The New York herald., 1876-07-12
THE HEAT.
Dire Effects of the Excessively
Hot Weather.
SUNSTROKES AND MORTALITY,
Last Nights Storm and It's Evil
Consequences.
OUR WATER SUPPLY.

Yesterday it seemed IL sae cup full Of miserics
which humanity is supposed TO have constantly at It's
lips going boil the brim and prccipato the
catastrophc which overtakes every mortal In his
her For nearly weeks tho country has been
withcring under The influence OF the prolonged
drought The trees, whose overshadowng branches
and rustng leaves protected the weary oer from tho
scorching during MONDAY rest, began 70 ioso
their beautiful dresses OF green aud to shock tho eye
by the exposure OF bare limbs The velvet sward
that invited the to traverse Its
broad carpet Of vcrdure, turned dirty blanket coored
yellow, with patches here and there, though
some mischievous boys had been building ccnton-
NAL bonHres it, The ponds became
covered with the green, shiny coating
or embryonic vegetation giving to the clear
beneath surface appearance of badly cooked turtle
soup, in which all that needed was long hop
polo 10 stir up the Jumps OF fat which could bo sup
posed 70 be submerged IN the motionless fluid.
Tho cows those interesting animals which, with the
assistance Of the mechanical appliance called "the
bydrant furnish the matuiina tactical to the million
dwelers in New York, even they looked utterly de-
moraized. and. for want OF the nutritious herbage
which completely withered BY the heat, the
almost dried up fountains whence now milky streams
refused respond to tho gentle demands Of tho dairy
maid, and the dealers put In more water and put on
Two cents quart on the price
During this period OF tropical heat several Of
acuto mental alteration occurred among our canine
population, particularly those individuals whose
cesry in whaers from Spitzhergen, those
who having first light among tho glaciers Of that
gid land have since become adopted citizens OF the
canine republic These poor beasts, not having any
ehance change their winter clothing for light summer
wear suffered horribly from the terrible temperature
10. v,th 1;.
hearted policeman bathing their poor aching heads with
his locust club administering small quantities of
lead hypodermically to assuago their agony. Even
the park sparrows showed the effect Of the heat their
sess Efforts hop around and pick up the crumbs
bread left by the Children along the walks There is
always certain devil expression in the city
sparrows eye and even in the midst Of adversely
whom the cold January winds are filing the nests with
and the shverng passers by forget that sparrows
must die the bravo 0ansin OF bird society does
not look dsconsolae But during the heated hours of
the past the sparrows Of New York grow utterly
depressed and could be in large numbers oungng
around the fountains In tae parks, and In the low
keyed twitterngs could almost hear thom say to
each other, Come and let's take drink"
THE STREET noRsKs.
These poor brutes suffered most Of all others during
the heated term The s0ulloss corporations that they
called master know no mercy to their brute servants
and at the very hottest tmo of the day the overloaded
ing rails behind pair OF poor dumb brutes whose di-
lated nostrs painting sides aud agonized eyes told
dreadful tale OF sunering Az CERTAIN intervals along
most mercul gift to these toiers OF the road and
really sight worth witnessing to soc the e,gerness
with which the head OF tho thirsty
horse is plunged, TO the eyes In the cool
puncheon OF water on the track side. Many
horses succumbed she fearful heat. while great
number are permanently injured BY overwork In the
hot 1t is singular that the owners OF these ami
mails do not devise some simple plan OF screening the
huck thoi iiro~f q
during the carly afternoon Ia summer time. As
ret OF mercy to helpless mails, well economy
his should be done.
the genss homo IN every condition Of life suffered
hom the intense heat; but OF course. In the
proportion. The wealthy and healthy had decidedly
Tho best OF II In every The former could retire
rom the overhcaed city TO the cool retreats by the
seaside among the mountains, and feeling assured
OF tho means of indulyng in this luxurious
retirement without disturbing the financial equilibrium
dcncd the assaults OF old Sol and soothed the internal
heat by lbations that cool aud comfort at the samo
time The merely healthy individual, although sue
cessfu iu resisting the assaults OF the heat suffered
wear OF the system, burning OF fe's candle
both ends that any rcici In the shapo OF cooling
brcczes is grateful to soul and body But il Is the poor
tocr his her daily bread without prospect OF
any cessation Of labor; the mother nursing the weak
fcvcr stricken infant the dweller In the sitting
mont, next the roof; the occupants OF tho equally
miserable cellar tho poor creatures who have neither
cellar nor attic shelter thcm sick poor the
poor sick generally that invite our commsscration in
Of suffering like that which has lasted during
the past two weeks.
Tho exhaustion induced by excessive heat Is very
severe II produces utter prostraton of the vital
temperate and cold seasons to undertake iabors
requiring much vigorous action. Now add to this
hauston the loss OF strength caused by insucicncy
or food and u will be found that the poor suer In
season like this an amount Of misery which the pen
fails 10 describe Who, then, blame the unfor-
tuuates who driven almost the verge Of despair by
their wants, seek relicf in the temporary oblivion OF
intempcrxnce and SO add to the risks they from
heat during the summer months. The long list
r. ckA II -l,~I
every day tho HxRALo Is furnished from the
RANKS Of those who habIIuay resist heat by stimuat
result Is is only .Rs nsiura ous misdiroced efort
regain the strength which is lost by overheating,
and II absurd 10 howl nganss IT, as some Of tho ultra
total abstinence and women ik.. rantly and
lcaliy In order to lessen tho number OF deaths by
sunstroke which only another for physical
hauston caused by heat is only necessary educate
the poorer classes In the economical ways Of
leving themselves without having recourse TO ntoxi
eating drinks or tho almost equally danger
that ice water cools the body permanently,
even though swallowed in large quantities. The
Of into the stomach Is extremely dangerous
and may result In instant death The blood Is driven
from the cold centre into the heart and head and also
into the capillary blood vessels gorgng and dstcnding
them squeeze out by their expanding pressure
she watcr held the pore tubes Of the skin. This will
sc,Jows The SWALLOWING OF cold drinks in summer
Thirst Ia 10 great measure appeasablc without having
recourse TO large drinking and cup Of tepid tea Will
champagne or other stimulating liquor
has boon excessive. and many have been longing Tor
che coming Of the COOL refreshing winds that followed
the heavy storm OF yesterday Groups OF the curious IN
temperatures could be seen on any OF tho hot days
standing around thermometers the various drug
stores and other places whore such visible Hud
Iuts ~ the HERALD ONCE, WAS OF course tho chief
point consultation Of heat and there
The quidnuscs sxpoundcd theory upon theory TO prove
that u beyond the skill OF 10 alter the DEGREES
Of Providence With regard TO heat and cold while
such . discussion was proceeding yesterday . ton OF
Ice IN blocks deposited the sidewalk opposite
Hudnuts Tor use In tho drug store, and an impious
individual suggestec that the proprietor In
tended pile IL about the big thermometer aud fetch
the darn thing down anyhow in utter defiance Of all
weather laws, human and divine. Tho bait took, and
untl nearly all Tho removed indoors gaping
crowd waited os the In cold
Weasher.
fHR LONG EXPECTED sroRn,
which had been predicted the HxEALD fully week
sgo rushing the city from the souihwsstwsrd
shout p n The centre OF the storm passed over
New Jersey, but got sufficient share OF It's area
NJ -. hlnn lhAmn