The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-07
THE GERM sUNSTROKE.
New Theory Suggested by an Emil
nent italian Physician.

From the Meulcal ftecOfu.
sunstroke. though known since early
times is even yet not well understood.
The belief that to produce it the body,
and particularly the head, must be eX-
posed TO the direct rays of the sun has
long since passed away and it is now a
matter of common knowledge that al
though heat is the principal exciting cause,
there are several other predispOsing
causes besides heat
DR.. l.. Sambon has quite recently pro-
mulgated a new theory as to the cause Of
thermic fever, in which the eVer-aetiVe
mcrobe plays the chief part. According
to the distinguished Italian physician,
thermic fever, or siriasis as he prefers to
term it, is MOI heat fever at all but a
distinct infectious disease. He says: Il
believe heat exhaustion TO be nothing more
than syncope and siriasis. a specific in
fictitious disease" Again: "The idea that
siriasis is due to excessive heat is greatly
derived from the fact that IL occurs dur
ing the hottest season of the year, but
such argument is manifesty illogical. AL
though siriasis be intimately connected
with the hot season, IL exhibits remark
able endemic characters. In one locality
il is extremely prevalent, in another it is
totally absent, though the region may be
quite adjacent and under precisely sim
liar climatic influences" On the whole,
DIR. Sambon makes out a strong if uncon-
vincing case for the germ theory, and at
any rate, be he right or wrong, his opin-
ion must necessarily carry great weight.
In the present state of things, however,
interesting as the etiology of heatstroke
naturally Is, we are not so much concern
ed with the theoretical as with the prac-
teal side Of the question. A large num-
Der of our troops will shortly be In the
| T-I1 10 ,f TD1,glf
countries in which the conditions are pc
| culiarity favorable TO the accident of
| heatstroke in one or other of its forms,
| and therefore il may not be out of place
| to Gull from the writings of experienced
men some precautions that should be TAX
en- to prevent its occurrence, as well as
| its treatment
Fayrer wisely remarked that "the prIn-
cipal object should be prevention The
| clothing should be lght and loose, and
| wooden material should be worn next the
! skin, and cotton or linen is decidedly
! harmful. The head and spine should be
protected from the direct rays of the sun
out of doors by pith hat and cotton pad
| let into the coat over the back of The neck
| and spine. The ACCOMPLISHMENTS should be
/ as light as possible. Moderation In diet
| IS especially to be enjoined; very little an
| imal food should be taken, and the food,
| while sufficiently nutritious, should be light
! ana discriminating. lcCN wafer, Wnon pro-
/ durable should be drunk freely and fire.
! quently, and the greatest moderation In
! the use of stimuants should be observed. "
| The treatment recommended in ordinary
| heat exhaustion is cold water dashed OF
the head, and rest For thermic fever
cold bath, cold affusons; quinine TO bt
| given internally, and, if quinine is not eff.
fective, phenacetin or some drug of a like
nature. When insomnia is distressing
! hypnotics may be useful, but must pt
given with great caution, and opium avoid
ed, If possible But, although our soldiers
| in Cuba and the Philippines have oul
| sympathy and have good reason to drea(
the heat we must not forget that thos,
| on board a Ship of war-and especially
! the engineers and firemen-are in this re
| spcct In a still worse plight
OF the fifty-nine cases of heatstroke tina
occurred in the United States navy in 1889
no less than forty of these We're caused
| BY heat in fire and engine rooms. PROB
ably lttle can be done to ameiorate thei
condition 70 any extent or in the way o
prevention. but 81 suggestion made by DIR
John ID. Thompson might, if carried int
effect in times of peace, be of benefit il
treating cases of sunstroke. His idC.
Is to have a room Connected with the re
frigerator, when the temperature coul,
be gradually lowered and the atmospher
kept fresh and cool.
We may, however, rest assured that s.
far as the present war is concerned IN
care Of both our sc4diers and sailors is n
good hands, and that every necessary ste
viii be taken TO keep them in good healtl
and to treat them efficiently when at
tackled by disease.