The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-11

dread word arthritis. Perhaps we
had better switch to the even more
modern word ~arthralgia, which
simply means pain in the organs
Of locomotion.
The causes Of these conditions
and the reasons for their occur
renee in the spring may be various.
What is spring fever? Well, it's a
combination of the accumulated
fatigue of living so much indoors
in the winter, and a winter diet
dominant in foods that are low
in vitamins, and the resurge Of
the endocrines with some Of them
OVERRIDING it and some of them I'M
derdoing it, thyroid insuficiency
and gonad oversuficiency, and
psychic states Of the ooh! what's
the use?" order.
The same operating causes,
with the addition of postural
strain produce a~rthralgia. II it
gets serious enough to require
treatment not n but a combiua-
ton of methods corresponding to
the multiplicity Of causes should
be used. Thus we have reports Of
help in arthritis from Vitamin B
concentrates, and from thyroid
exhibition. The thyroid patient
droops all over and the dropping
leads to a postural strain and the
postural strain causes arthralgia.
Middle aged women patients in the
menopause are often crippled by
joint pains which yield very well
to ovarian extract therapy. All
these are established methods Of
treatment in the arthritis clinic
Physical Therapy
I am impressed though in the
treatment Of these arthritic and
semi-arthritic patients with the
neglect Of the methods Of physical
therapy water, heat and cold,
massage, electricity. Why they
are not more used by American
physicians is a mystery. There is
. feeling that they can only De
given in a special establishment
a spa or resort. But most Of the
very effective ones can be given
in the bathroom Of any American
home. / list some of the best:
% Depending on heat: Hot
bath, general, two or more times
a day. Hot and cold wet COM
presses and applications. The hip
bath. Hot and cold showers, or
water poured from a height from
a bucket or pitcher. Hot mud
pack.
(2) Mechanical Massage and
rubbing even amateur massage
is valuable. Active and passive
exercise directed at the sore mus
eles and joints.
(3) Counter irritdrt-Sunlight.
Ultraviolet lamp. Just plain cleo
trio bulb. Carbon arc lamp.
Special electrical methods-such
as diathermy and i~onization and
high frequency are available in
most North American cities, but
how seldom used.
How much better these methods
are than dosing with drugs, or the
consumption of fancy and faddy
diets.
Gold Treatment
Rheumatic exudations have been
likened to smouldering sources of
disease and heat properly used
often effects their absorption. The
mechanical effects of massage in
stretching tissue accomplishes the
same purpose.
The new gold treatment of arth-
ritis is probably the most hopeful
agent that has been introduced in
the treatment Of that trouble
some condition. 1t does not work
in all cases, but it is worth a try
in properly selected ones.
In the early stages Of rheuma-
told arthritis in young people be-
fore deformities or limitation Of
movement or Gripping has oc-
CURED is its best field. It must be
given under the care of a physi-
clan as it is given hypodermically
into the muscle or into a vein. II
often brings prompt relief from
pain and limitation of motion.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
G. D.;-My boy is 10 years old,
5 feet tall and weighs 70 pounds.
What is normal for that age1
Areuar. N,z.