Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-07-14
SunstrOke.
BY AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

ONE OF the sacred promises to those
who are to inherit the better life is
That the sun should not light upon
them, nor any heat" To the inhabitants
of the "dry and thirsty land" it is well
remarked by an author ON sunstroke, this
promise was full of meaning. This dis
ease, or rather accident, has undoubtedly
been recognized in some form from the
earliest periods of history. The suffer
iDgs of armies in tropical climates, or dur
ing the hot season in higher latitudes, il
frequently due to the effects of heat
Laborers exposed to the steady action o.
the suns rays in summer, and so situated
or clothed as to interrupt free perspira-
ton, or by their habits raising the TEN
perature of the blood, are liable to sun
stroke. It follows that 80 called sunstroke
may occur without exposure to the sun,
and such is the case quite frequently. AL
the conditions may be present in the
shade, and even when the person is in q
state Of rest.
Though not strictly correct, sunstroke
may, for practical purposes, be defined to
be an affection of the nervous system,
due to oVerheated blood. The term over
heated must be taken in relative, and
not literal sense; for if the nervous sys-
TEN is in good condition, and the func-
tions of the body otherwise well perform
ed, the temperature of the blood may be
very much increased, without dangerous
or even injurious results. But if the in
dividual is greatly fatigued, or poorly
nourished, or weakened by disease, 90
that the nervous system is depressed OF
enfeebled, the effect of the sudden eleva'
ton Of the temperature of the volume o.
| the blood may prove most disastrous
This result Is produced, not by oVerstimu
lation, but by actual depression, for thil
is the recognized effect ofs oVerheatec
blood upon the nervous centres. What
| ever other and more subtle causes may bt
operating upon the individual, this one
will te most apparent and, If avoided
will save the exposed person from an at
tack.
By far the larger number of victims o.
sunstroke are the Incorporate; they are
predisposed by an induced depression o.
the nervous system, due to poor nutrition
and by superheated blood from the use Of
stimulants. They often fall dead in sum
mer from the effects of heat, even while
sitting quietly in the shade. Among la
borers and soldiers, the intemperate are
the subjects of sunstroke. The aged and
infrm are liable to be prostrated by heat
due to the rise of temperature of the
blood, excited by the heated external air
Feeble children, also, often sink from
pure exhaustion, due to the depression o.
heat.
The premoritoIy symptoms are heat
| dizziness, great thirst, suhusion Of the
eyes, followed By fainting, or insensibili
| ty, like an attack of apoplexy.
As sunstroke depends upon severa
conditions, of varying intensity, so its at
tack may be slight or great, according Il
these conditions. In some cases, it is but
| q transient faintiDg, or, perhaps, only 1
feeling of slight depression, lasting fol
several days, while in The severer forms
death follows quickly, as though there
had been veritable coup dc sOEeiJ, OF
stroke of the sun.
In the management of this disease, pre-
vention Is eminently important It is an
affection which can always be prevented
by proper precautions, and the preventive
measures can be practiced by every one
The one prime object must be to keep
cool, and, above all, to keep the head, the
seat of the great nervous centre, cool. II
will not do to cool the extremities simply,
| for thus the blood is driven in upon the
brain and lungs, and fatal mischief may
thus be created. The whole body should
be kept in as nearly the normal tempera-
ture as possible. This may be done by
| dressing in light loose clothing, which al
| low the cooling process OF perspiration tc
90 on unchecked. The Chinese fan theil
shaven heads, and so, if we create q cur
rent of air around Us, we reduce temper
| ature. We should avoid all stimulating
6raughts which excite the circulation, and
for the same reason very active exercise
becomes dangerous. The feeble and ex
hausted should be placed in airy rooms
and be gently famed. The laborer should
rest during the heat of the day, and drinl
cooling fluids, and when at work frequent
ly bathe the head, neck, and hands in coo
water.
When the attack comes on, the sufferer
should be taken to shade, q mustard
plaster should be applied, and over hi
bare head, neck, and chest, cold waite
should be dashed. This is all that cal
safely be done without medical advice
Hearth and Home.