Curative Powers of the Sun

Bruce Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2625, 30 October 1894, Page 1

Curative Powers of the Sun

ITS RATS HAVE ELECrEIC AXD CHEMICAL FUNCTIONS. The direct influence of sunshine on the circulation, in paralysis, insomnia, nervous diiense and internal disorders is beginning to be known and acknowledged. If I want to restore a withered arm, a ptlsied or rheumatic limb, or to bring a case of nervous prostration up speedily, a most efficient part of the treatment would be to expose the limb or the person as many hours in direct sunlight as the day would afford. I knew a delicate lady who had g>ne insane through menttl trouble, loneliueas and seclusion, part of whose tender nureing by the friend who brought ler back to reason and ease wjs daily to have her bed, freshly made, drawn where the fu'l sunlight from a broad window fell warmly on her. Fre-h flowers were placed where her eye could linger on them, a »mall music box played a tune or two, and the invalid lay for hours in blissful repose or softly bleeping-, her couc'i geutly wheeled to follow the sunshine, every neive drinking the refreshment, till, from a brooding, sleepless melancholy, her days were full of happiness and rest. I knew a case, too, of painful tumor in its early stages which nothing seemed to relieve and penetrate like an hour with direct sunshine falling on the swelling. For nervous debility and insomnia, the treatment of all others is reßt in sunshine. Draw the bed to the window and let the patient lie in the sun for hour*. There is no bromide, no tonic like it— provided the good effects are not neutralized by ill-feeding. The effect of sunshine is not merely thermal, to warm and raise tho heat of the body ; its rays have chemical and electric functions. As a clever physicin lately explained, it is more thaD possible that sunshine produces vibrations and changes of particles in the deeper tissues of the body, as effective as those of electricity. Many know by experience that the relief it affords to wearing pain, neuralgic and inflammatory, is more effective and lasting than any other application whatever. Those who have face-ache should prove it for themselves, sitting in a sunDy window where the warmth falls full on tbe cheek. To lie on a lounge and go asleep in the sun is so much the better. Two conditions are neceseaty — an agreeably warm room and pure air. Ons may be dressed or undre=«eed, clothing as light as will preserve comfort admitting swiftest effect. With the rheumatic twinge which calls for a shoulder wrap or tbe sciatic touch which always makes one limp after being on a marble floor a few minutes, let the hip or shoulder be exposed, not uncovered, to the heart of the sun's rays and remain there till the sun leaveß. It is finer stimulus than wine, electricity, manage, and we are on the verge of delightful therapeutic discoveries concerning it. Dr Thayer, of San Francisco, as reported in the 'Medical Record,' has come to the conclusion that the sun is the most efficient of all surgical methods in the treatment of " capillary aneurisms, varicose veins, indolent and eating ulcers, t-pithetial cancers, birth, India ink and powder marks, morbid growths, as wartn, moles, small Avece and all parasitic ekin dilates." Dr Thayer is candid enough to admit he iB not the first to discover tha surgery and dermatology of the sun. Some years ago a London surgeon by using the sun's rays, presumably win lens, removed a wive mark from a lady's face, and destroyed a malignant growth in the same way. Says Dr Th ryer, " During a practice of more than a quarter of a century I have found no caustic or cautery to compare with solar heat in its beoeficil results. Unlike other caustic* it can be applied with safety on the most delicate tissues and the system receives this treatment kindly. The irritation and inflimmatioQ following are surprisingly slight and of short duration, the pain subsiding immediately on removal of the lens. There is a cnrative power in the chemical rays of the sun yet unexplained." With weak lungs, let the sun fall on chest for hours. If internal tumor or ulceration is suspected, let the sun burn through the bare skin directly on the point of disease for hours daily. There will be no doubt left in the mind, that there is a curative power in the chemical rays of the sun. Women especially need to make systematic trial of the sun's healiDg and rejuvenating powers. For that nervous depression which results in shedding hair, in sunken feature?, and ushers dread tuberculosis, tumor and internal inflammation, sun is the specific — sun and rest altogether. For the chilliness which causes blue bands aud bad color, resort to the sun ; let it almost blister the skin and the circulation will answer the attraction. For grazing hair and baldness, try the sun on the scalp for lesser periods, say ten minutes, often repeated. And the woman who wants a cheek like a rose should pull her lofa pillows into the window, and let the sun blaae first on one cheek, then the other, and she will gain a co'or warranted not to wash off. The sun draws tbe blood to the surface better than a hot bath, and exhilarates rrther than weakens. Shieelt Da be.