The Wilmingtonian., 1883-06-16
HEALTH HINTS.
"INsULATIo" OR SUN STROKE.

At this season of the year, and it may be
said generally in these latitudes from June
to September there is temporary increase
in the tables of mortality due to deaths from
sun-stroke. By far the greater number of
these deaths arise from imprudence or un-
necessary exposure, and as under the best
of circumstances an attack of sun-stroke is
very serious matter it seems well within
the province of a journal largely devoted TO
sanitation, as is THE WILMINeToNIAN, to
give some hints on the subject.
While the precise nature of sun-stroke is
not well understood, its symptoms and
treatment are quite plain. Of course the
prevalence of high solar temperature is
the basis of the diagnosis, and persons
found insensible or collapsed under such
circumstances may be reasonably supposed
to be victims of the solar influence. Two
causes of error present themselves:-viz al
coholic coma, and apoplexy.
1t is of course the most charitable course
to give the patient the benefit of the doubt
so far as the suspicion of alcoholism is
concerned. Whatever the cause of the
regime, it is certain that person in an in
sensible condition is in peril of his life and
that an ounce of compassion is worth ton
of moralizing under such circumstances.
We have to deal with the case as we find it,
and it fortunately happens that the general
treatment is, in these days of common sense
practice, not greatly disslmiar.
1t appears to be well established that
there is certain solar temperature essen
tial to the production of sunstroke, and
that the limit lies near about 80 degrees in
the shade. 1t is also well ascertained fact
that the tendency to the attack is greater in
cities than in the country and again greater
in some cities than in others. 1t is very
prevalent in New York and Baltimore, and
in far less degree in Philadelphia Sandy
soils and brick pavement are proven, on
indisputable evidence to be favorable to the
development of sunstroke, while, no mat.
ter what the heat it is but little known at
sea, and the higher elevations in limestone
regions also enjoy comparative immunity
from its yistations.
When Il solar temperature above 80 de-
grees prevails, persons are liable to be at
tackled though not exposed to the direct
rays of the sunday even when in dark
ened room in their own dwellings. In
India when the solar rays exert their max
imum effect and 100 in the shade is not
rare, persons are often Frustrated by the
heat at midnight. We are therefore forced
to the conclusion that the term sun stroke
(French coup.de-sOleiD is not strictly correct
in its application and that heat stroke
would be the better term.
1t happens however that the human body
has been frequently exposed with impunity
to heat far higher than the highest solar
drvelopment-fo instance 200 to 5000
Fahrenheit. The calidarium-or hot air
chamber of the Turkish bath is often heat
ed up to 1S0 degrees. Bakers and the fire
trimmers on steamers are commonly ex-
posed to temperature of 1000 degrees and
over for hours together-yet they are sell
dom overcome by the heat.
The essential condition of safety in a
high summer heat is free action of the
skin-in other words abundant perspira-
ton. Negroes rarely suffer from sun-stroke
and owing to the profuseness of the secre
tions their skins are always cool in the mid
die of the warmest summer day. White
persons who perspre freely rarely suffer
from sunstroke.
But there is a class of individuals whose
skin acts very imperfectly and whom the
slightest elevation of temperature affects
very dstressingly, their hearts action be-
comes irregular, as manifested by the flush
in the face and the irregular breathing. IT..
regular action of the heart is one of the
most characteristic prodromatd or fore
runners of sunstroke and when this is ac-
companied by persistent headache not to
be explained by other causes, the subject
may consider himself in danger. For, be it
noted, although the condition of insensibili-
ty is usually developed quite suddenly,
there are more commonly warnings of the
character described, and it will sometimes
happen that complete prostration does not
set in for many hours. When it is remem.
bered that cases of sunstroke commonly end
fatally, and in most instances of recovery