Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-01
IUM1DITY-(Saturation being 1OO).
WEATHER.
! clear means sky unclouded.

Clear means sky unclouded
Fair means sky half or more clouded.
Cloudy means sky overcast more than
three-fourths.
The foregoing observations which have Just
been presented establish this fact, that as far
as Cincinnati is concerned, the thermometer
being the same, dry atmosphere Is much
moist atmosphere. This fact is contrary to
the opinion of many authors, as will
be seen in the following quotation
from Reynolds System OF Medium vol 2, page
1885, I'd edition. There is no agreement among
observers as to the effect of extreme dryness
or moisture in increasing or diminishing the
effect of heat. insulation has been observed in
third Regiment English Light Infantry, the
hot dry land winds were blowing. Mr. Long.
more also notes the extreme dryness of the air
at Barrackpore during the outbreak there. and
in all the examples given the disease disap-
peared with the first heavy fall of rain, attend
ed with rapid fall in temperature. On the
other hand DR.. Baxter, of the Ninty-third High
landers, who gives four cases of sunstroke, OBJ
served at Sealkote, considers that sunstroke
is much more likely to occur when the atmos-
phere ''is largely impregnated with watery
vapor. Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical
Sciences, No 81, February, 1866.
Mr. Naylor is Of the opinion that cloudy days.
with a moist condition of the atmosphere, favor
the occurrence of insulation (Morehead's
Clinical Researches) Exact observations on
this point with the wet and dry bslt are much
required.
Ii would appear that hot and moist condi
ton of the air is most favorable to the produc-
ton of insulation in barracks, because not only
does such condition diminish the cooling ef-
fects of evaporation from the sktn, but inter
feres with the artificial means used to reduce
the temperature of the over heated rooms"
No doubt this was the opinion arrived at by
many eminent writers without being proven By
actual meteorological observations. This opin-
ion is not only questioned, but disapproved by
the foregoing observations:
For we find upon thorough investigation that
when the amount OF moisture in the atmos-
phere was above 60, only 25 deaths occurred
while, on the other hand, when the humidity
was below Co. 1858 deaths took place-this being
over ten times the number that died while the
atmosphere was moist.
The number of sunstrokes and prostration
from heat In our city was truly alarming.
Many persons who suffered from this prostra-
posed to the direct rays Of the sun, but sue
cumbed in some OF the many factories OF
shops. Many others were taken while en-
ployed at their daily avocations, and Others
while on their way TO and from their places OF
business. Many Of those who were overcome
by the heat BECAME unconscious at once while
others we're simply prostrated and again many
more were taken at their houses and were moi
considered sunstruck. Many of thoae persons
who became unconscious on the streets were
taken at once 70 the City Hospital which Is
located near the centre of the city.
We found that where patients In this con-
dition were removed any great distance,
the danger of the disease was greatly increased
To obviate this difficulty temporary hospitals
were established in each ward Of the city, to ia,
cilitate the officers in summoning medical
aid. and to protect the patient from the direct
rays OF the sun and avoid the heated atmos-
phere, which must necessarily be encountered
in close-covered hacks or ambulances by trans
porting them long distance to the general
hospital.
Directions were also given as to the treatment
to be r6sorted to in the absence of the medical
attendant. The patient was to be placed In 8
cool place, ice to be applied to the head, and
the whole body sponged with water. and am
monia and whisky administered internally
After these measures had been taken the mum
Der Of fatal cases perceptibly decreased. The
total number of cases OF insoiatfon that oc
CURED was estimated to be over two thousand
The number Of cases treated by the physi
clans to the outdoor poor was 3uS, OF which
265 recovered and 4S died, or ID per cent, on.
| in seven.