ULTRA VIOLET RAY

Evening Star, Issue 20055, 21 December 1928, Page 8

ULTRA VIOLET RAY

“Will REVOLUTIONISE MEDICINE ” Tho opinion that ray therapy, which is now being used ou the King, l would in' time revolutionise modern medicine was '. expressed by Dr K. Graham Robertson, who is regarded as the pioneer of ultra-violet ray treatment in Now Zealand (says the Wellington v‘ Dominion •’). There was a very unfortunate confusion, said Dr Robertson, between ultra-violet ray and violet ray. The latter was only an electric current passed' through-a Vacuum Hube, while ultra-violet ray was made of- wave lengths, and was divided into roughly three regions, ail of, which had different properties.- ■ One of the regions was called- the long-wave region*; that was what, was being used on the King at the present time. The ultra-violet ray acted on the living cells of the skin, and also on the blood and nerve endings.' The action of tho ionic ray, which was playing a part in the treatment nf His Majesty, was roughly about fourfold, continued Dr Robertson. “It increased tremendously the killing power of the blood against, germs; strengthened the resisting power of the blood against genus; increased the calcium iron and phosphate in the blood; and strengthened the internal glands. It was on- an equilibrium of those that one’s health largely depended. “ If you take those four actions into account you will realise what the treatment means in its applicability to tho King,” said Dr Robertson. “At the same time one has to remember that the application of the ultra-violet ray to large skin surfaces sets up congestion of the lungs, so that in the treatment of ches,b conditions considerable care has to be exercised, lb'has also to bo remembered that ultra-violet ray replaces nothing at all; it is merely an adjunct, and all the other ■ surgical methods have to bo brought in. The leading ‘ light ’ men throughout the world are strongly of opinion that it should bo used not merely, by doctors, but by men who have been trained to it, and the various medical associations recognising that they are seeking ways and means whereby that very desirable result will bo brought about. Dr Robertson said that when he was Home' about three years ago what struck him most was that; the claims of therapy were considerably hampered by prejudice and ignorance and the en-thusiastic-claims made for it by some of those who were using it. Personally,'he thought that, in view of the part it was playing in' tho-treatment of the King, it would bo given its recognised .'position' hi .the medical world. The educational authorities in England hod taken thd matter up, and their efforts in the sdiools and similar institutions were limited only by their financial position. All through London these “ light houses ” were to ho found. Hundreds and hundreds of children received treatment, every day. y It was possible, added the doctor, to obtain ultra-violet ray treatment in the hospitals of the four centres ;in New Zealand so far as ho knew. “The great trouble here,” he said, “is that the doctors who wish to use it have ho opportunity of studying it except by books, I think ■ ray therapy is going to revolutionise modern medicine.”