The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-02-22
CAUSES OF SUNSTROKE
The Strict Meaning Of the Dom.
mon Term Defined
Ordinary Heat Prostration Not Danger
ous-Heroic Treatment Necessary In
Acute Cases - How the vital
Organs Are Affected.

Judging from the newspaper reports
of q few years ago as compared win
those of the last season or two, it would
seem as if there had been marked de-
tt,ase in the number of sunstroke cases
III this city. While it is perhaps true
That there has been some Improvement,
owing to the cooler dress and more SEN
:, BILE habits of eating of many people,
there is another and different eXplana-
,on of the apparent gain in this direc-
ton.
Until recently the word "sunstroke'
has been used to cover q multitude OF
ailments TO which it could not properly
Ii applied. This is still true to "a large
.Xtent among people in general, but
much greater care is now exercised IN
the formal reports of cases OF sudden
Illness in summer due directly or in
directly to the heat, but not necessarily
sunstroke on that account. Formerly
these were classed rather indiscrimi-
lately under the latter familiar head;
hence the long lists in the papers which
are not seen to-day.
Real sunstroke or "insolation," 10 use
the medical term, is a rare thing. At the
hudson street hospital, which, owing TO
its location in crowded part of { D.
DOWNTOWN district, receives more cas-
Of the sort than any other in the city.
even nati-nts suffering from actua!
.-iinstrokc were received during ne suii.-
!ner Of sos. Four have been treated
there thus far this season, two Of them
within the last few days. At the Cow
crneur hospital, on the East side. there
lave been only two insulation cases
since the warm weather began. 1t is I'M
derstood, of course, that great numbers
of persons suffering more or less from
'he effects of the heat are taken to the
hospitals every day. They feel faint and
Ill, and the temperature rises perhaps
two or three degrees above normal, but
they are seldom in dangerous condi-
ton. They have, emphatically, not been
sunstruck, and by no means such Wig
orous restorative methods are used up
on them as upon the real insulation pa
tents.
The condition of the latter is always
extremely critical. If the abnormally
high temperature of 10 or III degrees
to which their blood has been heated
cannot be speedily reduced they die
within "a hours after the beginning of
the attack. The modern heroic treat
ment of plunging sunstroke persons in
to an icy bath, heapiDg ice about the
neck and head, and giving them all the
ice water they can drink when they
have partly recovered has been very sue
cessful. So persistent is the fearful
..ent of the body that this ice bath has
.ornetimes to be continued for hours.
sc ,asionally, though not often, it fails
10 effect its purpose. Autopsies upon
.ucl patients have shown that the vital
organs were softened and in process OF
being illegally cooked by the intense
ire IN the blood
What is called, in a general way, heat
rostratiOn is not uncommon. 1t may
:rsult from being exposed to q high
en- perature anywhere, whether from
lie suns rays or not. AS has been said,
he symptoms are not dangerous, and
though, if the patient is stricken out
doors, it is commonly said that he has
mad sunstroke, the doctors decide diff
frrently when he is brought before
Stem. People are frequently taken to
:. ..e hospitals under the supposition that
hey have been overcome by the heat,
when the real trouble is an attack of gas
tritis, acute indigestion or some other
disease.
The causes which predisposc to either
sunstroke or heat prostration are sew
eral. TOO heavy clothing and careless
habits of eating and drinking have a
great influence. One physician said a
day or two ago that the abolition of the
free-lunch system had wrought a
marked change for the better. The food
offered on such counters, he said, was
nearly always indigestible stuff, and
the beer taken with it in large quantities
was anything but desirable drink for
q man who was TO work all day under
the hot sun. Alcoholic liquors in gen
eral are condemned in hot weather, I'M
less taken in very limited amounts, it
having been proved that heavy drink
ers are far more liable than others to
heat prostration.
But in the opinion of some physicians
lack of sleep is more fruitful cause
than any other of suffering from the
heat.-N. Y. Tribune.
Woman's Way.
what is it. Mary?"
''It's boy, mum, with TELEGRAPH"