New-York tribune., 1900-07-08
HOT WEATHER PHILOSOPHY.

Summer was a little slow in making its advent
this year, but it has come at last, and acts as
If it meant to stay. The temperatures which
have prevailed for a fortnight are fully up to the
normal, If not slightly in excess The heat seems
to have been trifie more continuous, too, than
is usual at midsummer And this is a factor
in the situation of as much importance the
exact readings Of the thermometer. pro-
longation of summer ardor for a week or two
has no marked effect on mere comfort. After
a little. indeed. people become Injured to it as
they do to other causes of suffering. But this
is not true of the health. The prostrating effect
of succession of hot days upon the nervous
system is cumulative; and liability to sun
stroke and gastric malades is thus appreciably
enhanced.
The precautions which medical authorities
urge the public in regard to food in hot
weather relate both to the consumption and
the care Of 1t. The proper diet for the season is
a light and simple one. consisting largely of
fresh fruit and vegetables, and only to limited
extent of meat. Alcohol should be used much
more scrupulousy than in winter. 1t predis-
poses to sunstroke. A free indulgence in iced
drinks Of any kind is to be deprecated. Cold
fluids In the stomach far more prejudictal TO
health than cool The internal chill pro-
duced by the former, no matter how refresh
ing for the moment Is likely to cause conges-
ton at some other part of the system and work
serious injury. 1t is to be borne in mind too,
that many edibles and some potables deteriorate
rapidly in warm weather. This is particularly
true of meat, fish, fruit and milk. Too great
pains cannot we'll be taken to insure their preser-
walton. And the fresher milk is when drunk
the better for the drinker. Ptomaine poisoning
and disorders of the intestinal tract work a
vast deal of mischief when the mercury gets
up in the eighties and shows disposition TO
lnger there.
The maintenance of health at this time Of
year is fully dependent on sleep as food
AS has already been intimated, susceptibility to
many of the ills that flesh is heir to-cOlds and
pneumonia in winter, and malarial and gastric
troubles in summers largely controlled by
the state of the nervous system. If this is kept
toned up by plenty of refreshing sleep, a greater
power of resistance to threatened disorders re-
suits: whereas. if adequate supply of Nat
ures sweet restorer is not to be had ones
endurance is sensibly impaired. This fact sug-
gests the advisability of getting out of town
at night even if business keeps one in the city
during the day, all through the summer. But
unless a nocturnal abode near trees or the sea
is selected little will be gained by going to the
suburbs To be sure, wide stretches of sand
and turf do not absorb heat by day and give it
out at night as energetically do asphalt
pavements. But 1t should be remembered that
forest and ocean exercise a moderatng influence
upon extreme temperatures both in winter and
summer.
If in addition to acting the hints already
offered readers of The Tribune will avoid the
discussion of politics. steer clear of other ex-
citing topics Of conversation, maintain serene
spirit and keep the conscience clean. they will
be admirably fortified against the perils pc
culiar to the season.