ellis streets, than by one
tenth of the entire medical profession of
San Francisco. There were a number
of patients sitting in the large reception
room when the reporter reached there,
but an usher showed him into the Office
of the physician-in-chief without delay.
The latter is man who bears the proud
distinction of graduating in London and
afterward graduating at Bellevue, New
York city.
II want to learn something about
rheumatism, DOCTOR exclaimed the re-
porter.
rheumatism is liable to afiict the
apparently most healthy of people" he
said, and more especial by muscular rheu-
matism. 1t is supposed to be frequently,
if not generally, caused by suppression
of the skin, and attributed mainly to
the atmospheric actions upon the surface
of the body. 1t does not necessarily
follow that it is the result of cold. In
many cases the disease is of a hereditary
character, in which case its cure is more
difficult than under ordinary circum-
stances. 1t has been known to attack
children, but such instances are very
rare. In the majority of cases the suf-
ferer experiences his first attack between
the ages of Is and 30 years. AS gen.
eral rule it attacks men mostly, and if
the average man reaches the age of 80
years without having experienced its
tortures his chance for getting it is
smaller"
what are the first symptoms of mus
cular rheumatism
"A heavy, dull pain is felt in certain
muscles, which increases and finally be-
comes severe, and sometimes so excru-
ciating that the patient will cry aloud.
Voluntary movements, which occasion
the severe pain, are avoided as much as
possible, but as it is absolutely impos-
sible to maintain rigidly fixed positions
of the body us a whole or of its different
parts, the affected muscles are at times
thrown into painful contraction, how
ever much the patient may desire to
avoid them.
do you treat many cases of rheuma-
tismp"
"Yes, sir; a great many. We have a
specialist who devotes his time exclu-
sively to that disease. Speaking on this
subject, here is letter from Mr.. G. f
Eckhart of Gilroy, Cal, which he states
we can make public.
The doctor handed the reporter the
letter, which read: "Gentlemen-I fee
grateful for the help l have received al
your hands. Every day friends remark
| to me that look better, when only {
| short time ago they expected to hear o.
| my death. l feel that an institution
that has snatched me from the grave a.
| you have deserves the warmest encour
| agement. Believe me, gratefully your
| --(Signed(-C. F. Eckhart."
Another remarkable cure was effected
in the case of Mrs. Rose Brown of San
| Mateo county, lady who is very wei
known here's f. Examiner.
The quickest time and best servic'
| from Los Angeles to the east is mad
by the Santa Fe route. The equipmen
| not excelled. Tourist sleeping-car ex
cursions, with gentlemanly agent II
charge, through to Boston, leave Lo
/ Angeles every Thursday. Information
concerning time and routes to all eastern
cities cheerfully furnished ct ticke
Office, 129 North Spring street, or .
FirHtetreet station.