The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-07-03
sTtNsTROKE,

An instructive article on the snnIecto OF
sunstroke appears in Lippincotts Maya
zine for July, from the pen Of Horatio Q.
Wood, Jr., NJ. D. The writer shows the
true nature Of this always alarming and
often fatal disease and by inference its
proper treatment, his views in both be.
Ing illustrated and confirmed by physio-
logical experiments. The following Is 0
summary:
Sunstroke coup dc SOlieD Is shown to
DO simply an effect Of oyerheating. Ex-
ternal heat Is the calae Of sunstroke, and
this "heat produces directly all the symp-
TONS" II Is well remarked, that In such
cases there should be no waiting for the
doctor; but the true nature oil the case
should be first clearly ascertained. alas
every man that fails unconscious, Of
hot day, the sunstroke?" A criterion Of
easy application Is 10 put the hand on the
chest and "if the akin be cool you may.
rest assured that whatever be the trouble
ii Is not sunstroke.p gg,Ftop PA
If, on the contrary, the akin be Of O.
burning heat, the case Is certainly sun.
stroke, and no time should be lost Cold
water drawn from the nearest pump or
hydrant, orlf the case occur In the harvest
field, from the nearest spring, should be
freely dashed over the head and chest Of
the sufferer, who ID TO bes raised for o
moment to allow Of the water being
poured on his back, and render the
cooling Of the body more complete.
This Is to be continued until the heat Of
the surface Is brought down TO nearly lis
natural standard, and consciousness be-
gins to return. "A recommendation
which we find in DR.. Woods paper also
is to prevent the heat accumulating in
the body by intetposing bad conductor
in the shap Of light flannel, worn next
the skin, and this article may also be re-
garded as the best for outer garments,
loosely made, and also Of light or white
color. "a roomy, wlde.brimmed porous
hat should be used, and in the crown OF
It may be placed wet towel or large
handkerchief" The additional RECON-
mendation that "water should be used
externally and internally" must never be
forgotten.
Sweating, as DR.. Wood truly remarks,
Is natures great refrigerative process, to
be brought on and kept up, not by the
pernicious practice Of the person exposed
10 the drenching himself with liquor, but
"by large quantities Of water, not too
cold, hut without stint-quarts, Il the
thirst crave It," When the sweat ceases
in July and August day, and throb.
bling head and dry and hot skin, with
unsual restlesness and headache show
themselves, as the laborer or workman
"values his life, let him leave his work
however imperative, and take at once q
cold bath" The author cites IN expert
ment oil his directly bearing on the
question Of the cause OF sunstroke. "a
hogs bladder was fitted over the head Of
an animal, with Tubing so arranged that
hot water could be made 10 circulate
through the bladder.
1t was found when an animal was so
treated, that sudden insensibility, stupor,
with or without commissions, and finally
death from asphyxia were induced" Ex.
amlnaton OF the Drain lmmeulately aIter
death with bulb thermometer showed
that brain temperature thus obtained
Of from 112 deg. to ia deg. F. was fatal
to q cat, and one of ia deg. to III deg
F. to rabbit. The application Of these
experiments Is readily made when we
know that the,temperaturo Of o man is 9S
deg. to 90 deg. F. and that in sunstroke It
is raised from 100 deg. to 112 deg. F,
Moisture in the'air favors the production
Of sunstroke, the predisposition to which
is also induced by the person being unac-
climated or unaccustomed to high temp!
erature, and by intemperancc, exhaustion
from fatigue and previous injury from
exposure to heat. Numerous instances,
some OF which ARE mentioned by DR..
WoodS have occurred OF .epidemlcs Of
sunstroke. -tsa All GaRB ..5I