CHRONIC

RHEUMATISM  .-ThiS term has been somewhat loosely applied to various chronic joint affections, sometimes of gouty origin or the result of rheumatoid arthritis . Strictly speaking, it may be applied to cases in which the joint lesions persist after an attack of rheumatism, and chronic inflammatory thickening of the tissues takes place, so that they become stiff and deformed . It is also appropriate to certain joint affections occurring in later life in rheumatic subjects, who are liable to repeated attacks of pain and stiffness in the joints, usually induced by exposure to cold and wet . This form of rheumatism is less migratory than the acute, and is commonly limited to one or two of the larger joints . After repeated attacks the affected joints may become permanently stiff and painful, and crackling or creaking may occur on movement . There is seldom any constitutional disturbance, and the heart is not liable to be affected .