The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-06-28
HEALTH HINTS.

FoR THE wILM1NGTcNIAN.

When the thermometer rises above w
degrees, we have to look for the occurrence
of sunstroke, AN accident less common than is
generally supposed, but of the utmost
gravity, because in so per cent. of the cases
it is fatal
As a general rule it may he stated that
there is little liability to suustroke till the
thermometer has risen above the ninetieth
degree. The reason is two-fold. In the
first place the normal temperature of the
blood is about 80 degrees, and as long as it is
in distinct excess of the temperature Of the
the air, so long the healthy action of the
skin is maintained and the great internal
organs are relieved from any congestion.
But when the temperature Of She. air begins
to approach that of the skin, the healthy
transudation of moisture and earbonic acid
is stopped, aud moreover the blood tends to
accumulate in the heart, lungs and brain,
causing dangerous and frequently fatal con-
gestions. Precisely the same results follow
prolonged exposure to cold, from the fact
that the pores of the skin become CONSTRUCTED
and closed up so that the action of the skin
| is ntprlered with or suspended.
| In snnstrolle, however, second cause has
| to be taken into account, namely the intense
nervous depression Which is apt to follow
prolonged exposure TO the direct rays of the
sun. We know that, in moderation, solar
| light is not only beneficial but absolutely
essential to health; it is only when an excess
or concentration occurs that the rays of thc
sun become dangerous. The vertical rays
are Of course the most to be dreaded, and
when the temperature rises to $50, exposure
is not only unwise but directly provocative
of a calamity.
A patient stricken with sunstrokc usually
falls to the ground nsensiblc, in the midst
of his avocations. Direct exposure TO the
sun is not necessary to produce the result; il
follows with equal certainty in ovcrheated
and badly ventilated rooms or workshops,
and may occur Mt night when the subject is
in bed. The symptoms resemble those OF
apoplexy quite closely, but require very diff
ferent treatment, Bleeding is almost imper.
alive in apoplexy; it is speedily and surely
fatal i'll sunstroke.
: One sign, which cannot fail to be Of valu,
|
great heat of the body in persons seized will
supstIokc. We have said that in health tht
temperature of the blood is about go Il
sunstroke it is seldom less than 1903 and ha'
been found to rise as high as 40. Abov,
1869, the chances of recovery arc very son
der indeed, although one patient in a New
York hospital recovered alter temperatur,
of 1109 had been recorded.
/ Vomiting and nausea are among the pre-
: mOnitory symptoms and if such warning.
, are given and needed, there is pos ibilitl
/ Of further mischief being avoided. The
Y great thing is to promptly relieve the con
gestion Of the internal organs, particular,
the brain For this purpose tile patiun
! should be removed to a shady spot, all necl
, rastcnings lonsentd, and cold water ireel,
applied to the spue A blister should b,
, applied to the napc of tile neck or the sole
/, Of the feet. Vomiting is to be encouraged
as it relieves the congestion of the lungs ans
= the right side Of the heart.
Death may occur i'll a few minutes, bu
more usually happens in about three or fou
hours, the patient never recovering -
I seriousness from the instant Of his seizure
: The manner Of death is by ~ Pulmonar,
! Congestion, (2) Coma. (3) Syncope or fail
!, IRE Of the action Of the heart or az, ate
! a partial recovery, by elfusion of serum j
7 the brain. In the last cast the fatal issue i
:. postponed ill the third or fourth day. Whe
:, a case is likely to terminate fatally, the los
= of consciousness persists and there are hlvol
- untary excavations from the bowels. D
= the other hand a return of consciousness an
II a frightening up Of the fixed CLASSY eye al
y indicative Of probable recovery.
- For long time after recovery from SUI
y stroke the senses remain blunted and COZ
= fused, or there may be partial loss of reason
= with fits of irritability and uncontrollab
temper in persons previously of gentle an
amable disposition. 1t may indeed |
doubted whether there is ever compe
n recovery from so grave an accident as SUI
ne stroke.
h. DIR. w. NJ. Hall III valuable work 9
Headaches, thus deals with the question
- Sunstroke:-''ln case OF severe Sunstrol
H. where the patient is struck down SUI
~, denly, the symptoms are rather due
4; paralysis Of the functions of the brain thf
TO a state of hyperGmia (rulness Of Il
blood vcssels). The nervous centres a
- over-heated, and depressed, and until Il
Z" temperature is lowered, they cannot recuv
en their action. These facts point out d
&c rational treatment Of the disease
y Sir Joseph Fayrer, speaking with the authc
''' ity due to AN immense army experience
~ India says:-''As the hyperpyrexia Cove
'e- heated state Of the biood) is dine not only
the direct operation Of heat on the ncrvo
- system aud tissues but also to the fever S
up by the diSorlered vaso-motor nerve
N remedies such as may influence this d
tmbed condition have been suggested III
=, =" results have appeared III some eases to juS
r. ily the theory and hypodermc injections
n norphia and qunine have both been consi
II cred to produce good results by their inf
Ho cnce on the vasO-motnr nerves aud thu
power in retarlng tissue changes. Y
~ plan Of treating sunstroke by the sub-cuta
eOus injection of quininc, first introduced
for Surgeon Major Hall, has been found me
successful 1t is especially serviceable I
troops on the march where ice is not to
IrOcured There is excitement and cerebI
70 irritation in some cases but in the MAORI
ng ar casas tho nationt All do,,r ,,,d ,r,s,,s
" breath as in fanting fit. The products
~ Of heat is increased by muscular exert
" and the body becomes oyer-heat=d becau
- perspiration takes place more slowly thlou,
~ the hiph temnpraturp Of the atnosnbnre a,