The evening times., 1899-06-08
FEW VICTIMS Of
THE TORRD WAVE
Hospitals Prepared to Receive
the Stricken.
Medical Advice in Regard to Heat
PrOstratiOn.
A Warning Against Excitement and
Too Much Ice Water-An Old
Fashioned Preventive.

The hot weather Of the last few days
has been remarkable in one other particu-
lar besides its intense torridity. There
have been few cases Of heat prostration in
proportion to the number of people who
have been compelled to be out in the hot
sun and receive the full benefit of its glar-
ing rays.
The police and the hospital authorities
are thankful that such is the case as a
victim Of the heat is generally a very I'm
comfortable person to handle. AS soon
! as the weather commences to warm up
the police and hospital officials make prep
| arations to receive the unfortunates VINO
| fall victims of the heat and humidity.
| The treatment of them is very simple and
| extremely uncomfortable to the victim.
! To some persons the cure is worse than
the disease itself, and it seems almost
| brutal.
! The most common method OF reviving
person afflicted with sunstroke is to
place him on a portable stretcher and turn
the hose on him. This is simple and ef-
fective 1t has absolutely no bad results
AMI in some cases 1t is extremely beneii-
| cial in regard to cleanliness as well as in
its curative powers. Sunstroke is not at
| all harmless affiiction and the patient re-
quires the greatest care. 1t is one of the
most dangerous of summer ailments and
often results in the death of the victim.
| In some cases the heart action becomes so
affected that the continual use of powerful
stimuants is the only thing that Keeps
| the patient alive until the natural forces
| have a chance to recuperate. Nature Is
utterly exhausted in most cases and does
| not recover very quickly from the shock
caused by the action of the intense heat
1t is said that the death rate from heat
prostration is much greater than that from
| smallpox. but there are many cases of sun
stroke that do not receive medical atten-
tion. The sufferer thinks he simply has a
| bad headache and is generally debilitated.
However, be that as il may, 1t is a very
| good thing TO do all that is possible to
prevent prostrations, as many people are
| struck down because they do not take the
proper precautions.
1t is not well to drink 200 freely of ice
| water during the hot weather. While ice
| water is a good thing when applied cxter-
| nally after the stroke has come, it causes
| many prostrations that would not other
| wise occur, from being taken internally
| in too large quantities. One OF the most
refreshing drinks is water with the chill
| off and just lemon or lime juice enough
, to make 1t acid in taste. II does not Ie-
Quire much of this liquid TO satisfy the
most thirsty, and it has absolutely no bad
effects. Phosphates are also excellent hot
weather drinks. according to the physi-
clans, and are not apt to affect people in
an unpleasant manner. There are num-
ber of other cooling drinks which may be
taken al the discretion of the drinker with
out harm to himself, and which can be
manufactured from the contents of ;he ice
chest and pantry.
One OF the oldest methods OF preventing
sunstroke is to wear a green leaf inside
the hat. Any of the old colored "mammys"
will say that a man with cabbage leaf in
his hat can never become victim Of the
suns rays She cannot tell you why, hut
she knows il is so and she has unlimited
faith in this simple but effective remedy.
Many people who are without supersu-
ton, and who do the most matter-of-fa
things, wear green on their heads, and
they do not become affected by the heat.
However the very best way to prevent
surstroke. and one which all physicians
will recommend when applied TO for ad-
vice Is to keep out OF the suns rays as
much as possible. This seems like very
unnecessary advice. but il more care was
taken to keep away from the direct rays
OF sunlight physicians claim that sun
strokes would be fewer. Wear as little
clothing as possible and keep perfectly
calm is the medical advice. People who
get excited are also more apt to suffer sun
stroke. One physician also stated that 1t
would be a good thing not to work too
hard. However. if sunstrokes do occur
the police and the hospitals are all pre-
pared to receive the patients and give
them the best of care.