THE SUN CURE

Evening Star, Issue 18331, 19 July 1923, Page 8

THE SUN CURE

SOME PRACTICAL DETAILS. Tho many inquiries Irom readers about sun-curo can best bo dealt with here, since they repeat I lie same questions, which arc of public interest (writes the medical correspondent of the London ‘ Observer ’). Li tho first place, it is tho astonishing fact that I am not yet able to namo any doctors in this country who carry out Dr Rollior’s treatment in their private practice. Inquiries as to such doctors roach mo from every pat t of tho country, and tho only reply is that, ore long, thanks to the publication of ‘ Heliotherapy ’ in English, there will bo many qualified practitioners of the sun-cure in all parts; hut as yet 1 know of none except tho medical officers of a few splendid institutions, such as tho Troloar Hospital (a voluntary charity) and Queen Alary s Ito.-ptoi lor U.iidren at Carslialtou (an oilicial institution under the .Metropolitan Asylum:; Board). The simple fact is that heliotherapy is only just reacmiig out shores. Reference could bo given _to various practitioners "'ho have installed lamps of various types in their rooms and who are prepared to illuminate their patients thereby. Notable results can tints bo obtained, but, apart from some observations in New Turk, and at tho Loudon Hospital, 1 have no first-hand knowledge of this work, which is in any case of very small public importance compared with true heliotherapy, and therefore 1 am not prepared to say any more about artilicial photography except that its scientific interest is very high, and that it will enable ns to practise beliotlicrany more successfully than ever in tbs future.

There are also several places where the sun is used by persons. Those places may ho oxe-dlerd, but I have no personal know.edgo of thorn, Mid such data, as I have heiorc mo suggest that these practitioners have not acquitted themselves with the findings of science, 'Jliur—and hero is the answer to the question asked by many correspondents—photographs are before mo of the supposed sun cure where patients are shielded behind glass. But all the recent evidence, including that which I saw for myself in Columbia University, Now York, last December, shows that the ultra-violet rays, to which ordinary glass is opaque, are the most valuable and specific rays that the sun sends us for the purpose

of healing, and health. Notable and beneficial results iu the clmnu.sLry or tiro blood, and the euro of disease--as in certain new work at the London Hospital—can bo obtained by Ibe action of these rays alone. 1 cannot take the resjiensibilny of recommending any of these places, not under medical control, with this kind of evidence before mo.

But at least tbo general principles of heliotherapy may hero be indicated, with the. understanding that this js no place for clinical details except for readers who understand that every caso is unique, that only tho responsible practitioner, who sees tho case himself, should treat ill persons, and that no kind of treatment avails anyone except in so far as it is individually respond.d to aright. Brieily, tho sun is a potent and complex agent, capable to kill or cure. '1 ho sun’s heat has often killed; its light—including tho ultra-violet—can often euro. The .method is not fool-proof, and never will be. Tho cardinal rule is, Huston slowly. Dr Rollicr, using tho intense Alpine sun, exposes the feet only, for only five minutes at a lime, twice or thrico the first day; and so by very slow degrees until tbo patient who reacts well, sleeps well, cats well, has no fever, hoadacho or giddiness, may bo fully exposed for perhaps throe hours at tho end of a fortnight. Such a patient pigments well, and docs not freckle or burn; facts of deep significance as yet unravelled.

Intelligent and careful persons, reading; ‘ Heliotherapy,’ and using their commonsenso, can assuredly practise tho sun-cure, at any rate for convalescents, ami for “ delicate ” children; and, a fortiori, can practise belioliygione, the cultivation of health by the uso of sunlight. But tho proper lesson to tench by means of the printed word, is that wo should build our new' houses so as to produce no smoko (as Lord Nowton’s Committee recommended), and that wo should orient them, space thorn, and otherwise design mid plan them so ns to practise holio-hygicno without ever having tr, think about it again.