Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-19
About sunstroIxes.

The recent intensity of solar heat has, as
usual, given rise to a considerable number
of fatal results consequent upon direct eX-
| posure to It's influence. Afew words of In
| formation upon the nature of this danger
Gus affection will no doubt be Interesting,
and may also have their use in enabling the
reader to. avoid so sudden ali exit from
sub-solar existence:
1t is rather singular fact that sunstroke
Is more fatal and more frequent in the tenn
perate than in the torrid zone. New York
has more cases than Havana or Rio, in pro-
portion to population, and even in Quebec
the danger is quite as great, In the few days
OF intense heat allotted to that region, as III
any part of the world. The indications of
the thermometer are very imperfect guides
in regard to the action Ofheat upon the ami
NAL frame. "The true Indication of the
force of the solar rays" says Herschel,
"would seem to be, not the statical effect on
the thermometer, but their momentary in
tensity measured by the velocity with
| which they communicate heat to an absorb
ent body" 1t is this ''momentary intensi-
| ty" 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 infam-
matory action in the contents of the skull.
The sufferer experiences intense headache,
succeeded by vomiting; he then falls
breathless, and unless instant assistance be
given turns black in the face and expires.
Victims of sunstrOke are most often labor
ers, and Intoxicating drinks strongly pre-
dispose to this sudden Inflammation of the
cranial organs. Any construction about the
inla oil
predisposes to sunstrolle, and generally
any depressing agents, mental or physical,
lessen the resisting power of the body to
this as to other diseases. .,......- &c.
Terrestrial radiation of the suns heat
seems to bear an important part in the pro-
duction of sunstroke.' At sea, and on small
islands, such a result is very uncommon, no
matter how intensely the suns rays beat
down; while inland, and especially in large
cities, where stony pavenlents and long
ranges of buildings combine to add their
radiant caloric to the direct action Of the
sun, fatal cases most often occur.
One of the best protectives 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 more necessary. If
in addition to this, cravatS and dress hats
are ulSCdTu6Cl, JLt udlT Cllpptu ClOSe, Ill dl-
coholic beverages strictly eschewed, animal
food reduced to a minimum, and ice drinks,
water, soda water orlemonade, freely but
temperately indulged in, we may constant
ly continue our outdoor aYocations with
out danger. f
Laboring men, who cannot carry sun UNI
brellas, will find their greatest safety in tee
totalism, at least during the heated term,
with frequent washings of the head in cold
water while at work in the sun, and the i'm
mediate abandonmentof labor on the occur
renee of dizziness or sickness at the stom-
ach. For one sunstruck, the most eff ctual
plan is removal to shelter, free application
of cold water to the head, water to drink if
the patient can swallow, and medical aid
without delay. A ,favorite treatment of
sunstroke in the army, said to have been
very successful, was the continuous DASH
ing of the patients body with cold water
until revival takes p p'ace--often for an hour
or more-with plenty of water to drink,
when swallowing was possible. A trial of
this in civil practice is certainly justifable,
seeing that under the usual treatment ev-
cry case terminates fatally.-Boston Com
9neFcilL.