The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-11-02
suNsTRoKE.
A st. Louis Physician Gives Some
Hints on It's Prevention.

A st. Louis Physician Gives Some
Hints on Its Prevention.
BY Dr.. Clarence Martin: sunstroke 10
a diseased condition productivity ex-
cessive heat, and is one OF the Oldest
recognized diseases--two Instances be-
ing mentioned In the bible. The heat
causes changes in the composition of
the blood, its proportions and proper
ties being altered. Owing to the effect
Of the heat on the center in the brain.
which presides over the distribution Of
the heat, more heat is produced and less
given off normally. This retention Of
heat causes the symptoms which char
a~cterize the condition known as sun
stroke.
The onset is generally marked by q
temperature reaching liz degrees or 115
degrees Fahrenheit. The impending
symptoms are pain in the head, dizzi-
ness, a feeling Of oppression and in
many instances nausea and vomiting.
Various colors appear before the eyes.
Insensibility soon follows, and with it
the face becomes flushed, the skin
clammy and the pulse full and bound
ing. The pulse beats with a rapidity
varying from 100 to 100 per minute, this
depending upon the temperature Of the
body.
Sunstroke Is most frequent in those
who are subjected to %privation, unsan-
ltary surroundings, fatigue of body and
itary surroundings, fatigue of body and
every victim of sunstroke is a beer
drinker or the user of other alcoholic
beverages. One attack renders one IL
able to another. One patient who had
suffered a sunstroke became SO sus-
ceptible to heat that he lived COM
fortably only in the cellar, surrounded
by ice, and finally sought refuge in
Alaska. Other disagreable effects, such
as loss of memory or inability to con-
centrate the mind, may follow a sun-
stroke. Such patients are always worse
In the summer months.
The prevention Of sunstroke is of far
more Importance than the treatment.
Where people work in small inc close
ly crowded rooms, they should have
free ventilation-artiicial ventilation, If
possible. 1t is not necessary to be at
work in the direct rays of the sun to
be stricken, for man. cases happen in
rooms not reached by the sun, and at
q time when the sun is not shining.
Men working in the sun should wear
straw hats, in which is placed a wet
ooofh ~ oroon 1ooHync 70 ohonrh Tho hoof'
For this purpose a cabbage leaf an
swers very we'll. Persons exposed ia
the heat should lead regular lives and
abstain from irregular or heavy eating
and alcoholic drinks, especially. A veg
etable diet should be followed as closely
as possible and cold oatmeal water
used to quench thirst. Clothing that will
not interfere with the radiation Of the
heat should be worn.
When a person Is stricken have him
removed at once to the shade, and take
advantage Of any breeze that may be
stirring. Loosen all constructing cloth
Ing and remove all that may be dis
pensed with. Do not let a crowd on
gregate around the patient and shut
of his supply of air. If the means be
at hand. the best Ian is to put the pa
tient at nee in al ice bath. keeping
him there until his temperature is low
cred to normal, or until he becomes
conscious. This will accomplish the
best results. If this Is not practicable
apply ice to the head and wind sheets,
wrung out in ice water, around the
body. The point is to reduce the heat
Of the body as quickly as possible. Am
monia may be held to the nose, and in
the event Of threatened collapse, slim
ulants, such as whisky, should be given
until the cosdition OF the patient Inn
proves. In certain cases bleeding will
be Of great service. the congested CON
dition Of the brain being thus relieved.
When these measures do not seem to
have the desired effect, resort to arti-
fcial respiration, with the view Of sus-
tanning life until the foregoing RENEE
dial agents begin to act favorably.