OF THE RHEUMATISM.

247

other method but a diet of whey and bread." He likewise says, " Thatcream of tartar in water-gruel, taken for several days, will ease rheumaticpains considerably." This I have often experienced, but found it alwaysmore efficacious when joined with gum guaiacum, as already directed.In this case the patient may take the dose formerly mentioned twice a-day, and likewise a tea-spoonful of the volatile tincture of gum guaiacum,at bed-time, in wine-whey.

This course may be continued for a week, or longer if the case provesobstinate, and the patient's strength will permit. It ought then to beomitted for a few days and repeated again. At -the same time leeches ora blistering plaster may be applied to the part affected. What I havegenerally found answer better than either of these, in obstinate fixedrheumatic pains, is the warm plaster (see Appendix). I have like-wise known a plaster of Burgundy pitch worn for some time on the partaffected give great relief in rheumatic pains. My ingenious friend, Dr.Alexander of Edinburgh, says be has frequently cured very obstinaterheumatic pains by rubbing the parts affected with tincture of cantha-rides. When the common tincture did not succeed, he used it of a doubleor treble strength. Cupping upon the part affected is likewise often verybeneficial, and so is the application of leeches.

Though this disease may not seem to yield to medicines for some time,yet they ought still to be persisted in. Persons who are subject to fre-quent returns of the rheumatism, will often find their account in usingmedicines, whether they be immediately affected with the disease or not.The chronic rheumatism is simular to the gout in this respect, that themost proper time for using medicines to extirpate it, is when the patientis most free from the disorder.

Some arthritic and rheumatic affections give way to tar-water, per-sisted in for some time; considerable benefit may also be derived by tak-ing the alterative pill mentioned in the Appendix.

To those who can afford the expence, I would recommend the warmbaths of Buxton or Matlock in Derbyshire. These have often, to myknowledge, cured very obstinate rheumatisms, and are always safe eitherin or out of the fit. When the rheumatism is complicated with scorbuticcomplaints, which is not seldom the case, the Harrogate-waters, andthose of Mossat, are proper. They should both be drank and used as aWarm bath.

There are several of our own domestic plants which may be used withadvantage in the rheu.natism. One of the best is the white mustard.A table-spoonful of the seed of this plant may be taken twice or thricea-day in a glass of water or small wine. The water-trefoil is likewise ofgreat use in this complaint. It may be infused in wine or ale, or drank'n form of tea. The ground-ivy, camomile, and several other bitters, arealso beneficial, and may be used in the same manner. No benefit how-ever is to be expected from these, unless they be taken for a considerabletime. Excellent medicines are often despised in this disease, beta .isethey do not perform an immediate cure; whereas nothing would be rr orecertain than their effect, were they duly persisted in. Want of per.severance in the use of medicines is one reason wl'y chronic diseases a to•eldom cured.

<

\l

\