Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-07-22
THE CAUSE OF sUN-sTROKE.

The New York Journal Of Commerce.
in an article on the chemistry of sun
strokes, tells us that though the effects
and the treatment of sun-stroke are well
understood in this country, where the
malady is due of frequent occurrence
more frequent, probably, in the hottest
months than in any other part OF the
world-yet the cause of the sunstroke is
a mystery. The editor is certain
"The intense heat-merely as heat
of the solar rays, is rot the agent OF mis-
chief The human body may be exposed
to the Turkish bath of 40 degrees, aud
remain in it an hour without injury.
This is much higher range of heat than
that of the atmosphere at which sun
stroke most often occurs, viz; from 100
to Ito degrees Gin the SUM- to97a
I Men working in the zipz furnaces or
foundries are subjected to heat above
l20 degrees, but they are not Frustrated
to the ground with the phenomena of the
sun-stroke. The human organizations IS
fitted to endure much higher pitch of
heat than any we have named. Expert
ments are recorded Of men sitting quite
comfortably in ovens, while chickens were
slowly browning by their 9tside. How
does it happen, then, that at a tempera-
ture of the open air comparatively SO low
men meltaway Gas the popular saying isl
with heat? GgssH@aaa5 aa1e 0y ouea
J The reason, we think, must be looked
for in the chemical character of the sun $
rays. The heat of the sun differs from
every other kind Of heat, assthe light OF
the sun differs from every other kind OF
rays. This is fact go we'll kno wn as to
need no demonstration. The effect of
the suns heat upon p'auts--as contrast
ed with artificial heats the most]f amil-
lar and perhaps the most striking iilustra
ton at hando All animate and 5inani
N lie things are subject to precisely the
same great laws of nature; and the solar
heat which make the flowers droop and
close their petals, as if to shut out the
dazzling rays, is not with out its marvel
Gus chemical effect upon the sensitive
brain of man. The effect, we say, is
chemical--just like the effect of poison
Strychnine, cyanide of potassium, arsenic, j
morphine. and the. other deaaly drugs do
not work more marked organic changes
IN the system than sun stroke The
countenadce of the victim is dark colored
and injected with blood, and a post NOR
ten, examination discloses, congestion of
the brain, lungs and heart. These are
the effects, varying in some degree, of
the administration of poisons. The
chances of recovery from poisoning are.
far better, if remedies are seasonably .ap
piled than from sun t oke. The latter
is almost always fatal with persons Of
delicate health or full habit" q; asa.
1ra AS to the, surest way to avoid the effects
of this "poisonous HEATH -iG o.iIu
Il, "Keep out of the sun as much as posi-
BILE Do as the birds aud the beasts do. do
as your intelligent fellow. creatures do in
Madrid, Havana, or Pernambuco-stickt to
the shade as closely as you can during the
hottest hours of our summer days But,
if your intense and irrepressible Anglo
Saxon nature must drive you into the
face of the sun, Il or if your occupation
obliges such exposure, take an umbrella
with you as a. shield, or put a wet hand
kerchief, or. cabbage leaf, or other pro,
lection in your hat. Drink but little. Of
ice water, eat sparingly of fat meats take
daily baths, walk slow, talk slow gesticu-
late gently, avoid politics, and don't get
over excited about anything whatever
as you value your life" E+ 1e -at4ug,