Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-07-14
PHASES
OF DESERT
THIRST

Of the three types into which thirst
as a pathologic condition has been
grouped that of the desert is most
purely the deprivation of moisture
withou- the influence of modifying ex-
te' nal circumstances. That form
known as ordinary thiist occurs under
the favorable surroundings of humid
air and often protection from the sun.
Sa thirst is also under the influence
of aiiI heavily charged with vapor
with plenty of watlr, though non
driukable at hand and is modified by
the presence of salts externally.
In cases of desert thirst, water, even
as n vapor. is entirely lacking or
nearly so and the infuepce of external
salts is a minimum Death from thirst
is a horror that has many times been
described by onlookers, or. paradox
ically speaking, occasionally by those
who have really suffered tits pangs by
going through the various stages until
"hNuiSO4ouSueSS - IShchtV' bul WIN
happily, though carely are rescued
and survive.
Never have the phenomena of ex-
treme thirst been pictured more graph
ically, says American Medicine, than
by w. j. McCee, director of the ST.
Louis public museum, in paper re-
pO ring the remarkable survival of a
Mexican in southwestern Arizona.
This man was in the desert eight days
and nights with only one days supply
of water. During that time he rode
in the saddle 35 miles and walked or
crept between 100 and $50 miles
For seven days he was entirely
withoni water. As a result of the de
p'ivation the man lost one-fourth of
his body weight An extraordinary
feature was the lack of totally insane
dclirium which so commonly is a part
of the mental condition of these per
sons. This allowed him TO follow the
trail and accounts for his reaching
aid although his phenomenal physical
condition was the real cause of sur.
vival.
The case accorded by DR.. McGee
was most unusual. in that half of those
dying from desert thirst within forty
eight or fifty hous, 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 arranges unde! three stages. normal
| thirst, functional derangement and
structural degeneration.
Making up these stages are five
phases most of them dcscriptivly
named by survivors and well known to
| those who frequent the desc t, namely,
the clamorous, cottonmouthed phase,
the shriveled tongue the blood sweat,
and the living death. The first phase
is relieved by water, o. in some i'm
stances fruit acids or similar sub
aances may be required Thitst in
he second phase is best relieved by
water taken by quarts in small sips
and thrown over the body in quaint
ties. Persons in the third phase also
require waiter by gallons, inside and
out, but cautiously applied. Usually
in addition feb ifuge 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 docs occur the mem.
tai condition may never clear
In the final phase there is no allevi-
ation but the end. Fortunately this
@ppears often 10 be painless. DIR. Me
Gee has spent great deal Of time in
the deserts Of the sOuthweyt and has
himself gone half through the stages
of desert thirst, and is thus personally
well qualified to speak upon the sub
ipet