Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-03-06
The Human System Can Become Used to
High Temperature.


No one can tell how high tempera-
ture man can endure until he is SUBJ
jected to the trial. The effect Of an in
tensely heated atmosphere in causing
death has been but little studied.
"Some years since," says DR.. Taylor,
the eminent jurisprudent, 81 was con-
suited i'll one case i'll which the captain
of steam vessel was charged with
manslaughter for causing a man to be
lashed within a short distance Of the
stokehole of the furnace. The man died
in a few hours, apparently from the ef-
fects of his exposure. Yet the engine
rooms Of steamers in the tropics have
been observed to have temperature as
high as 140, and engineers after time
become habituated to this excessive
Leat without appearing to suffer ma
terially in health. In certain manufac-
tories the body appears to acquire a
power by habit of resisting these high
temperatures. Still, it has been proved
that many suffer severely.
''In report on the employment of
children (London) it is stated that in
glass manufactory a thermometer held
close to boys head stood at 1870 de-
grees, and as the inspector stood near
to observe the instrument his hat ao-
tually melted out of shape. Another
boy had his hair singed by the heat
and said that his clothes were some-
times singed, too, while third worked
i'll "a temperature no less than 15O de-
grees Amid this tremendous heat they
carry on work which requires their con-
stant attention. They are necessarily
i'll motion.
In the Turkish baths higher temper
atures than this have been noted, but
there is reason to believe that serious
symptoms have been occasionally pro-
duced i'll persons unaccustomed to them,
and that in one Or two cases death has
resulted. All sudden changes from a
low to high temperature are liable to
cause death in aged persons or i'll those
who are suffering from organic diseases.
In attempting to breathe air heated to
temperatures varying from 180 to 200
degrees there is sense of suffocation,
with a feeling of dizziness and other
symptoms indicative of an effect on the
brain, and the circulation is enormous
ly quickened. An inquest was held on
the body of a stoller of an ocean steam
ship. He had been by trade grocer and
was not accustomed to excessive heat.
While occupied before the engine fur
mace he was observed to fall suddenly
on the floor in state of insensibility.
When carried ON deck, it was found he
was dead. All that was discovered on a
postmortem examination was an effu-
sion of serum into the ventricles of the
brain. 1t has now become one of the
recognized causes of death in this coun-
try. In some cases a person may sink
and die from exhaustion or symptoms
of cerebral disturbance may continue for
some time and the case ultimately prove
fatal.
Death from sunstroke, when it is not
Immediately fatal, is preceded by some
well marked symptoms, such as weak
ness, giddiness, headache, disturbed
vision, flushing of the face, followed by
oppression and difficulty Of breathing,
and in some cases stupor, passing into
profound coma. The skin is dry and
hot, and the heat of the body is much
greater than natural.
Walk slowly and don t fret and you
will not experience anything of that
sort. rt.-Philadelphia Times.