SI NSTHOKE. 519 



obtain skilled assistance, much may be done to subdue the inflammation and reli-\ .- 

 suilrriiiLT. Tin- patient should be undressed und put to bed. Should the bowels be 

 confined, a simple enema should be given of a pint or more of gruel or 8oaj>-and- 

 water. A large hot linseed-meal }>oultice should be applied over the whole abdo- 

 iiH-n, and this should be renewed every two hours or otViu-r both night and day. 

 The best medicine to l*%jin with is the aconite mixture (Pr. 38), a tea-apoonful 

 every ton minutes for the first hour, and then hourly or every two hours for one or 

 two days. Under the influence of the aconite the pulse becomes slower and softer, 

 and the skin cooler and moister, whilst the pain subsides and the patient falls into a 

 quiet slumber, from which he awakes refreshed and better in every way. The 

 thirst, which is so distressing a symptom, may be relieved by sucking small pieces of 

 ice. At first, probably, no food will be retained, but after a few hours the patient 

 will be able to take a little milk, or milk and soda-water, or milk and lime-water, 

 care being taken not to give more than a tea-spoonful at a time. As tin- ]>;tin ami 

 inflammation subside, a little beef-tea or Brand's essence, or even a little weak 

 brandy-and-water may be tried. When the vomiting is very persistent, the aconite 

 may be discontinued, and the arsenic mixture (Pr. 40) substituted ; or should this 

 fail, the tartarated antimony mixture (Pr. 46) may be given. There is a special 

 form of inflammation of the bowels which attacks women who have been recently 

 confined, and this is treated in the same way. 



STOMACH. DISEASES OF THE STOMACH. 



For BLEEDING from the Stomach, see p. 137. For CANCER of the Stomach, see 

 ,p. 169. For ULCER of the Stomach, see p. 568. 



SUNSTROKE. 



Sunstroke, coup de sohil, insolation, or heat apoplexy, for by all these names is 

 this complaint known, lias been recognised from the earliest times, and could in fa-t 

 hardly have escaped observation. There is a case of it related in the Bible. " And 

 Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley ha; 

 For as he stood overseeing them, and bound sheaves in the field, the heat came 

 upon his head, and he fell on his bed and died in the city of Bethulia." It is by no 

 means uncommon in this countiy, and during the summer months one can hardly 

 take up a paper without seeing the account of a case. In tropical climates it is of 

 much more frequent occurrence than with us. In England the field labourer is the 

 most frequent sufferer, but in India the greatest number of cases occur amongst 

 troops engaged in long marches under a scorching sun. Exercise exhausts the store 

 of nervous force and increases the natural warmth of the body, the high temperature 

 of the surrounding air precludes due radiation from the surface, and the result is a 

 sunstroke. The effects of a high temperature are much influenced by the style of 

 dress adopted. In India sportsmen often expose themselves to the hottest weather 

 when in pursuit of game, but they rarely suffer provided they take the precaution to 

 wear loose light clothing and to protect the head and spine by a suitable head-dress. 

 On the other hand, men dressed as our soldiers used to be, in tightly-fitting 

 clothing, encumbered with heavy, ill-arranged accoutrements, and furnished with a 



