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OF THE RHEUMATISM.
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SYMPTOMS.—The acute rheumatism commonlybegins with weariness, shivering-, a quick pulse, rest-lessness, thirst, and other symptoms of fever. After-wards the patient complains of flying pains, which areincreased by the least motion. These at length fix inthe joints, which are often affected with swelling andinflammation. If blood be let in this disease, it hasgenerally the same appearance as in the pleurisy.
In this kind of rheumatism, the treatment of the pa-tient is nearly the same as in an acute or inflamma-tory fever. If he be young and strong, bleeding is ne-cessary, which may be repeated according to theexigencies of the case. The body ought likewise tobe kept open by emollient clysters, or cool openingliquors; as decoctions of tamarinds, cream of tartarwhey, senna-tea, and the like. The diet should belight and in small quantity, consisting chiefly of roastedapples, groat-gruel, or weak chicken-broth. Afterthe feverish symptoms have abated, if the pain stillcontinue, the patient must keep his bed, and take suchthings as promote perspiration, as wine-whey, withspiritus Mindereri, &c. He may likewise take, for afew nights, at bed-time, in a cup of wine-whey, adrachm of the cream of tartar, and half a drachm ofgum guaiacum in powder.
Warm bathing, after proper evacuations, has oftenan exceeding good effect. The patient may either beput into a bath of warm water, or have cloths wrungout of it, and applied to the parts, affected. Great caremust be taken that he do not catch cold after bathing.
The chronic rheumatism is seldom attended withany considerable degree of fever, and is generally con-fined to some particular part of the body, as the shoul-ders, the back, or the loins. There is seldom any in-flammation or swelling in this case. Persons in thedecline of life are most subject to the chronic rheu-matism. In such patients it often proves extremelyobstinate, and sometimes incurable.
In this kind of rheumatism the regimen should benearly the same as in the acute. Cool and diluting diet,