Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-22
treatment of sunstrOke.

The terrible heat that was experienced
last week in various parts of the United
States resulted In several hundred cases OF
sunstroke, many Of which proved fatal. In
Cincinnati there were many cases Of coup de
solea, both fatal and non-fatal, and the ma
iority of them were treated in the usual
method-by applications of fee, etc. A ply
stefan Of that city, DR.. Heron, claims the
cold water treatment is erroneous, and gives
the following as the method which he fol-
lows in the care OF patients suffering from
the effects of the heat:
''Lsy the patient upon his back, loosen
the clothing, so as to encourage free flow
of blood, expose the chest, especially over
the region of the heart, and with a large
cloth, towel or sponge, freely battle the
head, face, neck and chest with hot salt
Whitewater as hot as can be handled, con-
tinuslly adding more hot water, and apply
ing It until the patient is safe. Use one tea
spoonful Of salt to every quart OF hot water.
Have the feet made bare and rubbed or
slapped, and In urgent cases apply mustard
poultices. Give internally, II he be tenn
perate man, teaspoonful Of whisky In hot
water; II a drinking man, use little ammo
mia or hartshorn In hot water. IL soon after
8 meal. place a teaspoonful of yellow mus
tard in a glass of warm water, and have
the patient drink 1t. following
up with more until he vomits freely. As
he convalecses, give at first lime water and
milk (one-fourth lime water and three
fourths milk; atterward liquid diet, until
the stomach is strong enough for solids.
The scientific reason for using hot water Is
that # relieves the congestion in the brain.
removing the spasm that occurs in the head
and lungs, and opens up the veinous sys-
TEN, SLOWING the blood to escape from
these parts, thus removing the pressure
upon these vital organs. When hot water
is applied Immediately the pressure is not
sufficient to injure the vital organs, and
they rapidly return to their normal condi-
ton. aud in q few hours the patient is per
fectly well, only little weak from the ter
rible shock. Every scientific person, even
the BOYS In our public schools, knows that
"cold contracts and heat expands" This
principle holds good IN suustroke, and thus,
when hot water is applied to the head and
chest 1t expands the veins and does not
allow these vessels to be elogged or en-
gorged while, IL cold water ESPECIALLY ice
waterl be applied, the opposite effect is
produced, and there being no way of escape
for the hot, fevered blood constantly forced
by the heart through the arteries into these
organs, death is the consequence. Some
persons do recover, even with the use of
ice water, but it has been because Of their
surplus vitality that enabled them to with
stand the shock, that life has been spared,
but in such cases the brain and nervous
system rarely. if ever, stain their former
strength. With the use OF hot water these
organs are never injured, and to my know
ledge not ous case has ever resulted fatally
where this agency has been employed. l
also recommend for horses affected by sun
stroke this same general course Of treat
meut.n
Dr.. Heron claims that he has treated
many cases OF sunstroke by the above
method during the past fifteen IT'S, and
that In no one instance did fatal Il. ats fol-
low. He states that the causes of sunstroke
are many, Influenced principally by extreme
heat, inducing congestion Of the brain,
lungs and stomach. Congestion of the
stomach is the most simple form, aud If the
patient vomits, or is made TO vomit freely,
he viii not die, even though no other treat
ment is employed. Cases OF this kind har-
pen soon after eating a hearty meal, the
effect coming in sfterward. The food
sours, gases form, and Inflammation
then ensues, with congestion of the
nervous system, OF the brain, and
partial paralysis of the organs of
the upper part OF the body, particularly of
the head. The most serious csses are caused
by continual drinking, Ia large quantities,
OF either ice water, beer or whisky. He
holds that out of every ten fatal cases eight
are Of persons who drink large quantities
OF beer or whisky. The fact that success
has attended the warm water treatment
ought to obtain foS IL some consideration.
At one time cold water alone was used in
the treatment of sprains, etc, but now the
tendency Is towards the use OF warm water
IN such cases. II the remedy suggested by
the Cincinnati physician be as valuable as
he claims, It viii not be long before its vir-
tues sre clearly found out aud made svaila-
bic for general use by physicians.