While scouting for Indians on the
plains they went for eighty-six hours without water; when
relieved their mouths and throats were so dry that even brown
sugar would not dissolve on their tongues. Many were delirious,
and all had drawn fresh blood from their horses. Despite repeated
vomiting, some drank their own urine. They were nearly all
suffering from overpowering dyspnea, two were dead, and two were
missing. The suffering was increased by the acrid atmosphere of
the dry plains; the slightest exercise in this climate provoked a
thirst. MacLoughlin, the surgeon in charge of the S.S. City of
Chester, speaks of a young stowaway found by the stevedores in an
insensible condition after a voyage of eleven days. The man was
brought on deck and revived sufficiently to be sent to St.
Vincent's Hospital, N.Y., about one and one-half hours after
discovery, in an extremely emaciated, cold, and nearly pulseless
condition. He gave his name as John Donnelly, aged twenty, of
Dumbarton, Scotland. On the whole voyage he had nothing to eat or
drink. He had found some salt, of which he ate two handfuls, and
he had in his pocket a small flask, empty. Into this flask he
voided his urine, and afterward drank it.
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