Cold bathing, especially in salt-water, often cures the rheumatism. We would also recommend riding on horseback, and wearing flannel next the skin. Issues are likewise very proper, especially in chronic cases. If the pain affects the shoulders, an issue may be made in the arm; but if it affects the loins, it should be put into the leg or thigh. Persons afflicted with the scurvy are very subject to rheumatic complaints. The best medicines in this case are bitters and mild purgatives. These may either be taken separately or together, as the patient inclines. An ounce of Peruvian bark, and half an ounce of rhubarb in powder, may be infused in a bottle of wine; and one, two, or three wine glasses of it taken daily, as shall be found necessary for keeping the body gently open. In cases where the bark itself proves sufficiently purgative, the rhubarb may be omitted. Such as are subject to frequent attacks of the rheumatism ought to make choice of a dry, warm situation, to avoid the night-air, wet clothes, and wet feet, as much as possible. Their clothing should be warm, and they should wear flannel next their skin, and make frequent use of the flesh-brush. CHAP. XXXIX. OF THE SCURVY. This disease prevails chiefly in cold northern countries, especially in low damp situations, near large marshes, or great quantities of stagnating water. Sedentary people, of a dull melancholy disposition, are most subject to it. It proves often fatal to sailors on long voyages, particularly in ships that are not properly ventilated, have many people on board, or where cleanliness is neglected. It is not necessary to mention the different species into which this disease has been divided, as they differ from one another chiefly in degree. What is called the _land-scurvy_, however, is seldom attended with those highly putrid symptoms which appear in patients who have been long at sea, and which, we presume, are rather owing to confined air, want of exercise, and the unwholesome food eaten by sailors on long voyages, than to any specific difference in the disease. CAUSES.——The scurvy is occasioned by cold moist air; by the long use of salted or smoke-dried provisions, or any kind of food that is hard of digestion, and affords little nourishment. It may also proceed from the suppression of customary evacuations; as the _menses_, the hæmorrhoidal flux, &c. It is sometimes owing to a hereditary taint, in which case a very small cause will excite the latent disorder. Grief, fear, and other depressing passions, have a great tendency both to excite and aggravate this disease. The same observation holds with regard to neglect of cleanliness; bad clothing; the want of proper exercise; confined air; unwholesome food; or any disease which greatly weakens the body, or vitiates the humours.