The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-25
SUNSTROKES.
THE CAUSES. SYMPTOMS, PRE-
VENTION AND CURE.
Preliminary Indication ms of a Stroke
People Most Likely to Suffer
an Attack - How to
Treat Sufferers.

People Most Likely to Suffer
an Attack - How to
Treat Sufferers.
A Pittsburg Penn.) doctor says in the
Commercial Gazette of that city: An at.
tack of sunstroke is nearly always pre-
ceded by certain symptoms which should
direct the individuals attention to the
impending danger. These symptoms
are hot, dry skin--the perspiration
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, in
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
intermittent, and if the temperature of
the body be measured with the thermo-
meter, it will be found Sc eral degrees
above "bIood heat" If no attention is
paid to these premonitory symptoms and
exposure to the exciting cause continues,
the "stroke" comes. The person sud-
denly falls to the ground, becomes un-
conscious and comatose, or is attacked
by frequent convulsions. The breathing
is deep, slow and snoring; the pulse very
rapid a-d the skin dry and burning hot.
In some cases, however, especially of
that variety classed as ''heat-stroke, ="
that is to say, where the individual was
not directly 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 heat,
following extreme exhaustion of the
nervous system.
The causes of sunstroke are excessive
ly high temperature, exhau>ting physical
labor, excessive indulgence in alcoholic
liquors and deprivation of water. Sol
diers 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 7201 cases ol sunstroke, but owing
probably to prompt attention from the
medical officers the mortality was low.
Laborers working in confined spaces,
such as e:edores, are frequently pros
trated by heat stroke, and larg1 pro-
portion of these succumb to the attack.
Nothing is more firmly and conclusively
established in the whole range of medi.
cal practice than that intemperance is
the most prominent and fatal predispos-
ing cause of sunstroke. A drunken man
is not only much more liable to be at
tackled, but he is almost certain to die
from the effects. All authorities are
agreed upon this point. The most
efficient preventive measure may there.
fore be declared to be the avoidance of
spirituous liquors.
The means of prevention are alIeady
indicated by q consideration of the
causes. Exposure to high temperature
or excessive exertion should be avoided.
This is, however, easier said than done
in most cases. Hence, whatever meas
ures will reduce the evil influence of the
above conditions must he adopted.
When exposed to the sun, light, we'll
vent lated 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 reduction of Temperature in the
body. This is a measure which shou' d
be adopted especially by soldiers on the
march. The clothing should be loose
and light, and frequent bathing of the
face. head and arms will counteract the
pernicious effects of the high tempera-
ture. Plenty of water internally is one
of the best preventives of sunstroke. 1t
has been found that soldiers, upon
whom the most accurate observations
have been made, succumb to the effects
of heat only after the supply of drinking
water is exhausted. So long as the can
teens are full sunstroke does not occur in
any army.
In cases of sunstroke competent ply
sician should be at once sent for. But
in the meanwhile the bystanders should
not be idle. If the individual is uncon-
scious and has hot. dry skin, the cloth
ing about the upper portion of the body
should be opened aud cold water poured
over him. If the water is poured upon
the head from o height of several feet the
effect will be greater. So long as the
heat of the skin seems excessive the cold
effusion should be continued. Convul-
sions do not contra-indicate this treat
ment. When the temperature OF the
body has become reduced in this way,
and Inconsistencies still continues, hot
mustard poultices should be applied to
the abdomen and limbs. This may be
done at first in those cases in which the
skin is cold and moist and there seems
to be tendency to collapse. If the pa
tient can swallow, strong, hot coffee or
tea may be given in small quantities,
taking care not to overburden the stom.
ach and cause vomiting. Whisky or
brandy should be given with great eau
ton. In extreme cases of depression O
tablespoonful of whisky, with tea
spoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia,
may be the one thing needed to save
life, but the judgment required in de-
Gliding when it shall be given is seldom
found. Bleeding is rarely resorted to in
sunstroke at the present day, and in the
Judgment of the writer still more rarely
reauired. Some cases need it, and some
recover in spite of it. Under all condi,
tions its employment should he 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 suustroke carry with
them through life some effects OF the at
tack. It is always better, therefore,
never to have had q sunstroke than to