The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-07-13
sunstrOke.

An instructive article on the subject of
sunstroke appears in Lippincott's Magazine
forJuly, from the pen Of Hontio c. Wood,
Jr., NJ. d. The writer shows the true
nature ofthis always alarming and often ia.
tai disease, and by inference its proper
treatment, his views in both being illustrated
and confirmed by physiological expert.
ments. The following is a summary;
sunstroke coup dc soliel) is shown to be
simply an effect of oysrheating. External
heat is the cause of sunstroke, and this
''heat produces directly all the symptoms. "
Its we'll remarked, that in such cases there
should be no waiting for the doctor but
the true nature of tho case should be first
clearly ascertained. "Has every man that
falls unconscious. Of a hot day, the sun.
stroke p A criterion ofeasy application is
to pat the hand on the chest and ''if the
skin be cool you may rest assured that
whatever be the trouble it is not sun.
stroke"
Ii, on the contrary, the skin be Of
burning heat, the case is certainly sunstroke,
aud no time should be lost. Cold water,
drawn from the nearest pump or hydrant,
or, If the case occur in the harvest field,
from the nearest spring, shOnld be freeley
dashed over the head and chest Of the
sufferer, who is to DO raised for 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 itsnatnral standard, and conscious.
ness begins to return. A Recommendation
which We find in DIR. Woods paper also is
to prevent the heat accommodating in the
body by interposing bad conductor in the
shape ofhght flannel, worn next the skin,
and this article may also be regarded as the
best for outer garments, loosely made, and
also of n light or white color. "A roomy,
wide brimmed porous hat should be used,
and in the crown of it may be placed q wet
towel or large handkerchief," The add.
tional recommendation 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 PERM.
cious practice of the person exposed to the
SUI drenching himself with liquor, but "by
large quantities of water, not TOO cold, but
without sliut--quarts, il the thirst crave ii. "
When the sweat ceases in July and August
day, and throbbing head and dry and
hot skin, with unusual rcstlcssness and
headache show themselves, as the laborer
or workman ''yalues his life, lot hin, leave
his work, however imperative, aud take at
once cold BATH The author cites an
experiment of 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 to circulate thro'
the bladder.
at was found when an animal was so
treated, that sudden iascnsibiity, stupor,
with or without commissions, aud finally
death from asphyxia were induced" Ex-
aminarion OF the brain immediately after
death with bulb thermometer showed that
a brain temperature thus obtained of from
ll2o to ll4S +, was fatal to cat, and one
of llio to l17o +. TO rabbit The appli.
cation Of these experiments is readily made
when We know that the temperature of II
man is $50 to 800 F., and that in sunstroke
it is raised fran 1902 to ll2o Il. Moisture
in the air iavurs the production Of sunstroke,
the prediSposition To which is also induced
by the person being unacelimated or unac,
customed TO high temperature, and by in
temperance, exhaustion from fatigue and
previous injury from exposure 10 heat
Numerous instances, some of which are
mentioned by DIR. Wood, have occurred Of
epidemlcS of sunstroke.