RHEUMATISM. MUSCULAR. 485 



only apparatus required is a good, strong, sharp noodle, such as is ordinarily 

 used as a shawl-pin. The person who is about to perform the friendly office for 

 the patient grasps the needle firmly in his hand, and suddenly thrusts it for 

 the distance of an inch or two into the loins over the painful part. The pain 

 of the puncture is but momentary, and the needle, instead of being withdrawn, 

 may be advantageously left sticking in for a few minutes. When the lumbago 

 is double, the operation should be performed on both sides of the loins. We 

 have cured many cases of lumbago by this method, and have never known 

 it to be followed with any unpleasant consequences. Most instrument-makers 

 keep needles fitted in bone handles for the performance of this operation, but 

 the domestic substitute to which we have referred will answer equally well. 



The Turkish bath, which is such a valuable remedy for nearly all complaints 

 of a rheumatic nature, may be used with advantage in lumbago. 



When a Turkish bath is not obtainable, the ordinary domestic linseed poultice 

 may prove of service. In acute lumbago, poulticing often brings speedy relief, the 

 severest cases being greatly benefited in a few hours, and generally cured in one or 

 two days. The poultice must be very hot, and large enough to cover the whole 

 loins or the part affected, and thick enough to remain quite hot for at least half an 

 hour, when it must be changed. Should no benefit be obtained, this treatment 

 should be continued for three hours or longer, then the skin must be covered with a 

 piece of flannel, which in its turn is covered with oil-silk. This after-treatment, like 

 that of the poultices, promotes free perspiration, upon which mainly depends the 

 efficacy of this plan. 



A diametrically opposed method of treatment, that of freezing the painful part, 

 may sometimes be adopted with advantage. Two parts of finely-powdered ice, with 

 one of common salt, are put in a gauze bag, and placed in contact with the skin 

 until the sensation is abolished, and it has a leathery feel, and a shrunken, tallowy 

 appearance. The application should not be continued for more than five or six 

 minutes, or it may cause a blister. 



One of the best and most convenient methods of freezing the part is by spraying 

 upon it with ether, the evaporation of which produces intense cold. The spray 

 apparatus which will be found most convenient for the purpose is known as 

 Richardson's. It is that which is described and figured whilst speaking of tho 

 inhalation of ipecacuanha wine in the treatment of winter cough. A single 

 application of the ether spray will in many cases afford speedy relief in lumbago. 



The use of galvanism is not uncommonly attended with the most satisfactory 

 results, the passage of what is known as the " interrupted current " effecting a 

 speedy cure. When electricity, the needle, or poultices fail to give more than slight 

 temporary relief, it will often be found that the lumbago is accompanied by high 

 fever, and that it is in reality the first symptom of an attack of acute rheumatism 

 or some other febrile disease. 



The application of a good strong plaster over the loin? will, by affording sup- 

 port to the parts, often give relief. Either the chalybeate plaster or the pitch 

 plaster may be employed. It is desirable to have it spread on leather or some 

 equally durable and substantial substance. In summer it is a good plan to have it 



