WHAT BATES WANTED TO KNOW.

West Coast Times, Issue 10429, 7 December 1896, Page 4

WHAT BATES WANTED TO KNOW.

" I shall be obliged if you can answer me one question," said my friead Bates, as he lay on the couch one day in my room nursing his aching ]per. « Why does exposure to wet or cold bring on an attack of rheumatism at one time, when a like exposure for a score of times leads t& no such result 1 " Before I set down in writing the answer I gave him I wish you would r*'a<l the following letters, as no doubt the authors of them will be interested. " "'ii November, : 892," says the one, '• I had an attack of rheumatic fever, ;md was confined to my bed for four weeks, during which time I suffered fearfully. I had awful pains all over me ; my joints swelled up, and I was so helpless I could not raise my hand to my mouth. After the fever left me ; was extremely weak, and so emaciated I was little more than skin and lione. A large lump, the size of an egg, formed on my elbow, and my fingers were almost drawn out of joint. ' 1 cannot describe the suffering I had 1 to bear. The doctor ordered various medicines, and cod liver oil, but they ' had no effect In February, 1893, [ 1 ) cad in a small book about the remark- * ;>ble success which had followed the ■ use of Mother Seigel's Syrup in cases ■ of rheumatism, and got a bottle from s IV! essrs. Leverett and Fry, High Street. After taking it two weeks 1 was better, 1 Ind in about a month more all rheut itiatic pains had left me, and I was > strong and well as ever You may , publish what I have said. ( Signed ) t John H. Kent, 9, Randall {Street, ; VTaidstone, Kent, January 30th. , 1895." i " For many years," says the other, $ " I bad been subject to liver complaint [ .md indigestion. I was habitually heavy, weak and weary. My appetite was poor , and all food gave me pair ;i.nd fulness at the chest and around the -ides. I had so much pain and tightness of the chpst that I could not endure 5 ihe piessure of my clothing upon it. Although not laid up, 1 was seldom • i tee from pam or a sense of discomfort. ■ Ln the summer of 1893 I began to '' suffer with rheumatism, which affected , my arms and shoulders until 1 had not ; the power to lift my hand to my head. , 1 tried all sorts of liniments, embroca1 tions, and rubbing oils, but got no r benefit from any of them. '- In August, 1893, my friend, Mrs. , Owen, told me how much good Mother •eigel's Syrup had done her for rheux matism, and I got a bottle from the c Drug Stores in St. Ann's Road. in a fow days I was much better, and in 1 less than a month afterwards all pain had left me ; and lam happy to say [ have never had any return of the rheumatism since, but have enjoyed the best of health in every resppct. [ In common thankfulness for my speedy 1 and wonderful deliverance, I willingly 1 consent to the publication of this hurried statement should you wish to ■ make that use of it. ( Signed ) ( Mrs ) [ L. S. Cole, 6, Albert Road, South Tot1 tenham, London, August 16th., 1895." Before answering the question of my ■ friend Bates ( who was a chronic rheu- , matic ) I asked him one : " Why does a lighted match, dropped into the road, die out hamile^ly, but when dropped , 1 into a haystack, set up a conflagration ? " * •f ' /v ny fool can answer that," he said f Because in the one case there is nothing for the tire to catch hold of, virile in the other there is." " Exactly," I responded. " Now ace. Indigestion and liver complaint ( the second consequent on the first ) continue to produce a virulent poison ! in the blood called uric acid, practically inso üble in water. This acid, which is a solid, enters the tissues, and sots going a hot inflammatory fire. That is rheuruatjsra. Jt does what a sliver would — only the acid is a poison sliver " When the indigestion and the liver trouble are not very bad, and tne kidneys and sweat gland <f the skin are acting fairly well, this acid is carried out of the body about as fast as it is formed, Exposure then brings on uo rheumatism. But, per contra, when the stomach and liver in bad condition, the acid forms faster than the kidneys and the skin can carry it off. Then expose yourslef, get cold or wet, hamper the skin and kidneys still more, and thp pqison acid spreads thro ugh your muscles and joints like the tire in the dry hay, You understand ? Very well. The longer the cause persists the more frequent the rheumatic at backs. That is why chronic dyspeptics are apt also to be chronic rheumatics. Fend of dyspepsia, or cure it by the use of Mother Seigel's Syrup, and you and the rheumatism will have no dealings, Neglect it, and suffer every time you catch cold." That was my answer to Bates and he said there seemed to be sense m it.