The Indianapolis journal., 1903-09-27
pREHrsroRIC RuEUM.TIsM

VIII it be of any interest TO the twertieth
century man who is victim of rheumatism
to know that paleolithic man suffered from
the same disease? 1t appears. according to
scientists who study the bones of fossil
humanity, that rheumatism was one of the
ills of the prehistoric era and that the peo-
pie Of the glacial period in particular were
greatly afflicted by the malady. Apart from
the occasional student, but few persons of
the present day give any thought to such
far-off ancestors. When prehistoric man
is in any way called to mind vague pic
ture comes up of a creature scantily clothed
in the skins of wild beasts and armed with
a club. If the reflection occurs that the
glacial period was a succession of long and
uncommonly hard winters the twentieth
century person may pause to consider that
glacial man probably put on more skins,
but that he ever was wrenched and torn by
the pangs of rheumatism or any of the
popular modern diseases is an idea not
likely to arise. Indeed, the average mod
ern individual is likely to feel some resent
ment over the fact when he learns it. He
mas rather prided himself that even his dis
cases are modern in character and an out
growth OF the conditions incident to a high
civilization, and to be told that the very
oldest fossil man yet discovered shows in
dications that when alive he knew rheu-
matism at its very worst is somewhat dis
concerting. Once aware of the fact, how
o,sc1
How did prehistoric man account for the
incurrence OF this racking ailment? In these
days doctors aver that there are at least
two hundred and seventeen causes for rheu-
matism, and that if they are allowed to
experiment long enough in any given case
and try two hundred and seventeen varie-
ties of remedies they can effect a cure. Did
paleolithic man try mud baths or hot baths?
Did he guard himself against might air?"
Did he drink lithia water and other medicin-
al waters until he felt himself slowly pet
rifying through the minerals contained in
them? Did he keep his feet dry and put
on an extra bearskin when he went out of
his cave to kill something? Did the glacial
man lay in an extra supply of fuel when
the twinges began to come? Did he take
''sure-cure' remedies that were perhaps ad-
vertised in sign language on the rocks and
icebergs? Did he try everything his medi-
cine man, his wife or the neighbors offered,
and, when none of these was of avail, did he
swear and cavort and break up the home
made pottery and make himself so generally
uncomfortable that his wife and children were
compelled in self-protection to have en-
gagements downtown? With all his expert
ments did prehistoric man ever find a cure?
To be sure, he died before he got the traces
of the disease out of his bones, but did he
find relief? If so, did he allow himself to
pass into a world where there is no rheu-
matism without leaving the prescription be-
hind him? Let it be hoped not. Primitive
man must have had the rudiments of al
truism in his nature, and surely somewhere
inscribed on rock or metal his rheumatism
cure, if he had one. Scientists who are
delving into the secrets Of the past will
confer a favor on present-day humanity by
keeping an eye out for this formula.