Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-07-08
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-
ings of armies in tropical climates, or dur
ing the hot season in higher latitudes, is
| frequently due to the effects of heat.
Laborers exposed TO the steady action of
the suns rays in summer, and 80 situated
or clothed as to interrupt free perspira-
tion, or by their habits raising the tenn
perature of the blood, are liable to sun
stroke 1t follows that 30 called sunstroke
may occur without exposure to the SUE,
and such is the case quite frequently. All
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 a relative, and
not literal sense; for if the nervous sys.
tenn 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, SC
that the nervous system is depressed OF
enfeebled, the effect of the sudden eleva.
ton of the temperature of the volume OF
the blood may prove most disastrous
This result is produced, not by overstimu'
lation, but by actual depression, for this
is the recognized effect of overheated
blood upon the nervous centres. What
ever other and more subtle causes may be
operating upon the individual, this one
will te most apparent, and, II avoided
VIII save the exposed person from an at
tack.
By far the larger number of victims o.
sunstfoke 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 o.
stimulants. They often fall dead in sum
mer from the effects of heat, even while
sitting quietly in the shade. Among Ia
borers and soldiers, the intemperate are
the subjects of sunstrOke. The aged anC
infrm are liable to be prostrated by heat
due to the rise Dot 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 premonitory symptoms are heat
dizziness, great thirst, sufusion OF the
eyes, followed by fainting, or insensibili
ty, like an attack of apoplexy.
AS sunstroke depends upon severa
conditions, OF var, ing intensity, SO its at
tack may be slight or great, according Il
these conditions. In some cases, It is bu
q transient fainting, or, perhaps, only |
feeling of slight depression, lasting fo
several days, while in the severer forms
death follows quickly, as though then
had been a veritable coup dc sOleil, O
stroke of the sun.
In the management Of this disease, pre
vention Is eminently important. 1t il q
affection which can always be prevent o