HEALTH NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 January 1929, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES.

VALUE OF SUNLIGHT

-HEALTH-GIVING EFFECTS.

(•Contributed toy the Department of

Health.)

The’ beneficial influeimc© off sunlight in. relation. to health ha® only comparatively recently to can scientifically explained, ©totes the booklet •00. ‘ e Health Education, ’’ Board of Education, EugJauld. Wo have sometime® been apt to feair at rather thata. to welcome it; ho think --of the danger off sunstroke and the power of the sun to fade carpets and curtain® father itham to .recognise that it gives health and! vigour to the body, an'd destroys germs Of disease. Provided' that there; is proper protection 'Off the head, and nape. of the nioek from al very hot f sun, the more children play ini the sunlight and the more we let sunlight into .our r'bohis att holm e aJudf ait school the better. In large townls .much of the sun's energy is cut off, only iatoout one-quarter Of it getting through the atmosphere ais compared ’with ■one-half at the seaside add threiequarters. On mountain tops. Soirue of the beneficent influence of sunlight is invisible rays. A beaten 'off sunlight when pa'ssed through a> -'prism or through the 'drops of a shower, of rain, is divided up into' its constituent parts ainid we see the seven printary colours of which sunlight is composed (ate in the raimibow),, starting with fed at one side and. ending with violet at the other. Tho invisible’ special health-‘giv-ing rays are found beyond the violet rays and are called ultra-violet rays. Unfortunately, these rays are, Altered out when sunlight passes through window glass, and this is one of the reivsoms why being indoors is not so health giving as being out 'of dOors. Advantage is taken of the health-giving properties of sunlight, especially of tbeise idtra-violet fays, -to toeat diebility and other ailments. Its healing properties 1 are utilised in' the treatment of children suffering from such diseases' as riehotts add tuberculosis of the skin', bonds and joints, by heliotherapy in the open air, or artificially by thel ate lamp, INJURY DONE BY SMOKE. The' hafm done by the! stenoke pall which hangs over large cities,, particin larly in densely populated countries and by fogs which occur with greater or less frequency 'blocking out the sunlight from homes, Schools' and streets is due partly to the acids, carbon ataud tarry matters in the smoke which injure vegetation, corrode buildings, make houses dirty or choke the lungs. Under such conditions there is a -t'emideincy to keep windows closed, to prevent'uniclean atmosphere and dirt conning in. Atmospheric smoke obstructs the actinic rays of th'e sun more in towns than) in the country or the seaside. The ultra-violet rays of the sun, which have especially important effects o.n animal and vegetable life are readily absorbed by atmospheric impurities, dust, smoke and the like, and will not even pass through ordinary glass which absorbs them. They are not apparent to our senses, 'and their presence can only be .aiscertoime'd by the observance of the effects which they produce. Their biological significance has been iso abundantly manifested that it is a matter of serious l importance that, they are so readily absorbed by the; smoke polluted atmosphere of towns. EFFECTS OF SUNLIGHT.

Humanity is l singularly .sensitive, to the effects -off light, and ith& tome of stimulating influence of sunlight must be -apparent to the least observant, states Sir Henry Gauvin, M.D. This effect is- reflected in the gaiety amid vivacity which follow exposure. Exorcise- on a clear, cold suny diay elicits our immediate response. > The stimulus of light if over prolonged may, -however, lead to exhaustion and fatigue. Evidence hais be'en produced not only that sunlight or ultra-vi'olet light dierived from artificial sources 'hais l a psychological effect as shown by the increased vivacity of the subject exposed, but that it is also a stimulus if not too long pressed, to mental activities; a point of considerable importance in education. and indicating the desirability of well lighted as well as well ventilated rooms. j sun bath; j ; / .While sun l treatment may toe off much value to the; sick, states' the same l ait; thority, it i's perhaps not sufficiently appreciated that it is even -of greater potential value to the healthy. Much of the benefit Of a 'summer holiday, is due to sensible exposure to; sun light and fresh air. To the healthy -but oyerworked 1 adolescent or admit the benefit of thei property planned sain bath can hardly be exaggerated. At the seaiside ultara:yiolet. radiation is intensified toy reflected light from the ‘sea, amid sea bathing preceded or followeid toy exposure to the sun i's of great .value. Lengthy exposure at the beginning of a holiday should always be avoided. Freckled 'or sandy-haired blondes should b'e .especially careful. Short exposure of a; few minutes, gradually increased, as 'the skin becomes brpnzeid, t'O perhaps half ah hour is, all that is needed, blistering or even undue reddening of the skim is harmful. The sun -bather should' be energised and exhilarated after exposure. Fatigue, lassitude, airriitafoility and headaches are signs off - over-exposure. Each individual is a! • laivv. .to himself alnd 'his own’ feelings form an admirable guide-.