APPLICATION OF VERATRIA IN RHEUMATISM. 39 
had a red and inflamed appearance, and could not be moved, on ac- 
count of the pain. 
On the second day of the disease, leeches and fomentations had 
been applied to the affected joints, and internally he had taken col- 
chicum and diaphoretics, but with very little benefit. He was 
therefore ordered to have an ointment made with twenty grains of 
Veratria to an ounce of lard, freely rubbed over the seat of the 
pain, for about fifteen minutes at bed time. 
Next morning the patient was almost well. During the night 
the pain and fever had disappeared, and he could walk about and 
move his limbs with perfect ease ; “the inflammation and swelling 
had toa great degree subsided, and the joints were restored to 
nearly their natural appearance. In two days afterwards, although 
the ointment had been only once applied, no trace of the affection 
was left. 
CASE III. 
Mx. G., forty-five years of age, and of a robust constitution, was 
in consequence of exposure to cold and wet seized with a rheu- 
matic attack, which was confined to the knee and ankle of the right 
side, and accompanied with some degree of fever ; he was ordered 
on the evening following the accession of the disease to take anti- 
mony combined with calomel ; but next day the symptoms did not 
appear at all to have diminished. The affected joints were swollen, 
inflamed, and painful, and the quickness of pulse, and heat of skin 
still continued the same. 
Part of an ointment made with twenty grains of Veratria to an 
ounce of lard, was now directed to be rubbed over the seat of the 
pain for the usual time; and on the morning after the first applica- 
tion, the patient could walk about the house ; the pains, inflamma- 
tion, and swelling had almost disappeared, and the febrile symp- 
toms were gone: by continuing the same treatment for two days 
lenger, he was able to follow his business, and no relapse afterwards 
occurred. ; 
CASE IV. 
Mr. S., a stout gentleman, aged about fifty, had been in the early . 
part of his life much exposed to cold and moisture, which brought 
on an attack of lumbago, and since that time he has had many re- 
turns of the disease. In addition to this, he has also been affected 
with chronic rheumatism, confined principally to the joints of the 
hip and knee of the left side. The motion in both is very much 
impeded ; over the hip-joint there is an evident fullness, and when 
any extensive movement is impressed upon it there is a distinct 
crackling noise elicited, and a similar feeling is communicated to 
_ the patient. i age 
The knee is also the seat of considerable swelling, and pain which 
