The Coolidge examiner., 1935-03-15


er does affect them.
For this reason students OF pre-
ventive medicine are beginning
10 consider man and his environ
ment as one organic whole and are
studying some Of our diseases from
tnis standpoint We have almost
exhausted the ncld OF bacteriology
trying to find germs rs the cause
of disease Recent work tends TO
show that the skin Is an important
factor IN rheumatism.
The skin Is not just a covering
mantle or protective cloak of the
body. Il isa vast organ concerned
with the sense of feel and touch. Il
secretes sweat and oily substances
II also excrctes 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 sun
light 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 by changes In barometric
pressure. The skin can be thought
az as a big receptor organ that re-
ceives from the outside world me-,-
sages of all kinds and transmits
these 20 the Internal organs.
through blood and nerve channels.
The capillary blood channels In
the skin are thought by many au-
thor.iles 20 be Involved In rhen-
mat,sn. IL must not be forgotteE
that mans skin Is an important or
gan IN maintaining body tempera.
ture. II can eliminate heat in the
summer time, which Is really re-
frigeratiou function.
The patient suffering from rheu.
mausm does not have prop
or control of the blood supply OF
the skin and the secretion OF sweat.
There IL a tendency toward spas
modlc contraction OF the capillaries
and at times these capIllaries be-
come engorged with blood In 9th.
or words, there is an instability In
the blood vessels. controlling sys-
TEN.
We Just mentioned that the skin
is an important organ In controll-
ing body temperature. The rheu-
matte individual undergoes wide
fluctuations In skin temperature.
There Is oftentimes subnormal
temperature OF the skin. This In
auences the metabolism OF the body
In that We lose the heat-regulatory
function of the skin that Is so I'M
portant for our well-being. When
the temperature OF the cells within
the 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 Il new conception OF rheu-
matlsm and helps explain some
phases OF the disease better than
the older meteorological theory that
was difficult 10 substantlate In
many instances. The abnormal
sensitiveness 10 changes In wealth
er that are experienced by all rheu-
matics Is due to the fact that these
people do not have the proper skin
function. The circulation OF the
skin is changed as result OF the
alterations In temperature, humid
ity and barometric pressure In
such a manner that internal dis
turbances take place leading TO the
development of pain In certain
areas OF the body.
II is well known that rheumatic
pains can develop as result OF hot
temperature environments as well
as cold. Over-exertion and fatigue
followed 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 con-
ditions.
The proper treatment for rheuma-
tism is to aid the skin by artificial
means to re-establish good circula-
tory system. This is the reason that
a hot water bottle placed on the
skin close to the area of pain will
often stop the discomfort. The prop
er treatment is an organized medical
plan of various types of physical
therapy, such as light treatment,
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 a lack
OF control OF his skin, the rheumatic
cannot adjust himself. The rest
Of US adjust ourselves perfectly
and are no way incapacitated by
such weather changes. The rheu.
matte speaks very truly when hs
says he can feel weather changes.
c. Western Newspaper Union.