Feeling the heat
In 1910, a heat wave swept Oklahoma City.
EMSA already has declared several heat alert days for the Oklahoma City area because of the summer heat and humidity and its effects on the body.
In 1910, there was so little relief from the twomonth-long heat wave that several residents were declared insane because of the heat.
The article in The Oklahoman on Aug. 24, 1910 read:
Has the intense heat during the last few days been the cause of the four cases of insanity reported to the county authorities and the five or ten cases of resting in private sanitariums?
Tuesday morning four warrants were issued from the county clerk’s office for insanity cases. The names are William H. Simpson, Bertha Nichols, Dill Coldman, and Mrs. J.W. Dill. In every case the complaints were made by relatives of the demented people.
The county authorities believe that the heat is to blame and have asked nearly every applicant who appeared for a warrant whether or not such is the case. Physicians in the city say it is highly probable and claim that cases of prostration if not carefully watched are liable to result in dementia.
“Every summer my wife seems to be affected by the heat,” said J.W. Dill, one of the applicants for a warrant. “In cold weather she is all right, but the minute it gets warm, she acts queerly. Last summer she had the same trouble. She was taken to the state asylum and after a time the doctors pronounced her cured, but the heat still has the same old effects.”
Similar tales were told by all of the applicants Tuesday. They claim when the temperature rises to over 100 degrees the brain seems to be affected. It was stated that William Simpson has trouble every summer although never in violent form. Many others who have applied within the last month have stated that they believed the heat to be responsible.
“It is hard to say whether or not the heat is the cause of the growing number of insanity cases,” said Dr. T.A. Buchanan, Tuesday. “In many instances the heat is directly responsible for the dementia and often it is the indirect cause. I have a patient now who has suffered so from the temperature that her mind is far from normal. People who are especially subject to sunstroke should be careful to see that too much exertion is not made during these days, as it would result fatally.”
Despite the fact many of the physicians scorn the idea that the heat has anything to do with the cases of insanity, a look at the records in the county clerk’s office will show that during the months of July, August and September, three times as many warrants are issued for the custody of insane persons as during the winter, spring or fall months. It is undeniable that the heat and blazing sun is a poor thing to toy with.
The 1910 heat wave broke the next day with temperatures dropping about30 degrees, “a change from about 100 degrees to between 65 and 70” with a strong north wind. The weather forecaster admitted the low temperatures were a welcome break, but reminded readers that “September in Oklahoma always is a hot month.”
We probably have three months of heat remaining, and it is important to remember to take precautions when dealing with the Oklahoma sun.
If you would like to contact Mary Phillips about The Archivist, email her at gapnmary@gmail.com