90 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



passage of it, and consequently inflammation and pain. Fur- 

 ther, I suppose, that the resistance formed excites the vis 

 medicatrix to a further increase of the impetus of the blood ; 

 and, to support this, a cold stage arises, a spasm is formed, 

 and a pyrexia and phlogistic diathesis are produced in the whole 

 system. 



CCCCLIX. According to this explanation, the cause of 

 acute rheumatism appears to be exactly analogous to that of the 

 inflammations depending on an increased afflux of blood to a 

 part while it is exposed to the action of cold. 



But there seems to be also, in the case of rheumatism, a pe- 

 culiar affection of the fibres of the muscles. These fibres seem 

 to be under some degree of rigidity, and therefore less easily 

 admit of motion ; and are pained upon the exertions of it. 



It is also an affection of these fibres which gives an opportu- 

 nity to the propagation of pains from one joint to another, along 

 the course of the muscles ; and which pains are more severely 

 felt in the extremities of the muscles terminating in the joints, 

 because beyond these the oscillations are not propagated. 



This affection of the muscular fibres attending rheumatism, 

 seems to explain why strains and spasms produce rheumatic af- 

 fections ; and, upon the whole, shows, that, with an inflamma- 

 tory affection of the sanguiferous system, there is also in rheu- 

 matism a peculiar affection of the muscular fibres, which has a 

 considerable share in producing the phenomena of the disease. 



CCCCLX. Having thus given my opinion of the proximate 

 cause of rheumatism, I proceed to treat of the cure. 



CCCCLXI. Whatever difficulty may occur with respect to 

 the explanation given, CCCCLVIII. and CCCCLIX., this re- 

 mains certain, that, in acute rheumatism, at least in all those 

 cases which do not arise from direct stimuli, there is an inflam- 

 matory affection of the parts, and a phlogistic diathesis in the 

 whole system ; and upon these is founded the method of cure 

 which frequent experience has approved of. 



CCCCLXII. The cure therefore requires, in the first place, 

 an antiphlogistic regimen, and particularly a total abstinence 

 from animal food, and from all fermented or spirituous liquors ; 

 substituting a vegetable or milk diet, and the plentiful use of 

 bland diluent drinks. 



