The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-07-23
sun.st:oke-1ts Syn p .oms and Remedy.

| 6un.st :oke-Its syn p .oms and Remedy
On looking over our exchanges, we find
that thirty or forty persous have already
suffered this season from the effects of the
sun, and before the summer is over. VIC
shall in all probability be called upon to
chronicle many other casualties of the
same kind. What therefore, is best to be
done in the case Of sudden attack Accor-
ding to the New York Post, the svmtoms
Of sun.stroke generally indicates constitu-
tion previously impaired. Sometimes there
is active congestion and apoplectic effusion
in the Uranium, and in such cases death gen.
orally ensues. But more often the signs
are those of physical, and, particularly, ce-
rebral prostration; the pulse is feeble, the
cheeks, and, in fact, the whole surface Of
The body are pale and ghastly. The blood
is defective in quality, thus impending the
vital process. The heart is evidently the
organ at fault, having suddenly succumber-
ed under fatigue and exhaustion, though the
head give the first intimation of danger
This premonitory symtoms of sun stroke
mentioned inthe first, t,instance is recorded in
history, whicll may lie found in the Bible:
And when the child was grown, it fell on
day that he went out to his father to the
rcapers. And he said to his father nv,
head, my head!" And ho said to lad,
Garry him to his mother" And when lie
had taken him and brought him TO his
mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and
dicd"-2 Kings iv, IL 20.
Manassas, also, the husband Of Judith, the
heroine, (chap. vii, 2, 81 died in sim
liar manner Manassas WAS her husband, of
her tribe aud kindred, who died in the bar
them that bound sheaves in tue field, the
heat came upon his hcud, and he fell upon
his bed aud died in the city of Bcthu!ia." ;"
Convulsions sometimes occur, and in the
intervals there are trembings Of the mus
cIes and lmbs not greatly unlike those of
dclirium tremens. These are very common
in diseases of debility, where the nervous
system is largely involved, generally do not
require specific attention. Even during the
progress or recovery, there is sometimes
considerable mentals alteration.
The premoni,ions Of an attack are readi,
ly recognized. There is feeling of press,
ure upon the head, the blood tingcs in the
vessels, the air, seems too hot and tcnuous
for breathing. A person who was once
thus affected, tells US that he was cured by
Immediately bathing the head, arms and
shoulders in water. While undergoing this
process, he experienced a sensation as il
burning GOALS were spread over the whole
scalp. but in less than An hour every op-
pressive symtom passed away. A brother
OF the same gentleman, similarly attacked
was not so cautious. He fell to the ground
insensible, while at labor in the harvest field
and after lingering two or three days, mucl,
of the time comatose, and with what a
physician mistakenly termed and treated as
typhoid fever, was suffered to die.
The remedies "laid down in tile books
are alcoholic and ammoniacal stimueuts
these being "ditfusive" and causing an
equable circulation Of blood throughout the
body, ana particularly the surface. The
patient is advised to swallow the medicine
but if he is "out of his head" it can be Civ.
en- by enema. Washing the head with
cold water, and rubbing linimcnts mpon the
surface with the hands, keeping up the fric
tion as long as may be necessary, will gene
rally answer the purpose. When much
dullness or stupor remains, coffee and strong
| tea are efficacious.
The means Of prevention are simple Per
sons in sound health are seldom attacked
previous debility, general depression of tex
vital forces unusual excessive physical l,e
ertion, VIOLENT, gusts Of passion excessive
drinking of cold water, or Of alcoholic bev
erages, snperadded to exposure to the sum
mer sun or a hot fire, create the danger.
Careful moderation in these particular.
will generally secure exemption. The Aral
wandering in an arid desert, subsisting on
camers milk and a few vegetables, usual
ly enjoys immunity his blood is not vita
ted by stimulating food or unwholsom.
drinking. Sir Jos. Banks spent twent,
minutes in An oven where beef was cooking
without harm Fisherman for the sake o
protection sometimes fill their hats will
moist sea weed though any large leaves, O
even wet cloth upon the head will answe
as we'll. This is an infallible preventiv,
and should be more generally observed b,
Iaboring men.