The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1928. IN PRAISE OF SUNSHINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 177, 28 July 1928, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1928. IN PRAISE OF SUNSHINE

J\J< >W THAT New Zealand, through its Legislature, has decided against the principle of daylight saving, it is interesting to review the steps that, are being taken in England and elsewhere to make the most of sunshine. Britain, of course, adopted daylight saving as a war-time measure. It proved economically and otherwise suitable for the Old Country, where it has been retained; but climatic conditions there are, of course, very different from those prevailing in the Dominion, where the putting on of the clock was found not to convenience, but to hinder, the majority of the farming community at least.

But apart from daylight saving, the recognition of the value of sunshine is becoming more universal, particularly in its relation 1o health. So greatly is the therapeutic value of the sun appreciated, indeed, that, where sunlight is lacking, artificial rays are introduced for the treatment of various complaints. Rapidly, we are reverting to sun-worship, and we now realise there was something more than merely religious in the homage paid to the Great Luminary by peoples of bygone days. Theirs was not so covered-in a civilisation as ours; nor was it so plagued with physical ills.

Such importance does England now place upon the remedies of nature, that a great newspaper like The Times publishes a special “Sunlight and Health Number.” In this production are emphasised the healing virtues of sunshine and all things emanating therefrom—excepting blisters. Medical correspondents write enthusiastically of the coming of spring sunlight 1o dispel the gloom of winter; of the remarkable discovery of artificial sunlight anti its effect as a curative agent for the “deficiency” diseases known as rickets, and for other diseases; of the strange relationship of Vitamin D to ultra-violet light; of the use of “the blade of the summer sun,” in place of the surgeon’s knife; of the “stored sunlight” in fruits, blubbers and fish oils; of the value to the human body of “absorbed” rays, classed as “radiant energy”; the protective value of a tanned skin : and so on.

Schools in the open air—a subject for discussion in New Zealand, and one that is certain to be reviewed in the coming summer—is dealt with at length in The Times’ special number. One illustration shows an open-air class in progress in a sun school at Le Cergnat. Switzerland, with the snow-clad summits of the Alps close at hand. Another reveals a class in Berlin, with all the children bare-legged and naked to the waist, where lessons are given in the open air, on sunny days, in winter as well as in summer.

The ultra-violet rays, we are told, come from the skyshine, from the blue sky and white clouds, as well as directly from the sun, and the amount from the total skyshine is greater than that from the direct sun, even when this is at its zenith, and far greater when the sun is lower in the heavens. The skyshine is a cool source of ultra-violet and can be used advantageously by febrile patients who are harmed by direct exposure to a hot sun.

It has to be borne in mind that exposure to open air is as important as exposure to sunlight. The open air, by its cooling effect, tones up the muscles and nervous system, and increasing the heat production of the body, enhances appetite and good digestion. At the same time, the breathing of cool air, free from house dust and the microbe infection of crowds, is of great value in keeping healthy the respiratory membrane.

We are quite frankly told by modern physicians that under our present conditions of living the winter is an unhealthy period for us —we suffer from over-eating, overclothing, and remaining in stagnant atmosphere heated by infra-red rays. The open-air life prevents these ill-effects, and should be indulged in to the utmost extent compatible with city occupation—and not to the least extent, as is the habit. The windows of bedrooms should always be open, except in fog. How many New Zealanders live the winter in this wise?

Advantage has been taken by the Dominion Publicity Department of the chance afforded by this publication to advertise New Zealand produce, and it is interesting to note, under the heading “Frozen Sunshine—lmported Health From New Zealand,” that “all the valuable properties which liberal sunshine bestows upon essential foodstuffs are contained in the produce which comes to this country (Britain) from New Zealand . . . animals feed on vigorous grass all the year round. The sunshine record for the Dominion is very high, averaging about six hours per day.” The article goes on to refer 1o the particularly high vitamin value of New Zealand produce.

It is all very interesting: it is grand to realise what sunlight and fresh air will accomplish in the promotion of health—and it is most amazing to realise that so many people remain ignorant or careless of the value of these inestimably beneficial agencies and shut them out of their lives as though they were unhealthy irritants.