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This page recommends preparations containing opium, laudanum, morphine, or similar narcotics — in some cases for children. These substances are dangerously addictive, easily fatal in overdose, and strictly controlled by law today.
In addition, this page prescribes plants as medicine according to pre-modern medical theory. Several of the plants named are toxic, correct identification is difficult, and the doses given have no scientific basis. Do not ingest or apply any preparation described here.
In addition, this page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
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Causes of Rheumatism
The causes of rheumatism are various. Vicissitudes of temperature are the most common; occupying a damp bed for a single night is sufficient to engender the disease. Such pereffected the greatest cures. Dr. Beach relates sons as blacksmiths, who are exposed to a case of severe scalding, in which a poultice severe changes of temperature, are generally of slippery elm bark and olive oil alone very victims to the complaint. Miners and persoon arrested the inflammation and acute sons employed in smelting-furnaces are often sufferings of the patient, to the astonishment severe sufferers. There is likewise a heredof all who witnessed the cure. itary tendency to the malady, which a slight cold will develop. Rheumatism | 5532. Remedy for Rheumatism. proceeds from a vitiated condition of the Take ounce cach black cohosh root, golden blood. A hereditary taint in the circulating seal, and nerve powder; 1 pint of rum. Mix. fluid may be developed by a slight cold, but Dose, 1/2 table-spoonful 3 times a day. The more commonly the blood becomes vitiated most obstinate cases of rheumatism have through mal-assimilation and a faulty diges- yielded to the above simple remedy. tive action. The precise principle of the 5533. Speedy Cure for Rheumatism. poison engendered has not yet been fully Dr. R. H. Boyd states that he cures inflamascertained. It is generally believed to be matory rheumatism in from 3 to 7 days by lactic acid. the following method: Give first a full emetic
5526. Premonitory Symptoms of dose of tartar emetic (1) to 2 grains), and Rheumatism. An attack. of rheumatism is when this has operated, 5 drops laudanum imminent when a stiffness is felt in the joints, and 5 drops tincture of colchicum, every 3 combined with a dryness of the skin and a or 4 hours, and a tea-spoonful of a half-pint burning thirst. The variety of the complaint mixture, containing 4 drachms acetate of poof which these signs are the precursors is tassa, every hour. When the patient becomes termed acute. The other variety is chronic very hungry, and is quite free from pain, rheumatism. The latter may be described as having fasted several days, he allows 2 tablean aggravated condition of the former, though spoonfuls of milk or 1 oyster 3 times a day, some persons not only describe them as increasing the quantity gradually each day. quite distinct, but introduce a variety be- 5534. Remedy for Inflammatory tween them.
Rheumatism. Gelseminum, administered