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.
[CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES 319]
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."
[320 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
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.