The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-02-05
sunshine for the cor.rn.ptire.

DIR. III. /. Bowditch, In the Atlantic
Monthly. says ave have been told by
some consumptlves that ono Of the best
prescriptions we have made has been
their removal from north room to the
sunny south chamber. AS we write, two
cases come to mind, strlklngly illustra-
tive of the suns benign influence. We
had been attending, ut an orphan asylum,
a girl about twelve years old, who had
long been i'll of severe typhoid fever. She
was wholly prostrated in mind and body,
and emaciated to the last degree. 1t was
plain that she was falling into that de'
pressed condition of all the powers o.
life that so often prccedes consumption
Day after day we visited her, but all re
cuperatiye power seemed lost. Half dead
and alive. the little creature neither spoke
nor moved, and ate only on compulsion
One day, on our way to visit her, we fell
that elastic thrill which the warm rays o
the sun impart in the early cool weather
of spring. WeinyOluntarily leaped along
and were struck with the fact that ''virtu,
had gone out of u.s." when we left behind
us the sunlight and warmth Of the street
and entered that northern chamber, the
dormitory of the poor orphan. That In
splriting influence the invalid had never
experienced In the slightest degree during
the whole of her sickness, as, owing to
its peculiar situation, not n ray of direc,
sunlight had ever entered the chamber
| We were shocked, and for the first time
considered the depth Of her loss, and oul
own remissncss in regard to her. The
air of the room had been pure, the cell
ings of the iniirmary were LOFTY, and the
attendants had been faithful and saga
cious. Nothing seemed lacking, In fact
TO restore health. Yet 1t did not come
On the contrary, there seemed constant
downward tendency. "A sunbath In the
warm rays Of this delicious spring day Il
what this girl needs" we instantly said tC
the sister superior. This lady gladly con
sented to the change, and placed the little
patient in an another room having q
southern aspect, and consequently filled
with sunlight. The invalid Immediately
recognized the change, and asked, In her
weak way, to have the curtains raised, SC
as to let In the full blaze OF the light
Soon she wanted to sit up, and directed
that the easy chair, In which she wa.
propped, should be so placed as to allow
her whole body below her face to be cx.
posed to the direct rays of the sun. II
was the natural tendency of disease, seek.
ing for lifc-renovating Influences. And
we have never met with so marked or Sc
rapid Improvement rs Immediately bsgar
In the body and mind OF the girl. Appe-
tite and strength increased daily, and will
them burst forth again all the joyousncsi
of the child's heart.
Another analogous case, which, nj
though we do not demonstrate by 1t tn,
influence Of the sun alone, we canno
forbear to name, because by such exam
pies we impress perhaps on the minds o
our readers the real principles underly
Ing the whole question. a lady aget
about thirty, resident In the northern par
of New England. consulted us for un
doubted tubcrcular disease of the lungs
Her house was well situated, and on tn,
side towards the south was small plazz;
resting on stone steps, which was raise,
two or three feet above the ground. Tn,
winter was approaching and rules wcr'
to be given. Having full faith in thes'
divine influences of pure air and sunlight
we directed that she should sit out OF
this piazza every day during the wlntc
unless IL were too stormy. II was so ar
ranged as TO shut out the cool air on thrc'
sides, and to admit the full blaze Of sun
light In front. Here, according to oul
directions, she used to sit, wrapped Il
furs, reading or writing. for several hour'
each day during the following winter
and with most excellent results. She wa
directed frequently to make deep insplra
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