Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-07-06
AN ESSAY ON sUNsTROKE.

AN ESSAY ON SUNSTROKE.
Another Illusion Of youth has van
ished. We are told by "an eminent
physician" that cases of sunstroke
| may occur in the shade as well as in
the sun. Here is what the physician
in question says in Hearth and Home !.
zone 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 remarked by an author
on snnstroke, this promise was full of
meaning. This disease, or rather aeci-
dent, has undoubtedly been recog-
nized in some form from the earliest
period of history. The sufferings of
armies in tropical climates, or during
the hot season in higher ATTITUDES, is
frequently due to the effects of heat.
Laborers exposed to the steady action
of the suns rays in summer, and so
situated or clothed as to interrupt free
perspiration, or by their habits rails
ing the temperature of the blood, are
liable to sunstroke. 1t follows that
sO-called sunstroke may occur with
out exposure to 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 state
of rest.
Though not strictly correct, sun
stroke may, for practical purposes, be
defined to be an affection of the ner-
vous system, due to Overheated blood.
The term overheated must be taken
in a relative and not literal sense for
ifthe nervous system is in good con-
ditiOn, and the functions of the BODY
otherwise well performed, the tenn
perature of the blood may be very
much increased, without dangerous
or even injurious results. But if the
individual is greatly fatigued, orpoor-
ly nOurished or weakened by disease,
so that the nervous system is depress-
ed or enfeebled, the effect of the sud-
den elevation of the temperature of
the volume of blood may prove most
disastrous. The result is produced,
not by Over-stimulation, but by actual
depression, for this is the recognized
effect of Overheated blood upon the
nervous centers. 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 at
tack.
"By far the larger number of vic
Tins of sunstroke are the intemper-
ate; they are predisposed by an in
dueed depression of the nervous sys-
tenn, to poor nutrition, and by super
heated blood from the use of stimu-
lants. They often fall dead in the
summer from the effects of heat, even
while sitting quietly in the shade
Among laborers and soldiers the in
temperates are the subjects of sun
stroke. The aged and infirm are liza
BILE to be prostrated by heat during the
rise of temperature of the blood, ex-
cited by the heat of external air.
Feeble children, also, often sink from
pure exhaustion, due to the depression
of heat.
'The. premGnitary symptoms are
heat, dizziness, great thirst, suffusion
of the eyes, followed by fainting or
insensibility, like an attack of apo
plexy.
"As sunstroke depends upon sever
al conditions of varying intensity, so
its attack may be slight or great, ae-
eording to these conditions. In some
cases it is but transient fainting, or
perhaps only feeling of slight depres-
sion, lasting for several days, while in
the severer forms death follows quick
ly, as though there had been a verita-
bic coup de s0Leik, or stroke of sun.
I'm the management of this dis
ease prevention is eminently impor-
tant. 1t is an affection which can al
ways be prevented by proper preeau-
tiOns, and the preventive measures
can be practised 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 eenters cool. /
1t viii not do to cool the extremities
for thus the blood is driven !
in upon the brain and lungs, and fatal |
may thus be created. The |
whole body should be kept in as near
" the normal temperature as posi- ]
Bile. This may be done by dressing /
IN light and loose clothing, which al /
ows the cooling process of perspira-
ion to go on unchecked. The Chi /
lese fan their shaven heads, and so,
f we create current of air around US,
we reduce temperature. We should
lvoid all stimulating drinks, which
excite the circulation, and for the
anne reason very active exercise be-
,omes dangerous. The feeble and ex-
lausted should be placedin airy rooms
md be gently famed. The laborer
Mould rest during the heat of the day,
rink cooling fluids, and when at
work frequently bathe the head, neck
md hands in cool water.
when the attack comes on, the
should be taken to a shade, a
mustard plaster should be applied, and
'ver his bare head, neck and chest
old water should be dashed. This is
IL that can safely be done without
medical advice"