Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1888 — NUNS IROKE. [ARTICLE]

NUNS IROKE.

Its Causes and the Best Method of Treatment in Case of Attack. New York Paper. „, During the extremely hot summer of 1871 over 2,00 cases of sunstroke occurred in this city. Of these more than 300 died. It is probable that in fully developed cases the mortality is much higher, for in many instances about onehalf of those attacked die. In every large city in the United States this terrible malady claims its victims whenever the temperature on clear days rises to 95 degrees and upward. While dpetors are still in doubt concerning tile essential nature of the morbid condition known as sunstroke or heatstroke, the causes of the disease are very well known and its mode of prevention understood. An attack of sunstroke is nearly always preceded by certain symptoms which should direct t|ie individual’s attention to the impending danger. These symptoms are a hot, dry skin—the perspiration being checked—dryness of the mouth and throat, flushed face, suffusion of the eyes and throbbing of the head; in some cases there is slight delirium, in others a sense of weakness or confusion M thought, with alternate flushing and cooling of the face, such as sometimes comes on after smoking a strong cigar. The pulse is usually’rapid, sometimes intermittent, and if the temperature of thebody be measured frith the,themometer, it will be found several degrees above “blood heat.” If no attention is paid to these premonitory symptoms andexposureto the exciting cause continues, the “stroke” comes. The person suddenly falls to the ground, becomes unconscious and comatose, or is attacked by irequent convulsions. The breathing is deep, Blow and snoring, the pnlse very rapid, and the skin dry and burning hot. In

some cases, however, especially of that variety classed as “heatstroke,” that ia to say where the individual was not directly exposed to the ritys of the sun, the pulse is weak and the skin pale, cold anil moist. In these cases there is great danger of paralysis of the heart, fallowing extreme exhaustion of the nervous system. The causes of sunstroke are excessively high temperature, exhausting physical labor, excessive indulgence an alcoholic liquor and deprivation of water. Soldiers marching in hot weather are subject to sunstroke,especially when suffering for want of water. In the Federal army during the late war thet-e were 7,200 cases of sunstroke, but owing probably to prompt attention from the medical officers th^mortality was low. laborers of any kind who work outside, such as stevedores, are frequently prostrated by heatstroke, and u large proportion of thesa,supynnb to the attack. ' Nothing is more firmly and conclusively established in the whole range of medical practice than that intemperance is the most prominent and fatal predisposing cause of sunstroke. A drunken man is not only much more liable to lie attacked, but he is almost certain to die from the effects. All authorities are agreed upon this point. The most efficient preventive measure may therefore, be declared to be thq, avoidance of spirituous liquors. The means of prevention are already indicated by a consideration of the causes. Exposure to high temperature or excessive exertion should be avoided. This is, however, easier said than done in most eases. Hence, whatever measures will reduce the evil influence of the above conditions must be adopted. > When exposed to the sun, a light, wellventilated hat should be worn. A # „• . broad-brimmed straw, probably, answers the demand better than any other. The cork helmet, as worn in the East Indies, is also serviceable, but its unsightliness will probably prevent its general use in this country. A sponge or handkerchief wet with cold water, placed in the hat, will keep the head cool and produce a general reduction of temperature in the body. This is a measure which should be adopted, especially by soldiers on a march.

The' clothing should be loose and light, and frequent bathing of the face, head and arms will counteract the pernicious effects of the high temperature. Plenty of water internally is one of the best preventives of sunstroke. It has been found that soldiers, upon whom the most accurate observations have been -made, succiunb to the effects of the heat only after the supply of drinking water Is exhausted. Fo Tong as the canteens are full sunstroke does not occur in any army.. I n case of sunstroke a competent physician should be at once sent for. But in the meantime the bystanders should not be idle. It the individual is unconscious and has a hot, dry skin, the clothing about the upper part of the body should be opened and cold water poured over him. 'lf the water is poured over the head from the height of several feet the result is greater. >So long as the heat of the skin seem excessive, the cold effusion should he continued. Convulions do not contra-jndicate this treatment. When the temperature of the body has become reduced in this way, and the unconsciousness still continues, hot mustard poultices should be applied to the abdomen and limbs. This may be done at first in those cases in which the skin is cold and moist and there seems to be a tendency to collapse. If the patient can swallow strong hot coffee or tea it may be given in small quantities, taking care not to overburden the stomach and course vomiting. Whisky or brandy should be given with great caution. In extreme cases of depression a tablespoonful of whisky with a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia, may be the one thing needed to save life, but the judgment required in deciding when it shall be given is seldom found. Bleeding is rarely resorted to in sunstroke at the present day, and in the judgment of the writer still more rarely,,, required. Some cases need it and some recover in spite of it. Under all conditions its employment should be left to the physician. Finallv, as in so many other diseases, iV-Y- j J *‘u . w . . prevention is better tban cure in this malady. Most persons who have suffered from sunstroke carry with them through life some effects of the attack. It is always better, therefore, never to have had a sunstroke than have been cured of one.