Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-07-14
SunstrOke.

ABOUT MS cog, DEL IL WOuiu uaIuty uC oatC
To cay what think about it.-Joass QUIT.
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
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 ATTITUDES, 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-
ton, or by their habits raising the tenn.
perature Of the blood, are liable to sun
stroke. It follows that so-called sunstroke
may occur without 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 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
g. xrith Hoy ~
or even injurious results. But If the in.
dividual is greatly fatigued, or poorly
nourished, or weakened by disease, 80
that the nervous System is depressed or
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 he most apparent, and, If avoided,
will save the exposed person from an AZ
tack.
BY far the larger number Of victims of
sunstroke are the incorporate; they are
predisposed by an induced depression of
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 Ia
borers and soldiers, the incorporate are
the subjects OF sunstroke. The aged and
infirm are liable to be Frustrated 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 OF
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 sunstrolse depends upon several
conditions, of varying intensity, so its at
tack may be slight or great, according to
these conditions. In some cases, IL Is but
q transient fsinting, or, perhaps, only
feeling Of slight depression, lasting for
several days, while in the severer forms,
death follows quickly, as though there
had been veritable coup dc soteii, or
stroke Of the sun.
In the management of this disease, pre-
vention is eminently important. 1t 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 ali, to keep the head, the
seat of the great nervous centre, 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 tempera-
ture as possible. This may be done by
dressing in light loose clothing, which al.
low the cooling process of perspiration to
90 on unchecked. The Chinese fan their
shaven heads, and 30, if we create cur
rent of air around US, we reduce temper
ature. We should avoid all stimulating
craughts 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 drink
cooling fluids, and when at work frequent
ly battle the head, neck, and hands in cool
water.
When the attack comes on, the sufferer
should be taken TO shade, q mustard.
plaster should be applied, and over his
bare head, neck, and chest, cold water
should be dashed. This is all that can
safely be done without medical advice
Hearth and Home.