The classification and treatment of diseases commonly known as rheumatism / by Frank E. Peckham.

  • Peckham, Frank E.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The classification and treatment of diseases commonly known as rheumatism / by Frank E. Peckham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    centres and thus the physiolog}7 of the abdominal or- gans is reached. If one joint is especially painful or achy, a twenty minute exposure to this light will often serve to completely alleviate the pain. The enlarge- ment (infiltration of soft structures) of the small joints (fingers) is stimulated usually in a very noticeable manner by the D'Arsonval current. These joints may be made to contract and diminish in size in this way sometimes when other methods fail. A small metal electrode is bandaged to the palmer surface of the fin- gers and the D'Arson val current applied by placing the glass vacuum electrode over the dorsal surface. This treatment may be continued for ten minutes on each hand. In an atrophic type with marked villous arthritis of the knees which might resist all treatment, opening the joint and thoroughly cleaning out the vil- lous growth with forceps and scissors will put an end to the trouble in that particular joint. After the oper- ation splints are used and walking is allowed at the end of a week or ten days. Another clinical picture of joint trouble is the hypertrophic type. In order that the treatment may be shown as logical and rational, the condition of the joints will have to be shown a lit- tle in detail and the etiology discussed. The principal characteristic of this condition is the overgrowth of bone or cartilage usually at the edges of the articular surfaces. The stage of actual hypertrophy is a late stage as may be quite definitely proved by considering