Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-07-11
SIMPLE CURE FOR sUNsTRoKE.
Rules for Treating People Who Have
Been Overcome by the Heat.

Cases of what is variously known as
sunstroke. heatstroke or heat prostra-
ton are most likely to occur when the
humidity is high. The elimination Of
heat from the body depends upon evap-
Grafton from the skin and, as hospi-
tai physician points out In an article
on THE Treatment of Heat Prostra
tion" in the Druggists Circular. the
conversion of perspiration into vapor
wiki the consequent drying of the skin.
is best accomplished when the amount
of moisture in the air is low. AS the
percentage of moisture in the air be-
comes greater, ii becomes less and less
easy for the perspiration to evaporate,
The skin grows wet and the sweat
stands out in drops. The temperature
of the body rises and the patient dies
of too much heat or the heat centers in
the brain are paralyzed by stored-up
poison, the boaily temperature falls,
and the patient dies of exhaustion,
These latter cases are rare.
1--WE must remember" the Drug
gist's Circular says. that the sun is
not necessary to 'sunstroke,' Moisture
Is iiiuCu Ulolc uoAlous, III IL tiit atioS-
phere is dry so that the evaporation of
the sweat is rapid. almost any temper
ature can be borne. Furthermore,
there are more people overcome in
buildings than in the open air. To be
sure, most of the cases reported in the
papers are street cases. "nd most or
the ambulance calls are fur these cases.
but they bear a small proportion to
those not so reported. II IL We're the
direct action of the sun. the most az
flicted would be the farmers and other
out -of-door laborers. whereas there
are more cases among factory hands
and others engaged in indoor occupa-
lions.
When a case Of heat prostration
shows high temperature. he patient
should be bathed in a tub of water at
a temperature of so or ST to begin
with Ice should at once be employed
TO reduce the temperature to 60. The
surface of the body must be rubbed in
order TO bring hot blood from the heat
to be cooled, and to send the cool blood
from the surface to the organs. The
patient should stay in the bath Is min
utes unless his temperature drops TO
100. or he shows signs of collapse. He
should be dried somewhat without too
much rubbing and lie under sheet
A rubber blanket or a sponge may be
used when a bathtub is not available
1t is well to give the patient little
whisky before the bath. and the tenn
perature should be taken every half
hour afterward. When 1t has risen
above 1913 or 104 the bath should be
repeated. II the temperature does not
become satisfactory, stimulants are to
be mpjoyed-whisky. aromatic am
monia, strychnine and digitalis. Gem
orally the temperature stays down ar
ter the second or third bath. The pa
tient should drink small amounts OF
cold water-not iceland as soon as
the fever Is under control quick ca
thartic should be given.
1t Is possible to overstimulate the pa
tient in case where the temperature
is low. Besides administering the slim
uiants mentioned above, the nurse
should roll the sufferer in blankets and
put around him hot-water bottles. hot
bricks, flatirons or anything else hot
Hot drinks should also be given.
For preventing prostration nothing
Is so good as frequent baths. Care
must be taken to avoid weakness.
through staying too long in the wa