Diseases > Domestic medicine

which contains but little nourishment and is not
easily digested.
Symptoms.—The acute rheumatism commonly
begins with weariness, shivering, a quick pulse,
restlessness, thirst, and other symptoms of fever.
Afterwards the patient complains of flying pains,
which are increased by the least motion. These at
length fix in the joints, which are often affected
with swelling and inflammation. If blood be let in
this disease, it has generally the same appearance
as in the pleurisy.
In this kind of rheumatism the treatment of the
patient is nearly the same as in an acute or inflam¬
matory fever. If he be young and strong, bleeding
is necessary, which may be repeated according to the
exigencies of the case. The body ought likewise to
be kept open by emollient clysters, or cool opening
liquors ; as decoctions of tamarinds, cream of tartar,
whey, senna-tea, and the like. The diet should be
light, and in small quantity, consisting chiefly of
roasted apples, groat-gruel, or weak chicken broth.
After the feverish symptoms have abated, if the pain
still continues, the patient must keep his bed, and
take such things as promote perspiration; as wine-
whey, with spiritui Mindereri, &c. He may like¬
wise take, for a few nights, at bed time, in a cup of
wine-whey, a drachm of the cream of tartar, and half
a drachm of gum guaiacum in powder.
Warm bathing, after proper evacuations, has often
an exceeding good effect. The patient may either
be put into a bath of warm water, or have cloths
wrung out of it applied to the parts affected. Great
care must be taken that he do not catch cold after
bathing.
The chronic rheumatism is seldom attended with