HEALING BY SUNSHINE

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1933, Page 9

HEALING BY SUNSHINE

FAMOUS SWISS CLINIC.

SOME STRIKING CURES,.

Hope for those suffering from tuberculosis is held out in the complete cure of an Auckland solicitor, Mr. .Allan Ij. Spence, at the famous sun clinic, conducted by Dr. August Hollier at Leysin, Switzerland. Mr. Spence left Auckland for Switzerland 18 months ago, having been practically bedridden for three years previously. He was told that the sun clinic provided the only possible means of cure, and he has returned to Auckland fully restored to health. Dr. Rollier established his sun clinic at Leygin 25 years ago after successfully treating his own wife, Mr. Spence said. It had now grown until there were 38 individual hospitals, capable of accommodating 1500 patients. Fees ranged from, about 7s a day,- and sufferers went there, from all parts of the world. The treatment consisted simply of the exposure of the naked body to the sun for a limited period every day, accord-, ing to the endurance of the patient. The, period of exposure never exceeded three hours, as it was held that longer spells would result in injury. The clinic dealt only with non-pulmonary cases. With diseases of the lungs, it was definitely injurious to patients to take the sun treatment. ■ The Rollier establishment had not only the benefit of altitude—it was between 5000 ft and 6000 ft above sea level—but it ! also possessed a continental climate, dry and sunny. During Mr. Spence’s stay there was bright sunshine on an average of 14 days every month. The longest •periods were, strangely enough, in the winter months of January and February,; when the cloud level was 500 ft below the site of the clinic. “Remarkable cures are almost everyday occurrences at Leysin,” Mr. Spence' said. “One case which came prominently before my notice was that of a British soldier frho had gone to the war as a schoolboy, and, as a result of war disabilities, was confined in London hospitals for 12 years. Three of his spinal vertebrae were destroyed and his left hip Was badly affected. After 11 .months’ .treatment he was able to walk around the mountain paths on crutches and was well on the road to recovery.

“Dr. Rollier’s work among children is .marvellous.. One , child arrived .at the clinic with an elbow and both hips badly diseased. After 18 months of treatment the child was perfectly healthy. “In my own case, the cure was completed in six months. It has been confirmed by other specialists, and, coming as 4t does after five years of illness, it is more than welcome.