History of a Case of Rheumatism. 67 



&c., ever indicate much gastric disorder. A few times 

 only, he had nausea, aa hich was of temporary existence. 



Pain, as might be naturally expected, was frequently 

 excruciating. The bowels, eyes, skin, and joints, all 

 suffered. And although he had fever, pretty constantly, 

 I do not recollect, that the grade of arterial action was 

 materially different. The pulse was, I think, generally 

 small, hard, and frequent. His sleep, unless when un- 

 der the influence of opium, was generally disturbed. In 

 fact, he frequently passed a sleepless night without it, 

 when there Avas no apparent cause. 



The treatment which was adopted, can, probably, 

 throw no new light upon the curative means most likely 

 to succeed in such complicated affections in future, as 

 he eventually died, after it had continued eighteen months. 

 Indeed, no one steady system of practice was pursued, 

 but new applications were had recourse to, as the dis- 

 ease varied, or as the former remedies failed of produc- 

 ing any apparent advantage. And it pursued its course 

 with such steady uniformity, and uncontrouled in its 

 power, as seemed to elude every art to arrest its pro- 

 gress. 



I said that the treatment varied. It was, indeed, 

 often opposite in its intentions. The diet was some- 

 times a spare vegetable one, and, at other times, a full 



meat-diet was allowed. The remedies were internal 



and external : such as, small bleedings, cathartics, ca- 

 lomel (so as to affect the gums), opium, absorbents 

 (such as aqua calcis, carbonate of magnesia) ; tonics, 



