Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-02-02
MISCELLANEOUS
T'sae Sis1sco7na.

The effects olthe Snoom are instant
sulsucation 10 every Twin. creature with
| IN the sphere Of its activity, aud imme-
| date mutt efactian Of the carcases of the
dead. The Arsbians discern its approach
| by an unusual retiness in the air. and
they say that they fee! aud smell Of sui
| phnr as tterasses. The only means by
which any person can preserve himself
! from suffering by these n0xious blasts, is
/ BY throwing himself down, with his face
on the earth. till this whirlwInd Of pais-
onous exhalatIons has blown over. which
always moves at certain height in the
atmosphere. lnstincteve teaches the
brutes to incline their heads to the
ground on these occasions. .Nseburh.
The Arabs of the desert call these
winds Stmouna. or poison, and the Turks
Shamyeaola. or wind of Syria, from which
is formed the Samiel
Their heat is sometimes so excessive.
that it is difficult to form any idea of IT'S
violence without having experienced it;
I.but tt NAV be compared to the beat of a
large oven at the m1ment of drawing out
:he bread. When these winds begin TO
blow, the atmosphere assumes an alarm
ing aspect. Inc sky. at other times So
clear in this climate. becomes dark and
heavy:- the sun loses its splent!nr and ap-
pears Of a violet color. 'ihe air is not
cloudy, but grey and thick, and is in
fact filed witt. ag extremely subtle dust
which penrtrates everywhere. This
wind, always light and rapid, is not at
first remarkably hot, but it increases in
heat in proportion as il continues. All
animated bodies soun discover it. by the
change it produces in them, The lungs.
which too refined air no longer expands,
are contracted. aud become painful
Respiration is shor. and difficult, the skin
parched and dry. and the body consum-
ed by an internal heat. In vain is re-
course had to large draughts Of water;
nothing can restore persplration. In
VAIN is cooines, sought for !; all bodies in
which it is usual to find it, deceive the
hand that tuu'h hes them. Marble, iron,
water. notwithstanding Che sun no long
er appears. are hot The streets are de-
serted, and the dead silence of night
reign, every where. The inhabitants of
houses aud villages shut themselves up
in their houses, and those Of the desert
in their tents, or in pits they dig in the
ground. where they wait TIVE termination
"f this destructive heat. 1t usually lasts
three days, but if it exceeds that time it
becomes insupportable. w to the trav-
elier whnn tins wind surprises remote
from Shelter. he must suffer all its dread
luI consequences, which sometimes are
mortal. The danger is NEST imminet
when it blows in squalls; for the rapidly
Of the wind increases the heat to such
degree as tn cause sudden death. This
death is real suffncation; the lungs be-
ing empty. are convulsad, the circuI.-
ton dtsnr,lered, and the whole mass of
blood driven bv the heat towards the
head and breast: whence that hnmor-
rIlase at the nose and mouth which hap
pens after death. This wind is especial
ly fatal to persons IF plethcric habit,
and those in whom fatigue has destroyed
the toue of the muscles ant! the vessels.
The corpse remains a long time warm,
SHttfSs kOFtI3 bfGts anu 10 CttSttf
ted; all which are signs Of that putrid
fenner tatioir which takes place in ami
mai bodies when the humors beeosne.stay.
nant. These accidents are to be avoid
ed BY stappmg the nose and mouth with
haneikerchlets an eiiicaciuas method
is likewise that practlsed by the cameIs,
who bury their noses in the sand and
keep them there till The squat is over.
Another crafty in this wind is-ils ex-
IRENE arIdiiy; which is such, tina. water
sprnkIed on the floor evaporatts in few
minutes. BY this extreme dryness, it
withers and strips all the plants; and by
exhaIing too suddenly the carnations
from animal bodies crisps the skin. and
closes the pnres, causes that leversh heat
which is the invarlable effect of suppress,
ed perspiration.-To Eney.