SUNSHINE AND DISEASE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12546, 24 May 1909, Page 4

SUNSHINE AND DISEASE.

Those who are in the habit of hermetically c closing their windows,, drawing down the blinds, and retiring into the gloomiest chamber at the approach "of a too ardent sun, would apparently do well to consider the error of their ways. More air, more light, more suri, seem to be the maxims which modern hygiene would inculcate in us.: According to recent investiga-tions;-the-last named is especially urged on us, for they go to show that in the direct rays of the sun we have a much neglected and powerful curative agent, . not merely for superficial diseases, but also, for some fairly deep- seated, disorders." The" sun's rays have been long known to be fatal to bur perennial friend, the microbe, when he is. exposed in a -glass tube to the hot glances of his enemy. Thus a London, paper tells- us that the microbes of tuberculosis, which are . not killed bj f a -temperature below freezing point, arid will, survive several hours in the gastric juice of the stomach without "being destroyed, and, moreover, will resist exposure to, high temperatures for some time,* are very quickly killed by exposure to direct, sunlight. Similarly the very virulent microbes of diphtheria soon lose their powers and >• perish miserably under the influence of the sun's rays. Suri baths are- therefore said to be useful health aids, and perhaps sanatoria for this purpose will in the near future become very numerous. It is necessary to bring the skin into dir■ect contact with the: rays, and it appears that the higher the altitude at which we happen-to be the more beneficial the effect.; so much so that at certain mountain resorts it is possible" to cure even deep seated diseases by this method. But let would be disciples take notice 'that by exposing themselves to the beams rashly and ily they are liable to blisters dire and other complications. —