Ex gratiosi ordinis Med. Bas. decreto M. Jacobus Seidelius Olaviensis Silesius ... ad X. Calend. Octob. hora locoque solito de arthritide respondebit

from other parts of the body to itself, and cold, due to which the part is rendered less fit for cooking its own nourishment and accumulates a supply of excrements: a vicious disposition, such as larger cavities and looser ligaments, which easily receive harmful humors: or a solution of continuity caused by a fall, blow, or some other external cause, which destroys not only the shape but also the temperature of the part.

SIGNS.

10. Future arthritis is signaled by a certain preternatural disposition of those parts from which the flux usually occurs, by a quantity of urine and sweat smaller than usual, and by tension and heaviness of the neighboring muscles. The present condition is indicated by impeded movement, pain, and swelling of the part.

11. Hot humors are recognized by a burning and stinging pain that occurs suddenly and encompasses several joints at once: if sanguine, by the swelling of veins, the use of commendable foods, and the neglect of exercise; if bilious, by a tertian exacerbation, cares, vigils, immoderate exercises, the manner of diet, temperament, age, and the constitution of the air, being hot and dry. Cold humors, however, are recognized by a dull pain that occurs gradually and usually occupies one limb: if pituitous, by a pale color, daily exacerbation, temperament, age, diet, and a cold and humid constitution of the air; if melancholic, by a dark color, sadness, quartan exacerbation, diet, temperament, age, and a cold and dry constitution of the air.

12. If they flow from the head, signs of catarrh are present, and the sick generally feel the humor flowing from the head down the neck, sides, and back like water. If from the liver or spleen, there is tension of the hypochondria due to the obstruction of those viscera. If from the uterus, pain around the loins due to the suppression of menses.

PROGNOSTICS.

13. Inveterate arthritis, and that which is propagated from parents, rarely receives a true cure, especially if old age or intemperance of life has been added.
14. Those for whom arthritis has yielded to dropsy or asthma, the condition is lethal, according to Aretæus.
15. If varicose veins follow joint pains, they are cured (Galen, 6 Epidemics, section 6, aphorism 8).