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RHEUMATIC FEVER (Articular Rheumatism)

Categories: Constitutional Diseases

Causes. This may be acute or
chronic. It is an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of

several joints. The joints are held in place by ligaments and are inclosed

by a thin membrane. In this acute rheumatism these parts become congested

and inflamed, there is redness and swelling, heat and pain. Fluid is

passed into the joint sometimes and then the parts look watery

(oeclematous). The inflammation and swelling caus
great pain in the

joint.



Predisposing. A damp climate, winter and spring, young adults and persons

who are exposed to damp, wet and cold.



Condition. There is congestion of the soft parts of the joints and

effusion into the joint cavities of a watery fluid. Endocarditis,

pericarditis, myocarditis, pleurisy and pneumonia may complicate it. The

first named, endocarditis, is very common and as the mitral valves become

inflamed it is likely to leave valvular trouble unless carefully watched

and treated at the time.



Symptoms. The invasion may be gradual, with a very tired feeling and

often tonsilitis; but it is usually sudden, with pains, soreness in one or

more joints and fever. The knees, ankles, elbows and wrists are much

affected, but it frequently goes through almost every joint in the body

and sometimes repeats the terrible dose. I know, for I had it twice. The

suffering, torture and pain sometimes are simply indescribable and almost

too hard to bear. The joints become hot, red, painful, swollen and tender

to touch and motion. It seems to hurt worse when anyone comes near, for

the patient is afraid of careless handling.



Fever. This runs from 102 to 104 and is modified by profuse perspiration

with bad odor and, generally, it does not afford any relief. The urine is

very acid, very thick and looks like thick, strong coffee. The symptoms

frequently disappear partially from one joint or joints as they begin in

other joints, attacking several in rapid succession, the fever varying and

changing with the degrees of joint involvement.



We may see the shoulder and hip, the elbow and wrist, knee and ankle,

etc., all affected at once: Heart complications are frequent and bear

close watching, for they are dangerous to life and the future health of

the patient. The patient becomes very anemic and this progresses rapidly.

When improvement does begin it is gradual; or the disease may become

chronic. Care must be taken not to be too active when improvement sets in

or you will cause a return by using the joints before they have become

thoroughly well. I did the same thing in my anxiety to get out, but would

never be as reckless again. Pain and stiffness of the joints often last

long after convalescence has set in. One who has had this disease once is

liable to another attack if he is not careful.






MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Articular Rheumatism. A gentleman sends us the

following treatment for articular rheumatism and writes as follows: "I

send you the following treatment for articular rheumatism because I used

it myself and was cured in a very short time, in fact, about ten days. It

was a number of years ago in the early spring when my knee joints, ankles

and wrists began to pain me and continued to become worse for about a

week, at the end of which time both my knees were perfectly stiff. I sent

for my physician; he wrapped my knees with common baking soda; taking long

wide bandages he was enabled to have the baking soda a fourth of an inch

thick around the knee, raising the bandage as he laid the soda on; after

this was completed I had heavy wet hot cloths laid around my knee and

renewed every fifteen or twenty minutes for probably eight or ten hours.

In the meantime I was taking the salicylate of soda and the cathartic,

veronica water, as directed below. The following day I sat up with my legs

resting on a chair, straightened out, and hot flat irons at my knees. I

began this treatment on Saturday, and the following Thursday was able to

walk about and go out of town, and never had rheumatism since, but at two

or three different times I suspected it was coming on and used the

salicylate of soda and veronica water as a successful preventive; at least

the rheumatism did not materialize.



Veronica Water. Dose:--Glassful every two and one-half hours till bowels

are free, then one dose a day.



Also

Salicylate of Soda 1 ounce

Water 6 ounces



Large teaspoonful every two hours with a quinine pill every other dose."



2. Rheumatism, Cotton Excellent for Inflammatory. "Take a roll of cotton

batting and wrap the limb, or part of the body affected, as firmly and

tightly as possible, without tearing the cotton, let it remain

"twenty-four hours, then tighten it up by unwinding and rewrapping the

cotton as tight as possible, as on the first application, and so continue

every twenty-four hours until cured, which, in my case, was three days. I

had been troubled with rheumatism for a long time, and was unable to walk.

