RHEUMATISM.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19309, 14 May 1928, Page 2

RHEUMATISM.

GROWING HARVEST OF DISEASE. (UXTTXB I>M3S ASSOCIATION- -BT ELICTBIC TKLZGHAPH—COPTBIQHT ) LONDON, May 11. "Five and a halt miHion weeks' work were lost owing to rheumatism in England last year. The cost in loss of wages and medical attention was £l7 000,000." said Sir Walter Kinnear at the Medical Authorities' Conference at Bath. , Sir George Newman declared that children's acute rheumatism was sowing the seeds of a growing harvest oi disease of the-heart and nerves. Doctors were, unaware of its real cause, but as it started during the school age it was'then they must explore it. "The first line of defence against rheumatism," : said Dr. Richard Llewelivn governor and consulting physician of the National Hospital for Rheumatism at Bath,, in an address to the conference, "is for the people to be trained to resist weather changes. People need hardening, not coddling. Dr Llewellyn recommended cold baths', but sufferers might try alternating hot and cold applications. Municipalities should establish hot and cold showers. TT . ' Professor Vining, of Leeds University, denied that the wholesale removal of tonsils rind adenoids was a preventive. Rheumatism was due primarily to dietetic deficiencies. The first and foremost necessity was a well-balanced food diet from childhood.—"The Times" Cables.