The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-18
RHEUMATISM

F toms which includes pains in bones. muscles or joints-are likely to be called rheumatism When such conditions are carefully investigated by the physi- elan, he may make a diagnosis of gotIt, lumbag0 or inflammation brought about by the attacks of various baceterio. The conditions are so poorly defined that it has not been possible to. assemble any worthwhile statistics as to just how oft en rheumatic disease occurs.
 These facts caused the Ministry of Health of Great Britain to undertake special investigation of the subject. Records were assembled concerning 90,- 891 people. comprising 4 per cent of men and 36 per cent of women, all of whom were workers under the S0- cial Insurance Act. Of these persons, 66,000 people lived in great industrial centers and the remainder in smaller cities and in villages. It was found that among the 9O,S0t there occurred dur ing the year 2.510 casest of rheumatic disease, or 2.76 per cent of those con cerned. Of the 2,510 cases, 1,771 were men and 739 women. Scientifically, the cases were classified as acute rheuma- tisni,. lumbago, sciatica, inflammation of the joints, inflammation of the bones and points, gout and Hnclassifiable chronic changes in the joints. It was found that men suffer more often than woman with lumbngo and with sciatic neuritis. Only three women were ob- served with gout, whereas 150 men were
 Special studies were made of the re- lationship of climate to rheumatism and also occupations. The largest number of men, nearly 0ne-fourth, were ma ehinists next. general 1aborers; next, teamsters and traffic workers; then miners and quarriers, builders, wood workers, clerks and farmers. Of the 730 women, 1J0 were engaged in in door domestic service, 133 in outdoor domestim service and 127 in dress oc- equations.
 Special attention was also paid to the dampness of the houses in which those affected lived. In general, damp ness should be condemned. as result of experience, and in relationship to other. diseases as well as rheumatism. It has been accepted that dampness of the living quarters bears a relationship
 For some time it has been believed, following demonstrations by scientists in various parts of the world, that the condition of the teeth is definitely re- lated to the causation of rheumastim. The. women were found to have on the whole cleaner mouths and better teeth than the men. Among the women, those with lumbago particularly had a high incidence of severe dental infection. While the statistical findings were not conclusive, impressions resulted that dental infection is frequently associated with all rheumatic diseases.
 A large per centage of the patients with rheumatic disease had infected tonsils. Itis also generally well known that inflammation of the lining of the heart, endocarditis, is frequently as- sociated with and follows rheumatism, and the survey made by the Ministry of Health confirmed this fact.
 Rhenmatic diseases represented one sixth of the. total amount of time lost for all diseases among insured work CTS in Great Britain.
 These investigations show definitely the importance of early removal of foci of infection in the teeth and in the tonsils, as we'll as in other parts of the body, if rheumatism is to be pre- vented They show also the direct re- lationship of dampness, chilling of the body and poor proteition against severe climates to outbreaks of rheumatic dis. eases. Probably few people realize the diseases, which are. likely to be re- sick benefits padi resulting from these garded by the public as minor com pIaints.
 QUESTIONS AN DANSWERS /
 Catarrhal Deafness
 A. FEB. asks Can anything be done for catarrhal deafness ?'' Is there any cure? Do scch patients become en- tirely deaf?''
 Answer. er.-Symptoms of beginning ca tarrhal deafness are often feeling of fullhess in the ear and .diminutiOn of hearnig with recurring colds in the head. These frequent colds may be as- sociated with abnormal conditions in the nose or throat, leading to a con gestion of the tubes of the ear. In a hearing with other signs of catarrhal deafness appear without any marked symptoms of catarrh in the nose or throat or any sign of abnormality. In these, the causes are known.
 Treatment is directed to the cause, and the earlier it is instituted the bet ter the result Exposure to cold and wet, as well as insanitary conditions, have an injurious influence. When the malady has gone on for some time, changes result in the middle ear which impair the action of the structures which lie there. These changes are re- sistant to treatment; then the malady. can onlS be arrested or delayed.
 Total deafness is rare. In extreme cases, aids to hearing ara beneficial. Many become adopts at lip reading.
 Timed Foods
 l., J. inquiries T. When ones vital organs are impaired. and age advances,