Year: 1868

is q great preventive. The man who abb
staius from all spirituous drinks during ex-
ccssively hot weather is vastly less Liable to
sun-stroke than one who drinks habitually.
Regular hours for sleep and meals, and the
avoidance of all Irregularities and excesses,
are among the other preyentives. Bathing,
washing, or sponging the skin all over IN
the morning is wholesome precaution.
Every one employed outdoors that can pos
3ibly do 1t should wear light, easy-ftting,
broad -brimmed hat. Bricklayers, carpen-
ters, laborcrs, mortarmakers, hod-carriers,
and all others working in the sun, should
have some kind of shed or shade handy,
where they can rest for n few minutes, at
short intervals Of half an hour or so. Peo-
pie otherwise engaged on the streets, or
who have to 90 about on business, should
be careful to keep on the shady side, to look
well to the hcad-gear, so rs to insure that
it is light and porous; and those who have
leisure shonld carry sun umbrellas.


In every instance wherc person is found
fainting in the street on hot day, the first
thing is to remove the person to as cool and
shady place MS can be found, and, if pos
siblc, to where draught of air is blowing
at the time. -Bystanders and mere curious
idlers should be kept from crowding around.
The next is to send in all directions for
doctor or q skilled apothecary. But as it
frequently happens that neither doctor
nor an apothecary can be had in time, those
who take charge of the sufferer should know
how to act, for they may save his life.
For their information the following treat
ment is suggested: They should understand
that there are two morbid conditions result
ing from excessive heat. These differ some
what in their symptoms, and require a
somewhat different treatment.


The first Of these occur during hot wea-
ther, after undue exertion on the part of
the person thus affected. The man is faint,
perhaps unable to move, though he can
generally be reused. He has feeble pulse,
and 4 cool and moist skin. Here there is
simply Il loss Of nervous power, and relief IS
promptly afforded by removing him to a cool,
shady place, applying cold water or ice to
the head, and administering iced brandy
and water, iced wine and water, or other
stimulants. In the other and more fatal
form of this affection a different set of
symptoms show themselves. Here the pa
tient suddenly falls to the ground, COM
pletely unconscious his skin is pungently
hot and dry his breathing hurried con-
vulsons are not uncommon and if proper
treatment be not promptly resorted to, death
soon takes. place. In this case also the
patient should be promptly removed to q
shady and cool spot, perfectly private, so
that the crowd may be kept off without fail.
His clothing should be stripped off, and his
whole body should be rubbed with ice from
head to foot, and pieces of ice should be
kept under the armpits. This should be
steadily persevered with until the patient is
restored, or until doctor arrives, or until
it is plain that the case is beyond recovery.
This treatment has been found to be so emf
nently successful by one of our best physi-
clans that he feels justified in saying from
his own knowledge and observation that if
applied promptly recovery is almost GER
tain.