What Did People Do Before Air Conditioners?

Today marks the second day of no air conditioning at work and the heat is beginning to take its toll on me. Yesterday, I could barely get through an appointment-- I truly began to understand the meaning of lethargic. I've even had to give up my morning coffee in favor of Gatorade, a drink I normally loathe but which I feel is necessary to maintain the delicate balance of carbohydrates and electrolytes my body needs to sustain the heat. But it makes me wonder how people survived without air conditioning. Kirsten doesn't believe that people can die from the heat, but I don't know-- after spending a few days trapped in this oven, I am beginning to appreciate the danger of a heatwave.