The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-07
the causes of the disease are very we'll known

the causes OF the disease are very well known
| and its mode of prevention understood.
An attack of sunstroke is nearly always
preceded by certain symptoms which should
direct the individuals attention to the i'm
pending danger. These symptoms are hot,
dry skin the perspiratiOn being checked
urynesS or the mouth and threat, flushed
face, sutfusion of the eyes and throbbing of
the head; IN some cases there is slight deli
rum, in others sense of weakness OF con-
fusion of thought, with alternate flushing
and cooling of the face, such as sometimes
comes on after smoking a strong cigar.
The pulse is usually rapid, sometimes inter
| mlttent, and if the temperature of the body
| be measured with the thermometer it will
be found several degrees above blood heat. "
III no attention is paid to these Fremont
tory symptoms and exposure to the exciting
cause continues the "stroke" comes. The
person suddenly falls to the ground, be-
comes unconscious and comatose, or is at
tackled by frequent commissions. The
breathing is Deep slow and snoring, the
pulse very rapid, and the skin dry and burn
ing hot. In some cases, however. especially
Of that variety cassed as "heatstroke, y that
is to say where the individual was not di-
rectly exposed 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 Ii
quors and deprivation Of water. Soldiers
on march in hot weather are very subject
to sunstroke, especially when suffering for
want of water. In the Federal army during
| the late war there were 1900 cases of sun
stroke, but owing probably to prompt at
| tention from the medicalofiicers the mortal
lty was low.
Laborers working in confined Haces such
as stevedores, are frequently prQStrated by
heatstrOke, and large proportion Of these
succumb to the attack.
Nothing is more firmly and conclusively
| established in the whole range Of MEDICAL
| practice than that incompetence 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 almost certain to die from the effects.
All authorities are agreed upon this point.
The most efficient preventive measure may
| therefore, be declared to be the avoidance
of spirituous liquors.
The means of prevention are already in
| Dictated by a consideration of the causes.
| Exposure to high temperature or excessive
| exertion should be avoided. This is, how
| ever, easier said than done in most cases.
Hence, whatever measures will reduce the
| evil influence of the above conditions must
be adopted. When exposed to the sun, a
light, well-ventilated hat should be worn.
| A broad-brimmed straw, probably, answers
| the demand better than any other. The
cork helmet, as worn in the East Indies, is
| also serviceable, but its unsightliness will
probably prevent its general use in this
| country. A sponge or handkerchief wet
with cold water, placed in the hat, will keep
the head cool and produce a general reduc-
4 r. 4.
measure which should be adopted, especially
by soldiers on a march.
The clothing should be loose and light,
and frequent bathingo of the face, head and
arms will counterfeit the perniciOuS effects of
the high temperature.
Plenty of water internally is one of the
best preVentives of sunstroke 1t has been
been found that soldiers, upon whom the
most accurate observations have been made,
succumb to the effect of the heat only af-
ter the supply OF drinking water is ex-
hausted So long as the cauteens are full
sunstroke does not occur in any army.
In case of sunstroke competent phySi-
clan should be at once sent for. But in the
meanwhile the bystanders should not be
Idle II the individual is unconscious and
has a hot dry skin, the clothing about the
upper part OF the body should be Opsned and
cold water poured over him. Ii the
NdboT pOuIou up III Ouo ucdu lIOul
height of several feet the effect is greater
So long as the heat of the skin seems eXces-
sive, the cold effusion should be continued.
Commissions do not CONFERENCE.-The this
treatment. When the temperature of the
body has become reduced in this way, and
the unconsci ousneSs still continues, hot mus
tard poulticeS should be applied to the abdo-
men and limbs. This may be done at first
in those cases in which the skin is cold and
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collapse. If the patient can swallow strong
hot coffee or tea it may be given in small
quantities, taking care not to overburden
the stomach and cause vomiting. Whisky
or brandy should be given with great eau
ton. In extreme cases of depression a ia
blespoonful of whiskey, with teaspoonful
of aromatic spirits of ammonia, may be the
one thing needed to save life, but the judg-
ment 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 judg
ment of the writer still more rarely re-
quired Some cases need it and some re-
cover in spite of it. Under all conditions its
employment should be left to the physician.
Finally, as in so many other diseases,
prevention is better than cure in this NAL
ady. Most persons who have suffered from
sunstroke carry with them through life
some effects of the attack. 1t is always bet
ter, therefore, never to have had a sunstroke
than to have been cured of one.