Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-19
SUNSTROKES,
Their Causes, Symptoms, Prevention
and Their Cure.
The Danger Of Sunstr0ke is SO Great
in This Latitude That Any In
formation on the Subject
is Valuable.

DR.. Robe in Pittsburg Commercial Ga
zette: An attack of sunstroke is nearly
always preceded by certain symptoms
which should direct the individuals atten-
tIon to the impending danger. These
symptoms are hot, dry skin-the per-
SEPARATION being checked-dryness of the
mouth and throat, flushed face, suffusion
of the eyes and throbbing of the head.
In some cases there is slight delirium, IL
Others sense of weakness and confusion
of thought, with alternate flushing and
cooling of the face, such as sometimes
comes on after smoking strong cigar.
The pulse is usually rapid, sometimes IN
termittent, and if the temperature OF the
body be measured with the Thermometer,
it will be found several degrees above
"blood heat" IF no attention is paid to
these premonitory symptoms and expos
ure to the exciting cause continues, the
"stroke" comes. The person suddenly
falls to the ground, becomes unconscious
and comatCse, or Is attacked by frequent
commissions. The breathing is deep. slow
and snoring; the pulse very rapid and
the skin dry and burning hot. In some
cases, however, especially of that variety
classed as "heatstroke," that is to say,
where the individual was not directly ex
posed to the rays of the sun, the pulse is
weak and the skin pale, cold and moist.
In these cases there Is great danger of
paralysis of the heart, following extreme
exhaustion of the nervous system.
The causes of sunstrOke are excessively
high temperature, exhausting physical
labor, excessive indulgence in alcoholic
liquors and deprivation of water. Soldiers
on a march in hot weather are very sub
ject to sunstroke, especially when suffer
ing for want of water. In the federal
army, during the late war, there were y,
200 cases of sunstroke, but owing prob
ably to prompt attention from the med
zeal officers the mortality was low.
Laborers working in confined spaces,
such as stayedores, are frequently pros
traced by heat-stroke, and large pro-
portion of these succumb to the attack.
Nothing is more firmly and conclusively
established in the whole range of medical
practice than that intemperanoe Is the
most prominent and fatal predisposing
cause of sUnstroke. A drunken man is
not only much more liable to be attacked,
but he is most certain to die from the
effect. All authorities are agreed upon
this point. The most efficient proven
tive measure may therefore be declared
to be the avoidance Of spiritouus liquors.
hO 1AOfAho VI plOfShbAOh are GlI0dOy
indicated by a consideration of the causes.
Exposure to high temperature or exces-
sive exertion should be avoided. This is,
however, easier said than done in most
cases. Hence, whatever measures will re-
duce the evil influence of the above con-
ditions must be adapted. When exposed
to the sun, a light, well-ventiIated hat
should be worn. A road-brimmed straw
probably answers the demand better than
any other. The cork helmet, as worn in
the East Indies, is also serviceable but
it's unsightlidess will probably preven5
its general use in this country. A spong,
or handkerchief, wet with cold water,
placed III the hat, will keep the head
cool and produce general reduction of
temperature in tie body. This is
measure which should be adopted especI-
ally by soldiers on the march. The cloth
ing should be loose and light, and fire.
quent bathing of the face, head and arms
will counteract the pernicious effect of
the high temperature. Plenty of water
internally is one of the best rreventives
of sunstrok-. It has been found that
soldiers, upon whom the most acurate OBJ
servations have been made, succumb to
the effects of heat only after the supply
of drinking water is exhausted. SO long
us bil6 Odub66hS arc 1ull SunSbEOh6 UO6S
not occur III any army.
In cases of sunstroke a competent ply
stefan should be at once sent for. But in
the meanwhile the bystanders should not
be idle. If the individual is unconscious
and has hot, dry skin, the clothing about
the upper portion of the body should be
opened and cold water poured over him.
IF the water is poured upon the head from
a height of several feet the effect will be
greater. So long as the heat of the skin
is excessive, the cold effusion should be
continued. Commissions DO not contra
indicate this treatment. When the tenn
perature Of the body has become reduced
in this way and Inconsistencies still con-
times, not mustard pOultice5 should be
applied 10 the abdomen and limbs. This
may be 6oGe at first in those cases in
which tho skin is cold and moist and
there seems to be tendency TO collapse.
If the patient can swallow, strong, hot
coffee or tea may be given In small guam
titles, taking care not to overbUrden the
stomach and cause vomiting. Whiskey or
brandy should be given with great eau
ton. In extreme cases of depression a
tablespoonful of whiskey, with a tea
spoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia,
may be the one thing needed to save life,
but the Judgment required in deciding
when it shall be given is seldom found.
Bleeding is rarely resorted to in sun
stroke at the present day, and in the
Judgment of the writer still more rarely
required. Some cases need it and some
recover in spite of it. Under all condi-
tions its employment should be left to
the physician. Finally, as in so many
other diseases, prevention is better than
cure in this malady. Most persons who
have suffered from sunstroke carry with
them through life some effects of the at
tack. It is always better, therefore, never
to have had sunstroke than to have been
cured of one.