View report page

48
throat, (3) rheumatic fever affecting the joints, (4)
rheumatic heart disease, (5) chorea or St. Vitus' Dance
which is rheumatism of the nervous system, (6) skin
affections and (7) subcutaneous nodules (under the
skin). It should be remembered that any of these
forms may occur in combination. The great prevalence
of rheumatic diseases, including rheumatic
heart disease and chorea is clearly shown by the School
Medical Officer of the London County Council in his
annual reports. The latest report speaks of the number
of children who were absent from school for over three
months from all causes and the percentage of absence
due to rheumatism during the month of November
from 1922 to 1925. This percentage is as follows:—
1922. 1923. 1924. 1925.
23.5 23.92 25.02 24.71
The facts are summed up in the following extract
from the report: "It will be seen that the rheumatic
group of cases accounts for one-fourth of the chronic
invalidity amongst school children, and rheumatism
is by far the most important single cause for prolonged
illness in children."
The term "Rheumatism."—The rheumatism which
occurs in adults is usually a different disease to that
which occurs in children and adolescents, and rarely
causes heart disease. The adult form of rheumatism
is not really a single disease, as the name has been
applied to several different diseases, such as rheumatic
neuritis, osteo-arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis,
which have no connection with each other nor with
the type of rheumatism which is so common in early
life.
Prevention and Treatment of Rheumatism and Rheumatic
Heart Diseases.—The removal of the focus of
infection, whether in the throat, nose or elsewhere,
should be the first consideration, and the removal of
infected tonsils and adenoids is indicated in many
cases. A healthy condition of the nose and throat
is important also in the prevention of the diseases of