The Wilmingtonian., 1885-08-15
abstain from sUimulants.

considerable number OF deaths from sun
stroke occurred, the daily press raised a
panic in regard to the aid alcohol had rend
cred. Whether this discussion did any
good or not, it so happened that on the 10th
Of July Of the following year, the hottest
day Of the season, not a single case of sun
stroke was reported in Philadelphia, though
the thermometer stood 1909 in the shade in
many places in that city.
Psychologists have discovered that under
great exertion the human body produces
four times as much heat as during sleep.
The exact experiment of Dr. Obermier proves
that the temperature of the body of man
walking for half an hour, is raised 9-1Oo
and $50 if he walk two hours in the sun
shine. Flick, German Psychologist asserrs
that by means Of the controlling influences
of radiation and evaporation through the
lungs and skin, the temperature of the blood
in man remains always the same. But you
can readily see, as Maclean maintains, ''that
if through any cause the cooling effects of
these processes be interrupted, as by too
warm and tight clothing, by an elevated
temperature of the outer air, by exposure
phere of an engine room, or even by the
| forced deprivation of cool water, the effect
is an accumulation of heat in the body and
| an injurious if not fatal action of this heated
blood on the nervous system, and through it
on the heart"
| 1t is certain that if this accumulation of
heat in the body should reach few degrees
above 100 the normal condition of the blood
and the muscular and nervous tissues would
| be in danger of alteration. IL it should
| reach 1852 in man, he would actually be
cooked-as much so as an egg when boiled;
for all the albuminous matter in his system
would coagulate. With a sun temperature
in Philadelphia and New York as high as
1859, you can see how readily that of the
body will be increased IL it were not for the
cooling process already mcntioned-perspir-
alton and evaporation; upon these the safety
of the body depends, and they must not be
interfered with.
| Sunstroke may prove fatal il few min
utes, or the symptoms may last from one to
forty. eight hours.
In some cases, although the patient may
feel some OF the premonitory symp oms,
there is seldom time to attract the attention
Of bystanders before the sufferer falls, gasps
and before there is time to do much for his
recovery, dies. This is the form most fire.
quently seen in men exerting themselves.
Those who do not instantly die will have
the symptoms as already given you. Head
} ache is by no means common symptom;
but inability to hold the water is very prom
inent with frequent desire 10 pass it, is
much insisted upon. The most unfavora-
bic signs are lons continued iusenslbility
without movement, and intense heat of the
skin persisting, Notwithstanding the free
use of cold water.
If convulsions appear they indicate the
near approach of death. The distinction
between sunstroke and heart-exhaustion is
very marked and very Important, for the
treatment which will afford relief in one
will prove fatal in the other. Ia the case of
heart-exhaustion the patient should be car
ried to a cool place aid put in recumbent
position; e. lying down with his head on a
level with his body; all tight articles about
| his neck or chest should be looseped, his
limbs should bo rubbed gently from the ex-
tremities toward the trunk; no crowd should
be allowed to cut off the supply of fresh air;
a little stimuant, such as brandy and wa
ter should be poured between his lips and
ammonia or camphor held to his nose. Sun
stroke with its hot dry skin and flushed face
should also he carried to the nearest shade
or cool place, but the treatment afterwards
is very different.
He should be stripped and douch ed
with cold-ice cold if you please-water
or alcohol and water, and famed all the
time, or he may be wrapped in wet sheet
and famed. A stream of water should be
poured upon his head, and if he be able to
drink he should be allowed to take ice wa
ter freely; if vomiting follows the drinking,
all the better-it will relieve the congestion
Of the lungs If on temporarily ceasing
these efforts, the skin remains hot and burn
ing pieces of ice may be applied to the scalp
nape of the neck and spine and rubbed oven
the surface Of the body. If the dashing of
cold water over the face, chest and body be
effectually and quickly done, the POWERFUL
impression on the cutaneous nerves will
soon re-estabish respiration, at first by
gasps and catches but soon in "a regular and
even manner.
1t VIII also rednce the heat of the skin,
and through it the heat of the whole body,
which you can see is one of the chief OBJ
jects. 1t may require to be done again and
again. The dashing Of water as described