The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-17
PHASES OF DESERT THIRST.
Terrible Experience Of Man Lost in Water
less Wastes Of the Southwest.
From American Medicine

From American Medicine.
OF the three types into which thirst as
a pathologic condition has been grouped
that Of the desert is most purely the de-
privatlon of moisture without the infu-
once Of modifying external circumstances
That form known as ordinary thirst occurs
under the favorable surroundings Of humid
air and often protection from the sun. Sea
thirst Is also under the influence Of air heavily
charged with vapor. with plenty OF water.
though non-dripkable, at hand and is modi-
fed by the presence Of salts externally.
In cases Of desert thirst. water, even as
a vapor, Is entirely lacking or nearly 30
and the influence Of external salts is a mini
mum. Death from thirst is q horror that
has many times been described by onlookers,
or. parade xically speaking. occasionally by
those who have really suffered its pangs by
going through the var ious stages until
Inconsistencies Is reached but who happily
though rarely, are rescued and survive.
Never have the phenomena Of extreme
thirst been pictured more graphically than
by W. j. MCGEE. director Of the st. Louis
public museum, In a paper reporting the re-
markable survival Of a Mexican in south
western Arizona. This mar was in the
desert eight days and nights with only one
days supply Of water. During that time
he rode In the saddle thirty-fve miles and
walked or crept between 100 and $50 miles.
For seven days he was entirely without
water. AS a result of the deprivation the
man lost one-fourth his body weight. An
extraordinary feature was the lack of totally
insane dellrium which so commonly is a
part Of the mental condition Of these persons.
This allowed him to follow the trail and
accounts for his reaching aid. although his
phenomenal physical condition wa the real
cause Of survival.
The case recorded by DR.. MCGEE was most
unusual in tina half Of those dying from
desert thirst perish In thirty-six hours, a
quarter within forty-elght or fifty hours
and all others of which the history is known
by the eightieth hour. DR.. MCGEE discusses
thirst in general and then In particular
desert thirst. the phenomena Of which he
arranRes under three stages. normal thirst,
functional arrangement and structural de-
generation.
Making up these stages are five phases,
most of them descriptively named by sur
yivors and well known to those who fire.
ouent the desert. namely. the clamorous.
cotton mouth phase. the shrivelled tongue,
the blood sweat and the living death. The
6rst phase is relieved by water. or in some
Instances fraft aoids or similar substances
may be required. Thirst in the second
phase Is best relieved by water taken by
quarts In small sips and thrown over the
body In quantities. Persons In the third
phase also require water by gallons. inside
and out, but cautiously applied. Usually
In addition O febrifuge should be given. and
in some cases a heart tonic also is indicated.
Little Of value may be possible for those
In the fourth phase. Water may be a damage.
II physical recovery does occur the mental
condition may never clear.
In the final phase there is no alienation
but the end. Fortunately this appeass often
TO be painless. DR.. MCGEE has spent a great
deal Of time In the deserts Of the southwest
and has himself gone half through the stages
OF desert thirst, epd 10 thus personally well
qualified TO speak upon the subject.