The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-04
Tho Deadly Heat and It's Terrible
Consequences.

Tho Deadly Heat and It's Terrible
Consequences.
The sad story of Niobe is familiar to all
versed in heather mythology. Offending the
god Of day, Apollo, she saw her twelve chill
dren struck down by his fiery shafts-the first
cases of coup de soleil we read of in history.
The same deity must have received some
mortal offence at the hands of New Workers,
considering the active manner in which he has
piled his bow during the past few days.
Whether the rain of fire that descended upon
the Cities of the Plain could have affected the
thermometer, or whatever substitute they had
for it in those days, to any greater extent than
the deadly heat of the present July is ques-
ton that suffering New York would be inclined
to dispute. But the effects are as fatal as the
storm of bullets on the heights of Fredericks-
burg or the leaden hail that swept through
the orchards of Weissenburg couple of years
ago. Men, women and children have been
struck down in scores, many never to rive
again, and the death list at the CoronerE
Office hourly increases. Such fierce, persistent
heat was never experienced before in this city,
not even when the most rabid political con-
ventions met and wrangled. Already one
hundred and six deaths testify to the
terrible power Of the midsummer sun,
and it would be impossible to calculate
the number Of those who have suffered from
the same cause to degree which may lead to
death or the wrscA Of constitution. The
principal thoroughares have become like
field of battle-men falling in every direction
and ambulances in constant requisition. And
the attendant symptoms of such death are
no less terrible than when contending armies
meet. Often we find raging delirium, screams
as if in intense agony, commissions that distort
the body like potent poison, and an express
sion on the face that would make the most
hardened turn away; then the final convulsive
shudder, and the victim passes the dark river.
In other cases the symptoms are like those that
attend death by cold. Natural sleep is sue
ceeded by the fatal coma or stupor that pre-
sages death.
To guard against this terrible foe and to
repel his attacks should be the first care of
every one in the community. An epidemic of
the most virulent kind could not produce
more fearful mortality in few days. Every
day that this intense heat prevails the weaker
the human system becomes, and the more ne
cessary the precaution to avoid everything that
tends to make the body an easy victim to the
fiery destroyer. The sun has no more active
agents in his deadly work than alco-
holic stimulants and ice WATERMELON
the latter is taken injudiciously. The
mental depression consequent upon such
weather sometimes induces people
to resort to all kinds of excitable means to
keep up their spirits. Such course is highly
dangerous. The art of keeping cool, SO
necessary in this fiery ordeal, refers to the
mind as much as to the body. Nervous
anxiety and inordinate fear or excitement will
tend to PROSTATE even the strongest physical
system. In regard to diet, each is the best
Judge for himself. Moderation, above all, is
advisable, and ''taking things easy" an in
superable barrier against sunstroke. If the
fearful list of deaths were carefully investi-
gated as to the immediate causes leading to
such result, it would be found that in nine cases
out of ten the victims system was weakened
by pernicious stimulants, incautious exposure
or mental depression. Common sense will be
an excellent guide in this weather, as it will
teach every one to regulate his mode of living
in proportion to the strength Of his mental and
physical system. A word of warning in time,
if attended to-, will 60 far towards reducing
the death list at the Coroners' Office.
The Pyrotechnics of the Fourth of
July.