I tried everything, doctors and all, but nothing helped me. A lady from

Cincinnati, who was visiting at a neighbor's, called at my house one day

and learning what was the matter with me, advised me to put cotton on as

stated above. I had no faith in it, but I had tried everything else and

concluded I would try that, with the result that it cured me. Possibly if

a case should require a longer time for a cure than mine it might be

necessary, or be better, to replace the cotton with a fresh roll. The

rewrapping every twenty-four hours is intended to keep the cotton batting

firmly and tightly around the part affected as the swelling recedes."






Prevention. Wear flannel late and early. Keep from taking cold. Put off

wet things of every kind immediately upon getting home and dry your body

and put on dry well-aired clothes. Never sleep in a damp bed, under damp

unaired clothes. When you go away from home do not sleep in a room or bed

that has been unoccupied for any length of time, especially if there is no

furnace in the house. Do not sit down in wet damp clothes, stockings,

shoes, etc. Do not sit down anywhere to "cool off." It is inviting trouble

and sickness. Do not lie on the damp ground, do not sleep on the first

floor of an old damp house. Have plenty of sunlight and air in your

sleeping room. These directions apply to the chronic cases also. It does

not matter so much if one is wet or sweating as long as he keeps moving or

working. On wash day do not dry your clothes in the kitchen or sitting

room, or put them on your bed, unless they have been thoroughly dried,

aired and warmed before using. These little things mean much in real life.



PHYSICIANS' CAUTION for Articular Rheumatism. Go to bed and remain there

and do not get up too soon, for remember the parts are still tender when

they may not be painful.



Local Treatment. 1. There must be absolute rest. Remove the sheets from

the bed and wrap woolen cloths or blankets about the patient and protect

the inflamed joints from the weight of the coverings. Cover the joints

with gauze or absorbent cotton, after putting on the parts a thick coating

of ichthyol ointment.



2. Sometimes hot fomentations are helpful in relieving the suffering;

sometimes cold cloths are best.



3. The following is good. Apply with cloths wrung out of it:



Carbonate of Soda 6 drams

Tincture Arnica 10 ounces

Glycerin 2 ounces

Water 9 ounces



4. Oil of Wintergreen 1 ounce

Compound Soap Liniment 8 ounces



Mix.



Rub the affected parts with oil of wintergreen and then wrap the parts in

cotton wool and soak with the solution.



5. "A layer or two of gauze saturated with methyl-salicylate is wrapped

around the painful joints and covered with paraffin paper, or other

impervious dressing, held in place by a bandage. This is renewed once or

twice daily until the pain in all the joints is relieved."



6. Internal. Sodium salicylate or aspirin given until the pain and

temperature are relieved; usually five to ten grains of sodium salicylate

every three hours for an adult; or five grains of the aspirin every three

hours.



7. Dr. Hare recommends for the beginning in a strong, healthy individual,

ten drops of the tincture of aconite at once in a little water, and follow

it by a teaspoonful of a mixture containing fifteen drops of tincture of

aconite and two ounces of water everyone-half hour, until perspiration on

the skin betokens the circulatory depression through the action of the

drug. I use aconite in this disease very often, but not in such doses as

the first one. It seems to me that it is uselessly large. I use about

one-tenth of a drop at a dose everyone to two hours during the first

twenty-four hours.






Nursing. The nurse must have the patience of Job to attend a patient sick

with this disease; but you must remember the suffering is awful. The

patient may be very restless and the pillows may need rearranging every

few minutes. Also be careful how you handle the patient. It hurts terribly

to be even touched. A rough, hearty person has no business to care for

such a patient. I allow patients to say anything they wish, for this is a

painful disease. They may swear at me if they wish. I know how it is, for

I was there twice, the last time for six long weeks. Have patience and

courage and cheer your patient. Do not look cross or scold.



Diet. Milk mainly, broths, gruels, albumen water, oyster or clam broth,

milk toast, buttermilk, kumiss. Do not give solid food. Water, lemonade,

vichy or carbonated water.



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