The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-29 00:00:00

THE HEAT IN NEW YORK.

The American papers contain long accounts of
the excessive beat which prevails in New York, and the
naafis says that the oldest residents cannot remember a
season when it was so oppressive, or led to such terrible
results. The startling statement is in fact made, that
on the 16th 100 cases of sunstroke occurred, of
which 60 were fatal; but Dr. Harris, the regis-
trar of vital statistics of the New York Board of
Health goes even beyond this, and says that 250
deaths were known to have occurred as a direct effect of
heat during the previous throe days; and the New York
limes says there in no doubt his figures are too true, as
the registrar's sources of information are many and accu-
rate. Dr. Harris had accordingly issued a series of sug-
gestions for the prevention of sunstroke, which at the
present period will prove of interest, and perhaps of value,
in this country.. exposed to excessive heat the
natural perspiration or sweating must not be checked; let
the sweat flow and do not throw off all the flannel gar-
ment.. Wash 'the head and neck frequently in cold
water, and if exposed in the sun or in any very hot place,
wear upon the top of the head, under a hat, or other-
wise, a light handkerchief or other thin folds of sloth
wet with cold water. Remember that the head and neck
must be kept cool, and also free from the
.pressure of
tight clothing. If headache, dizziness, a feeling of tight-
ness across the forehead, a failing of sight, or a feeling of
weakness and prostration ("giving out ") occurs, let the
person immediately go to a cool place and lie down
with the back and the feet covered, and have a few
quarts of cold water poured slowly upon the head
and the sides of the neck. If the symptoms are not at
once relieved send for the nearest good physician.
If the patient is still sweating let him drink freely of
cold black tea or coffee ; tea is best. But if sweating
has ceased there is very great danger. Then the head,
face, neck, and entire chest should be rapidly sponged
with ice water, and a bag of pounded ice, well covered
with a towel. should be kept under head and the back of
the neck. Give a mixture of the carbonate of ammonia
(hartshorn) and muriate of ammonia, eight or ten grains
of each in water, every ten or fifteen minutes, until the
physician comes, or until the patient rallies and sweats.
Enfeebled, intemperate, poorly-feed, over-fed, and
irritable persons are most in danger of the fatal effect of
heat. People who live and sleep in foul air and un-
ventilated places, and who are overworked and under-fed,
and who use intoxicating drink suffer greatly. Instead
of intoxicating drink and the bed habit of morning and
evening drama, let good black tea and coffee, and good
nourishing and well-cooked food be regularly. taken.
Bathe the whole body early in the mortung, in order
to have a clean akin and good natural sweating during
the day,
Labourers and others who have much to do should rise
so early that they can have several rests, and keep in the
shade from 11 till 4 in these very hot days. And let this
moat important fact be remembered, namely, that by
natural sweating (perspiration) the body is kept health-
fully cool when exposed to these terrible heats, and that
over exertion, passion, and all kinds of intemperance must
be avoided. Dr. Harris had also addressed a note to
the president of the Board of Health in which he urges
that the contractors, builders, and other great employers
of labour should be urged to be considerate to their
men, and give them the advice and the opportunity for
rest which they now need. "The fact,"- says the New
York now, "that the first 15 days of July have had an
average or mean temperature ten degrees higher than has
been experienced in more than 2.5 years should lead all
our fellow-citizens to use every means possible to en-
courage and enforce sanitary cleansing and the obser-
vance of the rules of health. y should these
suggestions concerning sun-stroke be heeded."
The same:paper states that neither Calcutta nor Panama
can match New York, in one of her genuine old-fashioned
" heated terms," such es is now prevailing. The mercury
may rise as high, or perhaps a little higher, in those
places than here (it adds), but for still, dead, caloric—for
oppressive, stifling, overpowering heat, New York, we
honestly believe, can beat the world. In all tropical
countries there is more or less of a breeze stirring, particu-
larly in the evening, which compensates in part for the
mid-day sun, and affords great relief to man and beast;
but here there is oftentimes nothing of the kind for days
together, either morning, noon, or night. During the
present heated term in this city there has not been air
enough stirring to ruffle the down on the white swans in
Central-park. Mom and animals were obliged to gasp
twice to get their breath, and many of them failed in the
end and died of the effort.