young persons. Acute
rheumatism frequently takes a milder form, with slight fever (the
temperature running not over 100 deg. or 101 deg. F.) and slight pain, and
swelling of the joints. In children this is a common occurrence, but
heart disease is just as apt to follow, and, therefore, such cases
should receive a physician's attention at the earliest moment.
Recovery from rheumatic fever is the usual result, but with an
increased tendency to future attacks, and with the possibility of more
or less permanent weakness of the heart, for acute rheumatism is the
most common origin of chronic heart troubles. The milder form often
follows the more severe, and may persist for a long time. The duration
of rheumatic fever is variable; in severe cases the patient is
bedridden for six weeks or so.

Rheumatism may be named through a mistake in diagnosis. There are
numerous other febrile disorders in which inflammation of the joints
may occur. Among these are gonorrhea, pneumonia, scarlet fever, blood
poisoning, diphtheria, etc. The joint trouble in these cases is caused
by the toxins accompanying the special germ which occasions the
original disease, and the joint inflammation is not in any way
connected with rheumatism. The constant attention of a physician is
emphatically demanded in every case of rheumatic fever, since the
complications are so numerous, and since permanent damage of the heart
may be prevented by proper care. Only frequent examinations of the
heart by the medical man will reveal the presence or absence of heart
complications.

=Treatment.=--It appears extremely doubtful whether rheumatic fever
can be cut short by any form of treatment. The disease is
self-limited, that is, it will pass away of itself after a certain
time. The pain, however, can be rapidly abated by treatment. Warmth is
of great value. It is best for the patient to sleep between blankets
instead of sheets, and to wear flannel nightgowns, changing them as
often as they become damp with sweat. To facilitate the changing, it
is well to have the nightgowns slit all down the front, and also on
the outside of the sleeves. Wrapping the joints in cotton batting and
applying splints to secure absolute rest are great aids to comfort.
The diet should be fluid, consisting of gruels, milk, broths, and
soups. To relieve pain in the joints, cloths, wrung out of a saturated
solution of baking soda and very hot water, wrapped about the joint
and covered with oil