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.
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.