The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-20

chiefly affected the pain in them being
probably due to the stretching of and pres
sure upon the nerves due to overdistention
Of the blood vessels and the presence in the
tissues OF emulation of Serious fluid. Per-
sons who suffer from rheumatic attacks as
a rule. inherit a rheumatic disposition, but
those who are thus afflicted. by proper pre-
cautions in eating and drinking. and cloth
ing and manner of living. may avoid the
painful manifestations OF acute disease. A
person, for example, who has had rheurna-
tism is as good as a barometer, for when
the weather is damp and cold he can feel
It in his bones" This fact suggests a rem
edy, to prevent an attack of rheumatism,
in the form of warm clothing, wooden being
the material, par excellence, for undercloth-
ing and night wear. But there is a great
difference in flannel; some is like hair-cloth,
a veritable instrument of torture and PEN
ance; some is fine in texture and soft TO the
touch; the former is, as rule. worse than
the disease; the latter is usually comforta-
bic and efficient. Children. especially, are
fretted and even made sick by the irritat-
ing effect of very coarse. so-called Scotch
flannel. and this alone may account for
cases of fever in sensitive children and
III
the skin, a thin gauze undervest may be
worn under a thin wooden shirt. If this is
not comfortable, silk may be worn, but the
expense of this renders it unavailable to
many. Some rheumatics experience relief.
and gain protection, by a chamois-skin vest
worn over the underclothing, but this
should be perforated, if used, to allow the
escape of perspiration. Others have a vest
lined with light weight flannel, with fam
mel back, for the weak part of a mans 9TH
erwise rational dress is the thin back of
the vest. A flannel back in place of the
thin back put on by taiors will often make
the vest the best lung protector and anti
rheumatic garment possible and may rem
der a man proof against colds, coughs and
rheumatism.
On the other hand. too clothing
is injurious, for it causes profuse perspira-
ton, and the person in this condition, who
goes into the cold air, soon feels chilly
and clammy, because the cold interferes
with the function of the sweat glands. and
thus one of natures methods of getting
rid of waste matter is deranged; safety
valve is, so to speak, tied down.
In an acute attack of rheumatism the
most marked symptoms is the pain in the
joints, which is fugitive in character. now
in one joint, now in another, until all are
on the rack of torture. Fever is high,
there is great thirst, perhaps nausea at
first, loss of appetite, slight amount Of
high-colored urine, and always a profuse.
acid, sour-smelling sweat, which often ir
ritates the skin and causes an eruption
owing to irritation of the sweat glands and
pores. The joints affected are painful
tender. hot, swollen, and red, and the pain
is increased by motion pressure. The
joints usually affected are the knee wrist
elbow, ankle, and the hands and feet, and
there is a regularity in the disease. that
known as parallelsm, the corresponding
joints being affected on each side, or ana
lagous joints on one side, as the elbow and
knee, the wrist and ankle, etc.
1t is, in a sense, a self-limited disease
running its course and leaving no after
effects. the swelling of the joints going
down and the pain ceasing, but every at
tack renders another more likely. There is
danger, however, especially in children
that the heart may be attacked, and serious
If not fatal results may follow. while re-
covery may leave the patient with a
chronic heart disease. In some, especially
children, the manifest symptoms of rheu-
matism may be slight, so slight as to be
considered simply slight fever. but heart
disease may be melted by these attacks
Medical advice is therefore necessary but
If physician cannot be consulted the fol-
lowing suggestions may be useful:
The patient should be put to bed at the
beginning of the attack, for warmth and
quiet are necessary in the treatment and
may lessen the severity of the attack. He
should wear a flannel nightgown, which
should be changed night and morning, as it
becomes saturated with sweat. He should
lie between blankets not between sheets.
and hot water bottle should be placed in
the bed to maze it warmer If the contact
of the bed clothing causes pain, a cradle
should be put in the bed, an easy impro-
vised one being made from a long box
without a cover and with the ends knocked
out projecting nails being driven in or
pulled out that they may not tear the
clothes or lacerate the flesh. This is placed
over the affected joint and makes a sort of
tunnel or arch over the limb.
The diet should consist of milk exclu-
sively, meats and even beef tea being inju-
rious. as they are believed to be one of the
important causes of rheumatic tendency.
Alcoholic drinks should also be forbidden
The joints should be wrapped in cotton
wool and a flannel bandage, cut on the
bias, tightly wrapped around it and firmly
fastened. Camphorated oil may be rubbed
| on the joint or ammonia, belladonna or
chloroform liniment may be applied before
| the cotton is put on.
| The patient should be moved as little as
possible, and, above ALL should not be
chilled by unnecessary uncovering, exposure
| to draughts, etc. Even the touch of a cold
hand may cause the patient a paroxysm of
agony, and an attendant or visitor treading
heavily or jostling against the bed will
cause excruciating pain.
| Incidentally, salicylate of soda will usu-
/ ally relieve all the symptoms. reducing fe-
yer. alternating pain and checking the
| sweating, but in spite OF all treatment the
| rheumatism may linger for many weeks
1t should be given during the attack in
comparatively large doses, say fifteen
grains every three or four hours until the
symptoms are relieved. The bowels should
also be kept open by small doses of calomel