, 1886-06-03
PREVENTION OF HEAT ApopLexY.

Cause and Cure of sunstroke-Hints OF
Value During the Hot Season.
A correspondent asks an explanation
of the fac that, whereas he has lived i'll
Colorado six years, and has often seen
the mercury stand at 1903 degrees Faren-
heit in the shade, he has never heard of
a case of sunstroke there. 1t would be
desirable to know how far the expert
ence of others accords with that of our
correspondent.
Heat apoplexy-much the larger num-
Der of cases occur in the shade-depends
less on outward heat than on the con-
dition of the body. Hence persons who
use alcohol as a beverage are peculiarly
liable to a stroke. The body in its normal
condition is commonly able, by its own
perspiration and the accompanying
evaporation-evaporation is a cooling
process-to keep its temperature within
safe limits. Bat great heat causes
perspiration, and this necessitates the
drinking of a large quantity of water,
and for this nature provides by an I'M
usual thirst.
The London Lancet June, 1857 con
tains the substance of a paper on 1.-THE
Prevention of Heat Apoplexy," by Sur
geon-General De Renzy, who had resided
many years at "the Mutton in the Pun
jab, one of the hottest places in the
world" In June the temperature rises
to 120 degrees in the shade, and to 157
degrees in the sun. He says that two
things are essential as a p%reventive;
loose, light clothing, and a supply of
drink at hand to relieve the first sign of
thirst.
AT the capture Of Rangoon in 1852, of
two sets of men alike in other respects,
one fought in shirt-sleeves under an in
tensely hot SUM-, the other in blue cloth,
tightly-fitting coats; many of the latter be-
gan to drop down insensible shortly after
coming into action, their commanding
officer being among the number. The
natives, who suffer great immunity from
attacks, drink immense quantities of
water.
Among British troops deaths from heat
apoplexy are ten times more numerous
han among native troops. Among the
t~ea-planters of Assam, whose work re-
quires their exposure in the hottest sea-
son and at the hottest time of day, the
disease is unknown. From ignorance of
these facts, and the consequent defective
arrangements for water among the
British troops in India on their first SER
vice, there is great loss of life from this
source.
Now in relation to Colorado, we sug-
gest whether the rarity of the atmos-
phere does not favor n rapid evapora-
ton from the surface of the body, Illus
giving rise to special thirst and necessi.
tating the consumption Of much water.
And further, whether there is not gener-
ally a free radiation Of heat into space
from the absence of continuous clouds,
thus securing comparatively cool nights.
These, if facts, may perhaps account for
Colorado's exemption.
Sunstroke, as heat apoplexy is COM
monty called, often occurs in cities, and
rs often in the hay-fields of the north
ern states. In such cases, the firstthing
to be done is to send for a physician.
While waiting for the physician, give
the patient cold coffee or tea; relieve the
feet of their covering, and put cool
clothes wet in camphor about the neck
and chest. Ammonia is the common
remedy, and can be best administered by
the physician. Sunstroke usually occurs
in the middle of the day, and on the
third or fourth day of a heated term
Youths Companion.