Restiff, a. Unwilling to stir; resolute against going forward; stubborn.
Restiveness, s. Obstinate reluctance; viciousness in a horse.
Restorative, s. A medicine that has the power of recruiting life.
Reticle, s. obs. A small net.
Reticulated, a. Made of net-work.
Retina, s. The optic nerve which receives the image of the object in vision.
Rheum, s. A thin watery matter oozing through the glands, chiefly about the mouth and eyes.
Rheumatism, s. A painful distemper supposed to proceed from acrid humours.
Acute general rheumatism, or rheumatic fever, is inflammation of the muscular system, and has been already noticed under the head founder, or chill. There is, however, a different kind of rheumatic affection I have sometimes met with, in which the joints are affected; generally, I believe, the hock joint; but probably the other joints are equally liable to this affection. It is sometimes accompanied with a morbidly irritable state of the stomach and bowels, and if a strong or even a common purgative is given in such a case, there will be danger of its producing inflammation of these parts. The same irritable state of the stomach and bowels is sometimes observable also in chills, as they are termed, and when the hind-leg is suddenly attacked with inflammation and swelling, after violent shivering and fever. In all such cases, though physic is often necessary, that is, when the bowels are in a costive state, yet it is likely to do great harm unless in a moderate dose, and guarded with cordials or opium. The following ball may be given on such occasions: it must be observed, however, that copious bleeding is the essential remedy, and must precede every other.
PURGATIVE WITH OPIUM, OR CORDIAL CATHARTIC.