View report page

38
history improved with urotropin. This leads one to wonder whether
there is not a class of case due to pure " bacilluria," if I may use the
expression. No gonococci or gonococcal history existed in any of these
cases. A friend of my own derived much benefit from iodine ionization.
I recently met a gentleman from Woodhall Spa. He confirms
what you say about the prevalence of chronic rheumatism in Lincolnshire
and the benefit derived at Woodhall.
8. The principal causes of ill-health in Deptford during 1922, were,
to the best of my recollection, Measles and Whooping Cough in the
earlier part of the year. What is chronic rheumatism precisely ?
Chronic arthritis when the joints are disorganised, appears at any rate
amongst the poorer classes to be little susceptible to treatment. In
early cases 1 have sometimes seen great improvement and even cure in
cases due to infection, by removal of the sources of infection, e.g.,
septic teeth, and the persevering use of Scott's ointment, strapping of
the joint and the internal administration of guaiacum.
9. In Deptford, I have not noticed anything which could be
mentioned in your Report, but as Senior Physician to the Eastern
Dispensary and as Medical Superintendent to the East End Mission I
have found large numbers of cases of chronic rheumatism, not only
greatly improved bui in many instances quite cured by the following
methods:—(a) Two hot baths a week. (6) Massage the affected part
with hot soap suds every night, (c) Make a solution of Epsom salts,
3 ozs. in a quart of water. Dip flannel bandages in the solution and
foment the parts for a few minutes. Bandage up the parts with the
warm wet bandages. Protect the body from being wet. Keep the
bandages on all night. In the morning use only the soap massage.
Keep the parts wrapped in dry flannel.
Drugs. 1 find the following very beneficial: Equal parts of sodium
salicylate and potassic iodid mixtures. Add white mixture if there is
constipation.
In three weeks I have seen wonderful results, but if the case is of
old standing, six or eight weeks elapse before improvement is noticed.
10. Chronic rheumatism is elusive, both in its nomenclature and
essence, and I scarcely know exactly to what condition you refer. If
you exclude articidar rheumatism, e.g., later stages of acute rheumatism,
localised muscular rheumatism, stiff neck, pleurodynia,
lumbago, etc., peri-neuritis (sciatica), fibrositis and contraction of fascia,
rheumatoid arthritis and osteo-arthritis, what have you left except those
subjective, shooting, transient pains often complained of, and I suppose