2. Rheumatism, Cotton Excellent for Inflammatory.--"Take a roll of cotton
batting and wrap the limb, or part of the body affected, as firmly and
tightly as possible, without tearing the cotton, let it remain
"twenty-four hours, then tighten it up by unwinding and rewrapping the
cotton as tight as possible, as on the first application, and so continue
every twenty-four hours until cured, which, in my case, was three days. I
had been troubled with rheumatism for a long time, and was unable to walk.
I tried everything, doctors and all, but nothing helped me. A lady from
Cincinnati, who was visiting at a neighbor's, called at my house one day
and learning what was the matter with me, advised me to put cotton on as
stated above. I had no faith in it, but I had tried everything else and
concluded I would try that, with the result that it cured me. Possibly if
a case should require a longer time for a cure than mine it might be
necessary, or be better, to replace the cotton with a fresh roll. The
rewrapping every twenty-four hours is intended to keep the cotton batting
firmly and tightly around the part affected as the swelling recedes."
[320 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Prevention.--Wear flannel late and early. Keep from taking cold. Put off
wet things of every kind immediately upon getting home and dry your body
and put on dry well-aired clothes. Never sleep in a damp bed, under damp
unaired clothes. When you go away from home do not sleep in a room or bed
that has been unoccupied for any length of time, especially if there is no
furnace in the house. Do not sit down in wet damp clothes, stockings,
shoes, etc. Do not sit down anywhere to "cool off." It is inviting trouble
and sickness. Do not lie on the damp ground, do not sleep on the first
floor of an old damp house. Have plenty of sunlight and air in your
sleeping room. These directions apply to the chronic cases also. It does
not matter so much if one is wet or sweating as long as he keeps moving or
working. On wash day do not dry your clothes in the kitchen or sitting
room, or put them on your bed, unless they have been thoroughly dried,
aired and warmed before using. These little things mean much in real life.
PHYSICIANS' CAUTION for Articular Rheumatism.--Go to bed and remain there
and do not get up too soon, for remember the parts are still tender when
they may not be painful.
Local Treatment.--1. There must be absolute rest. Remove the sheets from
the bed and wrap woolen cloths or blankets about the patient and protect
the inflamed joints from the weight of the coverings. Cover the joints
with gauze or absorbent cotton, after putting on the parts a thick coating
of ichthyol ointment.
2. Sometimes hot fomentations are helpful in relieving the suffering;
sometimes cold cloths are best.