The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-14
An Essay Oh SuntrOke.

Another illusion of youth has vanished. We
are now told by an eminent physician" that
cases of sunstroke may occur in the shade as
we'll as in the sun. Here is what the physician
in question says in Hearth and Home:
"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 we'll remarked by an author on sunstroke,
this promise was full of meaning. This disease,
or rather accident, has undoubtedly been recog
nized in some form from the earliest periods of
history. The suferings of armies in tropical
climates, or during the hot season in higher
latitudes, is frequently due to the effects of
heat Laborers exposed to the steady action of
suns rays in summer, and so situated or cloth
ed as to interrupt free perspiration, or by their
habits raising the temperature of the blood, are
liable to sunstroke. 1t follows that so-called
sunstroke may occur without exposure tc the
sun, and such is the case quite frequently. All
the conditions may be present in the shade, and
even when the person is in a state of rest.
Though not strictly correct, sunstroke may,
for practical purposes, be defined to be an affec-
tion of the nervous system, due to Overheated
blood The term overheated must be taken in
a relative and not literal sense; for if the ner-
vous system is in good condition, and the func-
tions of the body otherwise we'll performed, the
temperature of the blood may be very much in
creased, without dangerous or even injurious
results But if the individual is greatly ia
tigued, or poorly nourished, or weakened by
disease, so that the nervous system is depressed
or enicebled, the effect of the sudden elevation
of the temperature of the volume of the blood
may prove most disastrous. This result is pro-
duced, not by over-stimulation, but by actual
depression, for this is the recognized effect of
overheated blood upon the nervous centres.
Whatever other and more subtle causes may be
operating upon the individual, 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 sun
stroke are the incorporate they are predispos-
ed by an induced depression of the nervous
system, to poor nutrition, and super-heated
blood from the use ofstimulants. They often fall
dead in summer from the effects Of heat, even
while sitting quietly in the shade. Among la
borers and soldiers the Incorporate are the sub
iects of sunstroke. The aged and infirm are
liable to be prostrated by heat during the rise
of temperature of the blood, excited by the
heat of external air. Feeble children, also,
often sink from pure exhaustion, due to the de-
preston of heat
toThe premonitory symtoms are heat, dizz
ness, great thirst suffusion Of the eyes, follow
ed by fainting or insensibility, Like an attack
of apoplexy.
'4s sunstroke depends upon several condi-
tions 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
had been ycritable coup de Soiiel, or stroke of
the sun.
"In the management of this disease prevcn-
tion is eminently important 1t is an affection
which can always be prevented by proper pre-
cautions, 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 centres,
cool, 1t 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 temperature as possible.
This may be done by dressing in light and loose