The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-03-13
Your Health
Joints of Young
Adults Affected
by Arthritis

by Arthritis
By HERMAN BUNDEsEN. NJ. I
RHEUMAToID arthritis is an
Inflammation Of the joints which
occurs in young adults, and
causes deformity Of the joints.
Although the exact cause OF rheu-
matoid arthritis is not known,
there are many things which sug-
gest that in part II may be due TO
some sort Of infection.
For example, such symptoms as
Inflammation Of the affected joints,
fever, rapid heart beat and loss
of weight would seem to indicate
that the joint Inflammation is the
result Of infection.
Value Of Penieilin
Because Of these facts / have
received many letters ask
ing whether or not penicillin is Of
value in treating arthritis since
penicillin has been shown TO be
helpful in infections produced by
q variety Of germs such as the
staphylocoecus and streptococeus.
Treatment for arthritis has not
heretofore by any means been sat
isfactOry. Measures usually en-
ployed such as rest, both physical
and mental, rest Of the joints, the
application Of heat and the use
of a diet rich in vitamins have all
been found helpful to some extent,
but none apparently have been
curative.
Gold Salts
According TO DR.. Bernard j.
Comroe of Philadelphia, the only
chemical substance which appears
TO be of value in treating rheums-
told arthritis is gold salts. How
ever, these gold salts are toxic or
poisonous. Some patients with ar
Thrills are not improved by this
form Of treatment, and when the
treatment Is stopped even in the
cases that are improved, relapses
occur. II has been reported by
many observers that patients are
improved by using high dosages Of
2 vitamin D.
DR.. Comroe tried treatment Of
six patients who had rheumatoid
arthritis, with penicillin, giving
at least 100, 900 units daily for two
weeks. In five, the condition had
been present for at least four
years. In one of these, II had
started in childhood, had improved
and then fiared up again five years
later. In the sixth patient, the
arthritis had been apparent only
eight weeks before treatment was
begun.
Regular Injections
The penicillin was given by in
lection into a muscle every three
hours day and night for at least
two weeks. All of the patients
were in the hospital during the
course Of the treatment and all
showed an active form Of the joint
Inflammation before the penicillin
treatment was started. There were
swelling of the joints, fever, rapid
heart beat, loss Of weight, wasting
of the muscles and swelling Of the
tissues around the joint.
There was no evidence that the
penicillin altered the course Of the
disease in any way. During the
penicil,in treatment, application
Of heat, proper diet, and the use Of
drugs for relieving pain were con-
tinued, to aid in relieving symp-
toms.
A great deal further study Of
arthritis is needed, since there 10
little known concerning its cause.
In view Of the fact that penicillin
does not affect the condition, il
would appear that infection may
not play a very prominent role in
the disease.
The arthritic should not, how
ever, give up hope, for with prop
er care and the use Of many Of the
measures suggested, improvement
can be brought about