The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-06-24
An Essay ON sunstroke.

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An Essay on SunStroke. \
Another Illusion of youth has vanishcd
We are now told by IAN eminent physi
clan" that cases OF sunstrOke may occur
in the shade us well MS in the sun, Here
is what tlie physician in question says in
Hearth and Hoplsa E'nBt5f5
zone of tho sacred promises TO those
\ who arGto inherit the bCttcrlite is: THAT
the sun shall not ightupon them, nor any
HEAT 10 the inhabitants Of the dry and
thirsty lind,' ii is well remarked by al
author on sumslrokc, this promise was full
of meaning. This disease, or rather acct
dent, has undoubtedly been recognized IN
some form from the earliest periods in
history The sullcrings Of armies IN
tropical climates, or during the hot season
in higher ATTITUDES, Is frequently due to tue
effects of heat. LabOrers exposed TO tue
steady action of the suns rays in summer
and SO situated or clothed US 10 interrupt
free Precipitation, or by their habits rails
ing the temperature Of the blood, are liza
blG to sunstroke. It follows that SO.cdlted
SuRstrOkC mug Occttr aOittOut exposure to "
san, and Such is tie case frequently All
1.-THE conditions may he present in the
shade, and even when the person IS in q
state Of rest.
Though not strictly correct, sunstroke
NAV, for practical purposes, be defined to
| be I'M affection Of the nervous system, due
TO oycrheated blood. The term overhead
ed must be taken in a relative and not lit.
eral sense: for if tic nervous system is In
GOOD condition, and the functions OF the
BODY otherwise well performed, the tenn
peraturc Of the blood may be very much
| increased, without dangerous or even In
furious results. But il the individual is
greatly fatigucd, or poorly nourished or
weakened 6y disease, so that the nervous
system is depressed or cnfcCblcd, the effect
Of the sudden elevation of the tCmpcra-
turc of the volume Of the blood may
prove most disastrous. This result is pro-
duccd, not by over-stimulation, but by
actual depression, for this is the recognized
effect of OvcrhCatCd blood upon the ncr-
vOus centres. Whatever other and more
subtle causes may be operating upon the
individual, this one will bemost apparent,
and, if avoided, will save the exposed
person from an attack.
"By fur the larger number OF victims OF
sunstrOke are the intempernte; they arc
prcdisposed by MI Gdduced depression oi
lille nervous system, 10 poor nutrition, and
by supcr.hcated blood from the use OF
siimuiunts. They often fall dead in sum
mer from the effects OF heat, even while
sitting quietly in the shade. Among Ia
borcrs and soldiers the Incorporate are
the subjects Of sunstroke. The aged and
infrm IRE liable to be Frustrated by heat
during the rise Of temperature Of the
blood, excited by the heat Of external air
Feeble children, also, often sink from
I pure exhaustion due to the depression Of
heat.
"The prcmonitOry symptoms arc heat,
dizziness, great thirst, suttuSion tho eyes,
followed by flinting or inscnsibility, like
an attack Of apOpleXy.
"As sunstrOke depends upon several
conditions Of varying intensity; so its at
tack may be slight or great, according to
these conditions. In some cases it is but
transient fainting. or perhaps only a
feeling of slight depression lasting Tor sew
cral days, while in the scverer form death
follows quickly, MS though there Ind been
veritable coup dc sOlca, or stroke OF the
sun.
In the management Of this disease pre-
vcntion is emincntly important. 1t is an
affection which can always he prevented
nv nrOper precautions, and the pTeVentl-
tive measures can be practiccd 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 cXtrcmi;ies simp'
~, for thus the blood is driven in upon
| the brain and lungs and fatal mischief
may thus he created Tile whole body
should he kept in US nearly the normal
Temperature rs possible SThis may he
done. by dressing in light and loose cloth.
Ing, Which allow the cooling process o!
perspiratiOn to go on unchecked The
Chinese Inn their shavGn heads, and so, ii
we create q current EOf air around us, we
reduce temperature. We should avoid
stimulating draughts which excite the
circulation, and for the same reason very
Iactive exercise becomes dangerous. The
feeble and exhausted should be placed in
airy rooms, and be gently famed. The
la6orer should rest during tho heat OF the
day, drink cooling fluids, and when nj
work freqncntlyliathe the head, neck and
hands in cool water -.,-.ag .--..r.
When the attack comes on the sufferer
should be taken to Il shade, u mustard
plaster should be applied, and over his
bare head, neck and chest, cold water
should. be dashed. This is all that car
safely be done without medical advice