The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-10-01
sits A YEAR
Sunshine.

Seclusion from sunshine is one of
the misfortunes of our civilized life.
The same cause which makes potato
vines white and sickly when grown
in Clark cellars operates to produce
the pale, sicilly girls that are reared
in our parlors. Expose either to the
direct rays Of the sun, and they be-
gin to show color, life and strength.
When in London some years ago,
l visited an establishment which had
acquired wide reputation for the
cure Of those malRdias in which
prostration and nervous derange-
ments were prominent features. |
found in the use made of sunshine
the secret Of success. The slate
roof had been removed and a glass
one substituted. The upper story
had been divided into sixteen small
rooms, each one provided with a
lounge, washing apparatus, etc. The
patient, on entering his little apart
ment, removed all clothing, and ex-
posed himself to the direct rays of
the sun. Lying on the lounge, and
turning over, from time to time, each
and every part of the body was thus
exposed to the life-giving rays of
the sun. Several London physicians
confessed to me that many cases
which seemed waiting for the shroud
were galvanized into life and health
by this baptism of blessed sunshine.
Many years ago clergyman who
had for years been a victim of dys-
depsia, and who had prayed for
death as the only door of escape, at
length, through the advice of mu-
tual friend, came to consult me. /
advised the disuse Of all medicines,
the generous use of cracked wheat
and good beef and much exposure
to the sun.
To secure the aforementioned infu-
ence, | directed him to build a close
fence, covering a space twenty feet
square in his garden, and plant the
earth within with something to oc-
cupy his mind. Then, when the
weather was warm, he was to busy
himself quite nude with the cultiya-
ton of his vegetables from ten to
sixty minutes each day, always in
dulging in thorough bath and Wig
orous friction before leaving. He
was radically cured.
L was practicing my profession in
Buffalo, \. y, during l849 and 1851,
those memorable cholera seasons. |
saw five cases Of cholera on the shady
side of the street and houses to one
on the sunny side. One eminent
physician in New Orleans reports
from his own practice eight cases of
yellow fever on the shady side of the
street to one on the sunny side.
Who has not read Florence Night
ingale's observations in the Crimea
concerning the shady and sunny side
of the hospitals? In St. Petersburg
the shady side of the hospitals was
so notoriously unfavorable to the
sick soldier that the Car decreed it
into disuse.
The shade trees about our dwell
ings have done much to make our
wives and daughters pale, feeble and
neuralgia. Trees ought never to
stand near enough to our dwellings
to cast shade upon them; and if
the blinds were removed and nothing
but curtain within with which to
lessen on the hottest days the inten-
sity Of the heat, it would add greatly
to the tone of our nerves and our
general vigor. The piazza which
projects over the lower story always
makes that less healthy than the up
per story, especially for sleeping pur-
poses. | am sure that | have cured
a great many cases of rheumatism by
advising patients to leave bedrooms
shaded by trees or piazza and sleep
in a room and bed which were con-
stantly dried and purified in the di-
rect rays of the sun.-T0-Day.
FAMILIARITY with maricaD Oeoor