1454 



HEAT STROKE AND HEAT SYNCOPE 



fore, came to the conclusion that a coagulation necrosis takes place 

 in the nerve cells, due to the coagulation of the cell globulin, and 

 that when this occurs the protoplasm is destroyed. 



Our own observations entirely agree with those of Marinesco, 

 Mott, and Halliburton. Fig. 673 shows a nerve cell in a condition 

 of coagulation necrosis, with disappearance of the Nissl bodies, 

 from a case of sunstroke in which no pathogenic micro-organisms 

 could be found post-mortem. It appears probable, then, that the 



Fig. 673. — Nerve Cells from the Medulla of a Case of Heat Stroke, 



SHOWING ChROMATOLYSIS. 



sea.t of the lesion of thermic fever is in the cells of the cerebro- 

 spinal nervous system, and particularly those of the medulla. 



Koizumi considers acidosis to be the most important pathological finding in 

 thermic fever. He has noted that animals raised on a diet richin albumin show 

 a higher degree of blood alkalinity, and are more resistant to heat-stroke. 



Morbid Anatomy. — ^The body retains a high temperature for 

 some hours after death; rigor mortis comes on quickly, and passes 

 off quickly, and decomposition, on account of the high atmospheric 

 and body temperatures, sets in. Lividity is well marked. The 

 blood is dark, fluid, and acid. The brain and membranes are con- 

 gested, and there may be minute haemorrhages in the white matter, 

 and marked increase of fluid under the membranes and in the ven- 

 tricles. Microscopically, the minute vessels, especially of the medulla. 



