RHEUMATISM.

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The chronic rheumatism is seldom attended with any conside-rable degree of fever, and is generally confined to some particularpart of the body, as the shoulders, the back, or the loins. Thereis seldom any inflammation or swelling in this case. Persons inthe decline of life are most subject to the chronic rheumatism. Insuch patients, it often proves extremely obstinate and sometimesincurable.

In this kind of rheumatism, the regimen should be nearly thesame as in the acute. Cool and diluting diet, consisting chiefly ofvegetable substances, as stewed prunes, coddled-apples, currantsor gooseberries boiled in milk, is most proper. Arbuthnot says," If there be a specific in aliment for the rheumatism, it is certainlywhey ;" and adds, " That he knew a person subject to this disease,who could never be cured by any other method but a diet of wheyand bread." He likewise says, " That cream of tartar in watergruel, taken for several days, will ease rheumatic pains consider-ably." This I have often experienced, but found it always moreefficacious when joined with gum guaiacum, as already directed.In this case the patient may take the dose formerly mentionedtwice a-day, and likewise a tea-spoonful of the volatile tincture ofgum guaiacum at bed-time in wine-whey.

This course may be continued for a week, or longer, if the caseproves obstinate, and the patient's strength will permit. It oughtthen to be omitted for a few days, and repeated again. At thesame time leeches or a blistering piaster may be applied to thepart affected. What I have generally found answer better thaneither of these, in obstinate fixed rheumatic pains, is the learmplaster. I have likewise known a plaster of Burgundy pitch wornfor some time on the part affected give great relief in rheumaticpains. My ingenious friend, Dr. Alexander of Edinburgh, says,he has frequently cured very obstinate rheumatic pains, by* rub-bing the part affected with tincture of cantharides. When thecommon tincture did not succeed, he used it of a double or treblestrength. Cupping upon the part affected is likewise often verybeneficial, and so is the application of leeches.

Blisters are sometimes employed in this complaint ; but they ap-pear to be most serviceable in those cases where the disease par-takes of the nature of acute rheumatism, or where the pain is fix-ed in any particular joint ; and a repetition of fresh blisters willbe preferable to keeping up a constant sore by stimulating the partwith savine or other ointments; and produce a greater effect uponthe disease.

Though this disease may not seem to yield to medicines for sometime, yet they ought still to be persisted in. Persons who are sub-ject to frequent returns of the rheumatism will often find their ac-count in using medicines, whether they be immediately affectedwith the disease or not. The chronic rheumatism is similar tothe gout in this respect, that the most proper time for using medi-cines to extirpate it is when the patient is most free from the dis-order.

• Take Olive Oil, 2 ounces. Tincture of Cantharides, 1 drachm.

Camphor, 2 drachms. Solution of Ammonia, J ounce.

Dissolve, and add, Make a liniment.