By this term is meant an inflammation of a joint or joints, but today it is used more specifically now to designate an inflammation due to infection from some local focus of suppuration, such as abscessed teeth, tor,sils, gall-bladder, or appendix or to gonorrhea. Many cases of arthritis occur without any apparent. focus of infection. Practically all cases, however, are due primarily to overeating and ~ther dietetic errors; insufficient elimination, enervation, and general wrong habits of living although arthritis is classified as rheumatic, syphilitic, supportive, tuberculosis, gouty or as a result of spinal cord lesions or typhoid infection. Arthritis appears in both acute and chronic forms, and with different manifestations. The most important form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (or arthritis deformers).
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is a chronic and deformative inflammation of the joints. It differs from particular rheumatism in that it results in change in form of the joint, due to more or less growth of the bone or to an atrophy or shrinkage of the structures. As the body in general loses weight, with reduction of the soft tissues encasing the joints, the deformity becomes seemingly more pronounced. The condition develops very slowly and insidiously at first, and usually persists for years.
The first symptoms are joint pains occurring during movement of the joints, with reduced movement of the joints especially after rest. Gradually there develops progressive reduced movement of the joints. Only one joint, may be involved, but .as a rule several joints are affected, particularly the fingers, the hands and the vertebrae. Usually the two sides of the body are similarly affected.
Acute Arthritis
Acute arthritis generally is the result of a direct injury to the joints; hence single joints are involved as a rule. If the injury results in an open wound and there is sufficient general toxemia present an infection may result, with the development of pus in the joint. Gonorrhea also is a frequent cause of acute arthritis, in which case several joints may be afflicted. The underlying cause in all cases, except the slight cases resulting from direct injury, is a general toxemia resulting from wrong living habits in general; and even when the result of injury, there will be more pronounced joint affection if toxemia is present.
Treatment of Acute Arthritis
Treatment of acute arthritis consists of complete rest, withdrawal of all food except citrus or other fruit juices or vegetable broths, and local applications to the affected joints, with some means of applying sweat-baths if possible. The best local compresses are cold Epson salts compresses covered with sufficient dry flannel that reaction to warmth is prompt and complete, and these packs left on for three or four hours. Upon removal, hot compresses may be applied for from fifteen to thirty minutes, followed by the re-application of the pack above described. It is best to have considerable Epson salts in the water used for the pack-two ounces to the quart of water. Sweat-baths by means of blanket-packs with the drinking of plain hot water or hot unsweetened lemonade while in the pack will be very beneficial. Much water or fruit juice should be taken in order to keep the kidneys functioning freely. The bowels should be cleansed daily by the tepid enema. It may be necessary for the patient to remain on a fruit diet for from one to three or four weeks. The later diet in any case should be highly alkaline yet nourishing-fruits, vegetables, milk and whole grain cereals chiefly.
Treatment of the chronic form requires fruit juice diet also, though naturally the patient cannot be kept on this diet until complete cure or maximum benefit have been secured. From six to 8 dozen oranges or the equivalent of other fruit juices may be taken daily for as long as weight, strength and energy permit. After this there should be a gradual increase in the amount and variety of fruits, with the addition of raw and cooked green and root vegetables, and with very moderate amounts of whole grain cereals, and some form of milk in quantities usually of a quart or two a day.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is a chronic and deformative inflammation of the joints. It differs from particular rheumatism in that it results in change in form of the joint, due to more or less growth of the bone or to an atrophy or shrinkage of the structures. As the body in general loses weight, with reduction of the soft tissues encasing the joints, the deformity becomes seemingly more pronounced. The condition develops very slowly and insidiously at first, and usually persists for years.
The first symptoms are joint pains occurring during movement of the joints, with reduced movement of the joints especially after rest. Gradually there develops progressive reduced movement of the joints. Only one joint, may be involved, but .as a rule several joints are affected, particularly the fingers, the hands and the vertebrae. Usually the two sides of the body are similarly affected.
Acute Arthritis
Acute arthritis generally is the result of a direct injury to the joints; hence single joints are involved as a rule. If the injury results in an open wound and there is sufficient general toxemia present an infection may result, with the development of pus in the joint. Gonorrhea also is a frequent cause of acute arthritis, in which case several joints may be afflicted. The underlying cause in all cases, except the slight cases resulting from direct injury, is a general toxemia resulting from wrong living habits in general; and even when the result of injury, there will be more pronounced joint affection if toxemia is present.
Treatment of Acute Arthritis
Treatment of acute arthritis consists of complete rest, withdrawal of all food except citrus or other fruit juices or vegetable broths, and local applications to the affected joints, with some means of applying sweat-baths if possible. The best local compresses are cold Epson salts compresses covered with sufficient dry flannel that reaction to warmth is prompt and complete, and these packs left on for three or four hours. Upon removal, hot compresses may be applied for from fifteen to thirty minutes, followed by the re-application of the pack above described. It is best to have considerable Epson salts in the water used for the pack-two ounces to the quart of water. Sweat-baths by means of blanket-packs with the drinking of plain hot water or hot unsweetened lemonade while in the pack will be very beneficial. Much water or fruit juice should be taken in order to keep the kidneys functioning freely. The bowels should be cleansed daily by the tepid enema. It may be necessary for the patient to remain on a fruit diet for from one to three or four weeks. The later diet in any case should be highly alkaline yet nourishing-fruits, vegetables, milk and whole grain cereals chiefly.
Treatment of the chronic form requires fruit juice diet also, though naturally the patient cannot be kept on this diet until complete cure or maximum benefit have been secured. From six to 8 dozen oranges or the equivalent of other fruit juices may be taken daily for as long as weight, strength and energy permit. After this there should be a gradual increase in the amount and variety of fruits, with the addition of raw and cooked green and root vegetables, and with very moderate amounts of whole grain cereals, and some form of milk in quantities usually of a quart or two a day.
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