SCURVY.

281

Such as are subject to frequent attacks of the rheumatism oughtto make choice of a dry, warm situation, to avoid the night-air,wet clothes, and wet feet, as much as possible. Their clothingshould be warm, and they should wear flannel next their skin, andmake frequent use of the flesh-brush.

One of the best articles of dress, not only for the prevention ofthe rheumatism, but for powerful co-operation in its cure, is flee-cy hosiery. A medical friend of mine, of long experience andmuch practice in the isle of Ely, assured me, that the introductionof that manufacture had prevented more rheumatisms, colds, andagues, than all the medicines which had ever been used there.Such of the inhabitants of marshy countries as are in easy circum-stances could not, perhaps, direct their charity and humanity to aoetter object than to the supplying of their poor neighbours withso cheap and simple a preservative. I have even myself ex-perienced the good effects of such warm covering in the rheuma-tism, to which I was very subject about thirty years ago ; but havenever experienced any attack of it since 1 took to warm clothing.

"When there are any suspicions of the disease being connectedwith a syphilitic taint, a long continued course of mercurial altera-tives (see Syphilis) must be entered upon.

Chronic rheumatism sometimes affects the lumbar region, withan acute pain shooting down into the os sacrum, so that the patientcannot stand upright without suffering considerable pain and in-convenience ; nor does he feel any ease when in bed. This affec-tion is known by the name of lumbago, and, as it frequently does,when it fixes itself in the hip-joint, it is called sciatica. Both ofthese affections are to be treated in the same manner as chronicrheumatism. In sciatica and local pains of the hip and loins, tur-pentine is often given with relief, as is also guaiacum combinedwith the essential oil of sassafras ; and the external application ofthe Bath waters have been recommended by Dr. W. Falconer, asaffording considerable benefit.

CHAP. XXXI.

SCURVY. (Scorbutus.)

This disease prevails chiefly in cold northern countries, espe-cially in low damp situations, near large marshes, or great quanti-ties of stagnating water. Sedentary people, of a dull melancholydisposition, are most subject to it. It proves often fatal to sailorson long voyages, particularly in ships that are not properly ventil-ated, have many people on board, or where cleanliness is neglect-ed.

It is not necessary to mention the different species into whichthis disease has been divided, as they differ from one another chief-ly in degree. What is called the land scurvy, however, is seldomattended with those highly putrid symptoms which appear in pa-tients who have been long M sea, and which, we presume, arerather owing to confined air, want of exercise, and the unwhole-some food eaten by sailors on long voyages, than to any specificdifference in the disease.