The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-07-04
The Record Broken.
IntenCe Heat II as Marked the
Past Four Days.
How TO Treat Cases of Pros
trati0n.

IlG WCdlIlCI llldu Has DGGl bOldll1
unmindful of the comfort of human
ity for the past week. Saturday and
Sunday were hotter than the same
days in many years, but the weather
on Monday seemed to break all rec
ords, and the mercury mounted to
points in the thermometers never
reached before, or at least not within
the memory of our oldest resident.
In comparatively shaded places, tenn
pered by breeze, the oS mark was
reached, and in exposed positions,
where old Soils rays had full sweep,
Io4 was not uncommon. Employees
in the various foundries and mills suf-
tered the most from the excessive
heat. At the silk mill the mercury
Monday afternoon registered 100,
while in the foundry department Of
the American School Furniture Com
pany's plant 1t was ia. Notwith-
standing the terrific heat there have
been only four prostratjons recorded
and no fatalities.
1t is probably safe to say that
Bloomsburg has never experienced
such weather People who have never
been known to complain of the heat
are completely urnerved, and the en-
tire populace Is suffering. A great
deal of the discomfort is no doubt
due to the fact that the heated period
is several weeks earlier this season
than usual. Had it come by degrees,
instead of so sudden and early, the
misery and suffering would be far
ess.
1t is to be hoped that the worst is
passed. Government forecasters are
predicting early relief. A drop in
temperature is expected to-day.
The following on the cause OF pros
tration and how to treat cases, IS
given by J. Howard Taylor, Chief
Medical Inspector of Philadelphia's
Board of Health:
Many cases of heat prostrations are
due to indulgence in alcoholic drinks.
All stlmulants should be avoided dur
ing hot weather.
Dark, close-ftting and heavy cloth
ing, and such as congresses the chest
and neck, should not be worn. For
those who are obliged to labor in the
sun, light clothing and straw or light
felt hat, permitting free circulation OF
the air are preferable.
1t is injurious to drink large
quantity of ice water, cold beer, soda
water or other iced drinks. Cool
water, in which oatmeal has been
stirred, is a safe and refreshing drink.
The sleeping room should be freely
ventilated. Get as much fresh, pure
air as possible, but keep out of the
sun. Work slowly, frequently cooling
the head, chest, back and wrists with
cool water. If the skin becomes hot
and dry, and stinging, burning
sensation is felt in the head and the
face is flushed and the eyes blood
shot, the person should Immediately
quit work, seek quiet and cool place.
If not speedily relieved from the op-
pressive sensation of heat, take cool
bath, submerglng or wetting the head.
Heat exhaustion is caused by pro-
longed exposure to high tempera-
ture, particularly when combined with
physical exertion. 1t is likely to be
followed in severe cases by delirium.
Unlike heat stroke, the skin is usually
cool, and pulse small and rapid and
the temperature below normal-as low
as os. 1t is not necessary that the
person shall have been exposed to
the direct rays of the sun, as the con-
dition may be induced when working
in close, confined rooms, especially
when exposed to great artificial heat,
as in laundries, foundries, bakeshops
and engine rooms.
In a case of heat exhaustion, stim-
ulants shonld be given freely, and il
the temperature is below normal, as
denoted by the clammy condition ot
the skin, the hot bath should be used
Ammonia and water may be given, II
necessary.
Heat stroke is generally confined
to persons who exercise vlolentl.
when exposed to the sun. Those
habituated to the use of beer and
whisky, and the otherwise debilltated,
are especially predisposed to attacks
In treating heat stroke, the patient
should be removed to cool, shady
place, where there is plenty of fresh
air. Strip clothing to the waist ant
place the sufferer in a recumbent po