Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1878 — SUNSTROKE. [ARTICLE]

SUNSTROKE.

How to Avoid It, and How to Treat It. Dr. De Wolf, Health Commissioner o Chicago, was recently interviewed upon the subject of what people should do in hot weather. He paid that, first of all, direct exposure to the heat of the sun should be avoided. If pain were felt in the head, the vision became distended, faintness or nausea were felt, then warnings should be heeded. Sunstroke had no pathology. There were no changes in th« tissues, of the dead from this cause. There was a change in the condition of the blood, produced by extreme heat. The temperature of the body, in cases of sunstroke, was raised to 104 deg. or 108 deg. In this lay the danger. To prevent such increase of temperature, or in case of actual suns'roke, cold applications should be made to the head and chest. In cases of very feeble constitotionaf the patient should not use cold applications With freedom. Some gentle stimulant is needed for the system. Aromatic spirits of ammonia may be sniffed, or mustard plasters put to the stomach and feet When a persoh is sttnstruok, he should be conveyed to the nearest cool, shady spot, his head raised, and the clothe* stripped from his chest and cold water applied. The best professional talent should be secured without a moment’s delay. The patient should not be moved or carried about until reaction has set in. As the cases require professional treatment, it was unnecessary to give the medical treatment required. Personally, the doctor believed that bleeding was valuable in cases of sunqtrbke of strong, plethoric individuals of vigorous constitution, and that a full dose of quinine, in many conditions, is a very valuable adjunct in the treatment.

As to preventives, he strongly urged that beer and all alcoholic beverages should be avoided. The reason was that these drinks contained carbonaceous matter, with which the blood was already filled, and which it was trying to work off. The alcohol paralyzed the capillary blood vessels of the brain and nervous system, and increased the tendency to brain disease. For moments it destroys the tonicity of the capillaries Cathartics should be avoided during the hot season, and lighter forms of saline water, on account of their milder influence, are desirable. The violent perspiration removes certain ingredients from the body that may be taken in by the use of these mineral waters. The bowels should be kept open. During such heated terms strong persons do not need much nutriment. Meat should only be eaten once a day. The food should consist mainly of starches, fruit, fish, vegetables and milk. Acid drink, especially claret and water, in a moderate amount is good for feeble persons. Large draughts of ice water should not be taken, as they cause a revulsion, throwing the blood in the direction of the head, where there is the least resistance, and therein lies the danger. It forces the blood to the brain and tends to cause the congestion which ought to be avoided. Small doses, or ice held in the mouth, are not detrimental. Some have conceived a prejudice against drinking a large amount of water, believing that it is the cause.of the nrofuse nersniration , The drinaing of an abundance of water, it it is not too cold, is a good thing and useful in supplying the waste by perspiration, and in cooling the body.