from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rheumatism \Rheu"ma*tism\, n. [L. rheumatismus rheum, Gr. ????,
fr.??? to have or suffer from a flux, fr. ??? rheum: cf. F.
rheumatisme. See {2d Rheum}.] (Med.)
A general disease characterized by painful, often multiple,
local inflammations, usually affecting the joints and
muscles, but also extending sometimes to the deeper organs,
as the heart.
[1913 Webster]
{Inflammatory rheumatism} (Med.), acute rheumatism attended
with fever, and attacking usually the larger joints, which
become swollen, hot, and very painful.
{Rheumatism root}. (Bot.) See {Twinleaf}.
[1913 Webster]