The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-02-15

w Students of pre-
ventive medicine
are beginning to consider man and his
environment as one organic whole and
are studying some of our diseases from
this standpoint. We have almost ex-
hausted the field of bacteriology try
ing to find germs as the cause of dis
ease. Recent work tends to show that
the skin is an important factor in
rheumatism.
The skin is not just covering man.
tie or protective cloak of the body. 1t
is a vast organ concerned with the
sense of feel and touch. 1t secretes
sweat and oily substances. 1t also
excretes certain things from the body.
We are finding that the protective
action of the skin can be extended to
guarding US against invasion by germs
around us. The action of sunlight and
ultraviolet light on the skin is well
known to the layman.
We know that the skin can be
changed by the temperature of the air,
by the humidity Of the air, and also
ny CAduSCS Ill UdIOlACLl1C IA
The skin can be thought of as big
receptor organ that receives from the
outside world messages of all kinds
and transmits these to the internal
organs, through blood and nerve chan
nels.
The capillary blood channels in the
skin are thought by many authorities
to be involved in rheumatism. 1t must
not be forgotten that mans skin is an
important organ in maintaining body
temperature. 1t can eliminate heat
in the summer time, which is really
refrigeration function. During the
winter our skin acts as covering
layer to prevent the loss of heat. In
the summer there is an increased flow
of blood through the skin, and in the
winter there is a decreased flow.
The patient suffering from rheu-
matism does not have proper con-
troll of the blood supply of the skin
and the secretion of sweat. There Is
tendency toward spasmodic contrac-
ton of the capillaries and at times
these capillaries become engorged with
blood. In other words, there is an
instability in the blood vessels, con-
trolling system.
We just mentioned that the skin is
an important organ in controlling body
temperature. The rheumatic individ-
ual undergoes wide fluctuations in skin
temperature. There is oftentimes a
subnormal temperature of the skin.
This influences the metabolism of the
body in that we lose the heat-regula-
tory function of the skin that is so
important for our well-being. When
the temperature of the cells within the
4 body changes there is a change in the
chemical products of these cells, and
many authorities now think that this
explains in part the development of
pain in the muscles and joints.
This is new conception of rheu
matism and helps explain some phases
Of the disease better than the older,
meteorological theory that was diff
cult to substantiate in many instances.
| The abnormal sensitiveness to changes
| III WCdbhCi IudL arc CApCl lChSSu ny an
rheumatics is due to the fact that
these people do not have the proper
skin function. The circulation of the
skin is changed as a result of the al
terations in temperature, humidity and
barometric pressure in such manner
that internal disturbances take place
leading to the development of pain in
certain areas of the body.
1t is well known that rheumatic
pains can develop as a result of hot
temperature environments as well as
cold. Over-eXertion and fatigue fol-
lowed by chilling of the body are also
common factors. Much has been said
of cold damp air causing rheumatism.
So long as the skin function is normal,
muscle or joint pains will not develop
because of exposure to damp and
chilly conditions. Damp cold air
causes the body to lose heat rapidly
! If the blood vessels of the skin do not
react promptly, by diminishing the
blood supply to the skin. Hence the
body does not become cooler because
| We pIOuuSC Tic odliIC WI
and we lose much less heat. When the
skin function is abnormal this does
not occur and consequently the rheu-
matte develops pains.
The proper treatment for rheumatism
is to aid the skin by artificial means to
re-establish a good circulatory system.
This is the reason that hot water
bottle placed on the skin close to the
area of pain will often stop the discom-
fort. The proper treatment is an or
ganized medical plan of various types
of physical therapy, such as light treat
ment, heat treatments, massage, baths,
all of which aid the skin to re-establish
its proper circulation.
We all live under the same weather
conditions. Due to lack of control
Of his skin, the rheumatic cannot ad-
just himself. The rest of us adjust
/ ourselves perfectly and are in no way
incapacitated by such weather changes.
The rheumatic speaks very truly when
he says he can feel weather chang9s.
G. Western Newspaper Union.