New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-04
Your Health
How to Keep It.
Causes of Illness
by DR.. HUGH s. CUMMING

as 1t Is sometimes called, Is r dis
ease o. almost universal interest. II
is fairly common, though not As
frequent today AS It was number
OF years ago. Patients with rheu,
matte fever make up from : 10 :
per cent Of the total sick admitted
TO our large hospitals.
Once rheumatism develops. it
often resists treatment; or, there
may BE- repeated attacks and the
| disease may become sub-acute or
chronic. Even when the patient has
fairly recovered, there may be left
painful reminders, such as aching,
or somewhat stiffened joints.
The worst feature of rheumatism
is the fact that it is often the direct
cause Of heart disease.
There is no doubt but what rhcu-
matte fever proper is an acute. in
fictitious disease caused by d germ
or germs. 1t is probable that there
may be several different diseases
included under the term, "rheuma-
tisnl," as commonly used.
Muscular rheumatism is term
applied 10 affections Of the muscles
as distinguished from affections Of
joints. Lum bago Is a term applied
TO muscular rheumatism affecting
the large muscles Of the back.
| Painful points under the shoulder
blades in the back are commonly
due TO this same condition.
There may also be painful con-
| ditions due TO the same cause in
The muscles OF the chest which
=! may lead the patient to suppose he
has heart disease or plcurisy. Such
pains are superficial and while they
may sometimes be severe, they may
easily be distinguished from pains
caused by disease in deeper struc-
lures.
| Rheumatic fever is especially
prevalent in temperate climates. 1t
is most common during the latter
months Of Winter. 1t occurs most
frequently between the ages of Is
and IS years.
It Is more common in men than
in women, although betwenr he
ages Of 10 and Is boys and girls
seem to suffer from rheumatism In
about equal numbers.
What are the predisposinG causes
OF rheumatism? how may the
disease be avoided?
Causes of rheumatism
The following causes are listed
as being possible e-dlsposing
causes OF rheumatism. namely:
Enlarged tonsils, adenoids, and dis
eased teeth or gums, particularly
pyorrhea.
To be exposed to cold-to re-
main for some time In wet cloth
Ing -- to get thoroughly or repeat
edly chilled, may, it Is believed,
lead TO an attack OF rheumatism
directly or 1t is thought that in
some cases, the rheumatism may
follow tonsilitis, a cold or some
other acute respiratory condition
which may have been caused by
the exposure.
1t Is we'll to avoid exposure--and
one should learn that colds and
sore threats are not trivial mat
ters.
Care Of the teeth is important
and a vsit to your dentist Is re-
commended at least once IN six
months.
rheumatism usually develops
quite suddenly. 1t may follow i'm
mediately an attack of sore throat
or tonsilitis or there may be an In
terval OF a week or ten days Of
perfect health following such an
attack before the disease develops,
There may have been nothing pre-
llmlnary to 1t, in so far as we can
: determine.
Fever and Chllls Are Symptoms
There are usually sensa tons Of
chilliness followed by fever and a
train Of symptoms, all developing
usually within "a hours from the
onset.
One or more joints become swol-
len, the face is flushed, there are
protuse sweats, the Temperature Is
! high, the pulse rapid and the pa
ttent Is very uncomfortable. Often
the suffering is intense.
The joints most frequently in
volved are the knee, ankle, elbow.
wrist and shoulder. In the order
named. The swelling may wander
from one Joint to another. An at
} tack OF rheumatism may last a
week or ten days or it may last
much longer.
rheumatism should always be
regarded as a serious disease on
account Of the permanent damage
to the heart which may result. Do
not attempt TO treat an attack OF
: rheumatism yourself Stay In bed
and send for a physician.
: The large number OF persons
disabled annually by rheumatism
5 either from chronic joint conditions
or from chronically diseased
heart, makes the prevention Of
rheumatism of great importance.
: Clothing Should Be Adequate
: One should always take the best
possible care OF his health: his
: clothing should be adequate and
: / suitable TO the temperature: damp
= ness should be avoided; a well BAL
anced diet should be taken. guard
ing against overeating or Of eating
too much of one kind OF food and
. too little Of other kinds.
. II there is any diseased condi-
ton of the teeth or gums, Of the
!. throat or OF the tonsils. then GER
D tainly these should be attended TO
whether you have rheumatism or
< not.
: They're Still Short
~ Except for period costumes, skirts
d remain very short-from IL to Is