Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
FACTS ABOUT SUN-STROKG
FRENCH PHYSICIAN DESCRIBES Pc
CIIIARITIES OF THE VISITATION.
Stock Remedies Usually Recommend
ed-IIO,v 1t May BE AvOided-one
Cause of Heat ApOplexy.
From tn. London Lancet.


In an article that occupies considerably
m.rr ;;,.,n half of the Archives de Medicine
Naystie. for January, DR.. Moussoir
French naval surgeon of the first class.
claims /, be the first observer to have es-
tabIishea a fundamental distinction be-
tween heat-Stroke and Sun-stroke, and con-
tends further that correct appreciation
of his discovery would result IN large
saving of human life. Heat-stroke, accord
ing tn DR. Moussoir. is a pathological con-
dition produced by the action on the Whoie
surface of the body during sufhclently
prolonged period of temperature exceeding
loI degrees Fahrenheit whereas sun-stroke
is a pathological condition produced by the
action the Uranium during period
which need not necessarily be long. of Suf-
fC:,ntiy intense solar radiation. The high
Temperature which gives rise to heat-stroke
may he either moist or dry and may ema-
nae from any source. Moist heat, as IN
stoke hole on board shin. brings on neat
stroke by preventing the evaporation OF
Precipitation. while dry heat. by shrivel-
ing up the skin into a parchment-llke SUB
stance prevents the emulation of perSpird-
ton and most probably also produce. an
analogous condition in the pulmonary al
Neullr tissue. Heat-stroke causes Its III
effects through the superheated blood,
which reacts the nerve centers. 1t
comes on gradually. but may simulate sud
dennsSs when the will power by which the
subject sustained is abruptly with
drawn StnkerS are able to endure a damp
hot atmosphere in narrow, ill-ventilated
spaces because they work naked or nearly
81, whereas soldiers on duty in the open
air StleCumb to heat-strohe because the
calpric increases beneath their thick cloth
ing. which also hindcrS the evaporation of
sweat To prove this three thermometers
should be paced-the first in the shade. the
second in the and the third likewise in
the sun. but wrapped in piece of cloth.
An experiment frequently repeated by Dr.
M"u~soir gave results as follows: First
Thermometer. S2-4 degrees; second, 11O.3 de-
grt-.,, and third. 1874 degrees. Sun-stroke,
or insplation is not induced by high tenn
pcr.turc. but by the intense radiation
which the sun alone owing to its enor-
nous volume u.2ooon times that of the
eartht. can supply. the chemical rays. the
vibrations of which are more rapid and
therefore more penetrating than those of
their cdl"rific and luminous congeners. be-
ing the exciting cause. Fonssagrives and
CORE ina gined that the Sun-Stroke of low
temperature during clear weather was due
10 the action of light on the retina but this
must be an error because, owing to the in
cautious exposure which is then likely to
take place. the affection is very frequently
met with while the sky is overcast. The
chemical rays emitted by the sun can pierce
through white clouds freely, but are almost
entirely arrested by black substances. and
part ally 50 by red. These facts explain
the immunity from sun-stroke of negroes
and people with swarthy compilations, and
thu diminished liability to it of the ruddy
To produce sun-stroke the rays must i'm
plnse upon some part of the brain case. the
effect being transmitted thence to the as
Yet INDICATED heat center by reflex action.
The process precisely resembles what goes
on when It perspirng scalp Is exposed to a
iraush; and sneezing coryza and other re-
h"N Phenomena quickly cnsue. Covering
1fse head preserves from sun-strokc. but
just Is X he case with thick clothing a
helmet can only assist in the development
OF heIt-~irpke. The mean of a series of
obs ~ with cd
Showed tnat the temperature inside u regu-
l.tipn helmet was 10 degrees C. higher
than in the shade of veranda. In heat
S'rohe tn. disease begins by heating the
hl.'p'i, i'm; i'll sun-strUke this condition of
TIL circulating fluid is secondary; the fact
however. that in both affections the blood
becomes superheated serves to explain the
resemblance Of the symptoms. Sun-Stroke
or insulation can only occur within the
tropics. because in that region alone the
suns chemical rays sufficiently intense
u produce the necessary reaction. So far
Dr M"u>soir may, perhaps be held to have
supplied "A prlmA facie case in support of
his somewhat ambitious exordium but with
regard - treatment his promises can
scarcely be looked upon as fulfilled. Excl
tailpu and antipyrin insisted upon to-
geth-r with ice, cold effusion. and the rest
OF IN" stock remedies usually recon-
mcn'i"d. Quinne however is discarded ut
terry. the writer having no belief in its an
t-therTrlc properties seeing that in small
poN. scarlet fever. etc. its exhibition fails
10 reduce the temperature. In paludal fe-
V"rS The alkaloid acts as a parasiticide
and in sun-stroke there are happily no MI
crpheS- Incidentally painting with guaiacol
is mentioned. but the effects are said to be
prohihitively uncertain. Under Its infu-
enc" hyp"rthermia is apt to degenerate into
hypoihermia with cardiac collapse Among
the pre''isposing causes of heat apoplexy
Or, Moussoir mentions the horizontal posi-
ti"n. c"ntending that the heat rays both
direct and refractcd from the ground have
thus a much larger surface to act on This
would seem to supply an argument against
the Indian practice of taking siesta during
the heat ~ the day.