Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-10
RHEUMATISM
BY H. Addington Bruce

~ HEUMATISM is a grab-bag medical
X term concerning which there is wide
spread misunderstanding BY most
people it is thought to mean a specific disease
originating in some constitutional weakness.
But this is not what rheumatism means to
the modern doctor Experience and scien-
tiffc research have taught him that rheuma-
| tism is a symptom rather than a disease in
itself, and that/its origin is most varied.
That is why the cure of rheumatism is
often exceedingly difficult.
| 1t is not simply question of correcting a
disordered bodily condition by routine med
ical treatment along one unchanging line.
In every case there must be first of all a
searching examination to find the precise
cause of the aches and pains and swellings
which form the symptom called rheumatism.
And numerous are the causes Of rheu-
matism that to find the precise cause in any
given case may tax to the utmost the skill of
the attending physician.
How varied the causes are may be judged
from the recent statement of an American
physician, DR.. J. w. Torbett, giving statistics
relating to more than $50 cases of rheuma-
tism studied by him.
OF this number 40 per cent showed signs
indicating diseased condition of the ali
mentary canal as the source of their trouble.
The rheumatism of Fl per cent was connected
with chronic Inflammation of the nose,
throat, or tonsils.
Poisoning of the system through dental
Edisease was found to be the causal agent in
10 per cent of the cases studied. Another
10 per cent owed their rheumatism to vene-
real infections. Thyroid deficiency was found
in per cent, and in 16 per cent no specific
cause found, unless hereditary"
To judge from the findings of other inves-
tigators many of these hereditary cases
might on closer research have shown some
source of infection. For more and more it
is coming to be believed that rheumatism is
usually the product of disease germs which
in one way or another have gained a foot
hold in the body.
To eliminate these is then, the essential
requirement. This is why doctors nowadays
are giving special attention to the state of the
nose, throat, tonsis, and teeth, favorite spots
for the lodgment of rheumatism causing
germs.
Further comp1icating the situation and in
creasing the difficulties of the doctors task is
the fact that there are still other-many
other-causes of rheumatism.
Sometimes 1T is a symptom of lead, poison
ing. sometimes of spinal disease. Sometimes
it is brought on directly by fatigue, owing to
prolonged misuse of muscles. Sometimes it
is caused by fiat foot. Sometimes it is largely
or wholly mental in origin.
These last cases of rheumatism are the
ones which react SO favorably to treatment
by amulets, charms, and other IRREGULAR"
means of healing.
Thus, red flannel, horse chestnuts carried
in the pocket, electric rings, ETC., are in favor
among thousands OF people as preventives or
cures for rheumatism. Which, of course, only
goes to emphasize the beneficial influence
that the mind can exercise diseased bodily
states.
And, undoubtedly, "suggestion" can be
used TO affect benefcially almost every form
of rheumatism. But always to rely on sug-
gestion alone is certainly not the part of
prudence in these days of demonstrated re1a-
tionship between germs and rheumatic affic-
TONS.
Copyright 1919, by the Associated News
papers,
The war is over, but congress doesn't
seem to realize it.
Senator Lodge will probably be careful
in future about reading treaties.