The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-08-04

The recent intensity Of solar heat has. Is
usual, given rise to g considerable number
Of fatal results, consequent upon direct ex-
posure to its influence. 4 few words Of IA.
/ formation upon the nature Of this dangerous
affection viii, no doubt, be interesting, and
may also have their use IN enabling the
reader to avoid SO sudden an exit from sub
solar existence.
It is a rather singular fact that sun-stysks
is more fatal and more frequent II ths tem-
perate than il the torTid zone. New York
has more cases than Havana or Rio in pro
portion to population; even IN Quebec the
danger Is quite ils great, in the few days Of
intense heat allotted to that region as IN any
part of the world The indications Of the
Thermometer are very imperfect guides n
regard to the action Of heat upon the animal
frame The true indication Of the force.
of the solar rays, says Hersehel. would
seem to be, not the statical effect on the ther-
mometer, but their momentary intensity
measured by the velocity with which they
communicate heat to an absorbent body. 1t
is this momentary intensity which causes
the phenomenon Of sun-stroke, and which
seems to be greater in regions without than
within the tropics.
When the head is exposed to the suns rays
in times Of their greatest intensity, the heat
seems often to cause instant inhammatory
ferer experiences intense headache, succeed.
ed by vomiting; he then falls breathless, and.
unless instant assistance be given, turns
black in the face and expires. Victims Of
sun-stroke are most often laborers, and IN
toxicating drinks strongly predispose to this
sudden Inflammation of the eranial organs.
Any construction about the neck, from tight
cravats or collars, also predisposes to sun
stroke, and generally any depressing agents.
Of the body to this as to other diseases
Terrestrial radiation of the suns heat
seems to bear al important part in the pro.
ductiOn of sur-stroke. At sea, and on small
islands, such result IS very uncommon, no
matter how intensely the suns rays beat
down; while inland, and especially in large
cities, where stony pavements and long rangss
Of buildings combine to add their radiant
caloric 60 the direct action Of the sun, fatal
cases most often occur.
One Of the best prOteetives against sun
stroke is the sun umbrella, universally used
in our Southern cities, but rarely seen at the
North, where, during our short but fiery
summer, they are even mole necessary. If
IN addition to this, crayats and dress hats are
discarded, the hair clipped close all afcohilie
beverages strictly eschewed. animal food re-
duced to a minimum, and ice drinks, water
soda water or lemonade freely but temper
ately INDUCED in, we may confidently con
tinue our usual outdoor avacations without
danger
LaboTiHg men, who can not carry sun um-
brellas. viii find their greatest safety in tee
totalism, at least during the heated term,
with frequent washing of the head in cold
water while at work in the sun, and imme-
diate Abandonment of labor on the oecur-
renee of dizziness or sickness at the stomach
For one snn-struck, the most effective plan
is removal to shelter, free application Of cold
water to the head, water to drink If the pa
tient can swallow, and medical aid without
delay. a favorite treatment Of sun-stroks
in the army, said to have been very success
full was the continuous dashing Of the pa.
tients body with cold water until revival
took place-0ften for an hour or more--wish
plenty of water to drink when swallowing
was possible. A trial of this ia civil prac-
tice is certainly justifable, seeing that under
the usual treatment every case terminates
fatally