SUNSTROKE 



5630 



SUPERIOR 



tivation bears flower heads a foot in diameter. 

 These heads are flattened disks, surrounded by 

 circles of florets. The outer circle in each case 

 is a row of large, yellow petals which seem al- 

 ways to be turned toward the sun, and from it 

 to draw their bright color. The other . florets, 

 which form row after row of concentric circles, 

 are small, tubular flowers. The plant has a 

 rough, hairy stem from six to ten feet high, and 

 coarse, heart-shaped leaves. Numerous leaflike 

 bracts surround the disk, their purpose being to 

 protect the more delicate parts of the flower. 

 The sunflower is cultivated for decorative pur- 

 poses, and for its seeds, which are used as food 

 for cattle and poultry. In some sections of Eu- 

 rope the stalks are used as fuel and the seeds 

 are eaten as nuts. 



SUN 'STROKE. This term has been applied 

 to two different ailments resulting from over- 

 heating of the body. As the remedies for these 

 ailments are entirely different, they should be 

 very carefully distinguished. The more serious 

 condition is known also as heat stroke and heat 

 fever. It usually comes on quickly. The vic- 

 tim has a sense of burning heat all over the 

 body ; he becomes dizzy, cannot see clearly, and 

 grows nauseated and faint; then he falls un- 

 conscious. The skin becomes burning hot and 

 red and there may be delirium, vomiting and 

 diarrhoea. The temperature will rise to 108 

 or more, in some cases as high as 115. Such 

 strokes may attack persons who have not been 

 in the sun at all, but who are shut in hot rooms 

 where the air has become foul. 



The first thing to be done with a victim of 

 sunstroke is to cool the body, by putting the 

 subject in a cold bath or wrapping him in cold, 

 wet sheets. As soon as the patient regains con- 

 sciousness the cold applications may be dis- 

 continued unless the skin becomes hot again. 

 Water may be given, but under no circum- 

 stances should any stimulant be administered, 

 as stimulants warm the body. It is always wise 

 to call a physician, but if one cannot be found 

 no time should be lost in getting the victim 

 cooled. Should a boy on a fishing expedition 

 in the woods suffer from heat stroke his com- 

 panions should roll him in the river without 

 delay. 



Heat Exhaustion. This is the term which is 

 applied to the milder ailment. In this case the 

 pulse becomes feeble, and the patient feels ex- 

 hausted and is faint, but is not necessarily pros- 

 trated. The skin, instead of becoming burning 

 7ed, is white and clammy. If the attack is se- 

 vere the subject will lose consciousness, and the 



temperature will fall below normal, perhaps to 

 95. Recovery, however, is usually a matter of 

 a short time, the chief remedies being rest and 

 stimulation. Cold is never applied externally, 

 except that a cold cloth may be placed on the 

 head. Tea, coffee or aromatic spirits of am- 

 monia should be administered, or if nothing 

 else is at hand a small quantity of whisky or 

 brandy in a large quantity of water. If the 

 case is unusually bad a warm bath may be 

 given. 



Deaths from sunstroke are numerous in large 

 cities during very hot spells, but many fatali- 

 ties would be prevented if people would be 

 more careful about eating and drinking. Ex- 

 cesses of any kind should be avoided, but es- 

 pecially indulgence in alcoholic liquors. See 

 ALCOHOLIC DRINKS, subhead Cause of Heat 

 Prostrations. C.B.B. 



SUPERIOR, soope'rior, LAKE, the largest 

 body of fresh water in the world, and the deep- 

 est, most elevated and most northwesterly of 

 the five Great Lakes of North America. It 

 lies between Ontario on the north and east, 



LAKE SUPERIOR 



The small corner map shows the location of 

 Superior with respect to the members of the 

 group of Great Lakes. 



Wisconsin and Michigan on the south, and Min- 

 nesota on the west. Its maximum length from 

 east to west is 412 miles, and its greatest width 

 is 167 miles; the area, 31,200 square miles, is a 

 little greater than that of the state of South 

 Carolina. Lake Superior has a maximum depth 

 of 1,008 feet and is 602 feet above sea level. 

 About two hundred rivers pour their waters 

 into it, the largest of which, the Saint Louis, 

 at the western end, is the most remote head- 

 stream of the Saint Lawrence. Isle Royale 

 (which see), about eight miles from the inter- 

 national boundary between the United States 

 and Canada, is the largest of its islands; others 

 of importance are Saint Ignace, Grand, Mani- 

 tou and the Apostle group. 



Lake Superior has for the most part a bold 

 and rocky coast line. In some places, espe- 

 cially on the north shore, there are steep cliffs 



