National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-07-29

One of the sacred promises to those
who are to inherit the better life is
THAT the sun shall not light upon them,
nor any heat" To the inhabitants Of
the /" dry and thirsty land" it is well re-
marked by an author on sunstroke, this
promise was full of meaning. This dis
ease, or rather accident, has undoubtedly
been recognized i'll some form from the
earliest periods of history. The suffer
ings of armies i'll tropical climates, or
during the hot seasons in higher ATTITUDES,
is frequently due to the effects of heat,
Laborss exposed to the steady action of
the e,,,,'@ -ayp i'll suIIluIrI, and 80 situated
or clothed as to interrupt free perspira-
ton, or by their habits raising the tenn
perature of the blood, are liable to sun
stroke. 1t follows that so-called sun
stroke may occur without exposure to the
sun, and such is the case quite frequent
~. All the conditions may be present in
the shade, and even when the person is
III state of rest
Though not strictly correct, sunstroke
may, for practical purposes, be defined
to be an affection of the nervous system.
due to over-heated blood. The term
Oyerheated must be taken in relative
and not literal sense for if the function
/ Is III good condition, and the functions of
the body otherwise well performed, the
/ temperature of the blood NAV be very
much increased, without dangerous, or
even injurious results. But if the indi-
yidual is greatly fatigued or poorly nour-
ished or weakened by disease, so that the
nervous system is depressed or enfeebled,
the effect of the sudden elevation of the
temperature of the volume of the
blood may prove most disastrous
This result is produced not by over
stimulation, but by actual depression,
for tins Is the recognized effect of
over-heated blood upon the nervous cen
tiers. Whatever other and more subtle
causes may be operating upon the indi-
vldIlal, this one will be most apparent.
and if avoided, will save the exposed
person from an attack
BY far the larger number of victims of
snnstroke are the Incorporate they are
predlsposed ny an induced depression of
the nervous system, to poor nutrition, and
super-heated blood from the use of slim
ulants. They often fall dead in summer
from the effects of heat, even while sit
ting quietly i'll the shade. Among labor
ers and soldiers the Incorporate are the
subjects of sunstroke The aged and in
firm are liable to be Frustrated by heat
IluLAg the rise of temperature of the
blood, excited by the heat of external
AR. Feeble children, also, often sink
from pure exhaustion, due to the depres-
sion of heat.
The premonltory symptoms are heat.
dizziness, great thirst, sutfiision of the
eyes, followed by fainting or insensibilitv.
like an attack of apoplexy.
As sunstroke depends IL pom several con-
oltlons of varying intensity, so its attack
may be slight or great, according to these
conditions. In some cases it is but a
transient fainting, or perhaps, only
feeling of slight depression, lasting for
several days, while in the severer forms
death follows quickly, AS though there
mad been veritable comp Ne SoieH, or
stroke of the sun.
In the management of this disease
prevention is eminently important. 1t
Is an affection which can always be pre-
vented by proper precautions, and the
preventive measures can be pacticed bv
every one. The one prime object must
be TO keep cool, and above all, to keep
the head, the seat of the great nervous
centers, cool. Ii will not do TO cool the
eXtremities simply, for thus the blood is
driven III on the brain and lungs, and "a
tai mischief may thus be created. The
whole body should be kept in rs nearly
the normal temperature as possible F.
Inns may be done by dressing in light
and loose clothing, which allow the cool /
ing process of Precipitation to go on I'M
checked. The Chinese fan their shaver
heads, and so, if we create a current of
ar around us we reduce temperature.
We should avoid all stimulating drauphts
which excite the circulation, and for the +
same reason very active exercise becomes
dangerous. The feeble and exhausted
should be placed in airy rooms and he
gently famed. The laborer should rest
during the heat of the day, drink cooling
li''lds and when at work frequently battle
the head, neck and hands in cool water.
When the attack comes on. the sufferer
should he taken to shade. mustard
plaster should be applied, and over his
bare mead, neck and chest, cold water
should be dashed This is all that can
safely he done without medical advice.
IfeUW ami H0mc.