Evening star., 1900-02-01
BATHING IN ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Many Painful Ailments Can He Ban
ished From Sufferers Body.

From Pcarsons Magazine.
1t has been found that there are many
painful ailments which. when acted upon
by electric heat and light rays. are COM
pie tely banished from the sufferers body.
Strong electric light is thrown to the
seat of suffering; the patient basks in a
hath of light and heat. experiencing nothing
but pleasant sensations, and. in most cases,
an immediate and comforting sense Of relief
from pain.
The apparatus which enables patients to
bathe in electrict light IS extremely simple.
To an adjustable stand are fitted two large
copper or nickel-plated ref1ectors, which can
be moved in any direction. If patient is
lying III bed, reflectOrs are placed on either
side. adjusted to the exact position for To-
eating the rays where desired. On the re-
fiecting surfaces are the electric lamps
which radiate the luminous heat-rays- The
heat may he regulated by varying the lis
tGnce of the reffectors. or the number OF
lamps. or by means of a special regulator
which controls the electric current Those
parts of the body, such as the armpits, or
shoulders, which it would be impossible TO
treat locally with other arrangements, are
easily dealt with by the rev system.
When the patient Is in the right position.
and is comfortably settled (he may be fully
clothed, or covered with blankets, without
affecting the power of the rays). the cur
rent Is turned on. and heat and light of
dUced. In a few moments the thermometer
will register 300 degrees Fahrenheit have
seen patients chatting cbeerfully, and ex-
periencing no inconvenience, while an af-
fected limb has been exposed TO neat-rayS
at a temperature Of 400 degrees. It might
be supposed that such heat as this would
roast limb Undoubtedly there would he
evil results were 1t not for the important
fact that dry heat is employed, which evap
crates perspiration as soon as it appears
on the body
The baths usually last for forty minutes.
or an hour. and it is to this prolonged appli-
cation of the brilliant light and the intense
heat bearable under no other circum-
stances. that the marvellous results are
Taainly due. The rays may be applied in
three ways: They may be directly applied
to the body without heating the surround
ing air; they may be partially screened, so
that they fall only on one spot. as on an
arm, or hand; or they may be dlffused. and
caused to heat the air surrounding the
patient. AS rule. better results are OBJ
tanned when complete body bath is taken
even when the ailment to be treated Is only
in one limb or joint.
The result Of the bath Is that free per-
spirauoD breaks out over the whole body
even when the rays are applied only To-
caIly: at the same time the body tenpera-
ture is raised as much one, two, or even
three degrees, g. physiological effect hithar-
to regarded as impossible. There is an in
creased circulation Of the blood; the pulse
increases IN frequency, and also the respr-
alton but few minutes after the bath
pulse. respiration and temperature return
To their normal or previous condition-whiie
an hour later the pulse is found to be slow
er and stronger than before. especially in
the case of patients with weak hearts. Vita
painful Affections. the pain is almost inme-
diately relieved on the application of the
rays After the bath the whole body is
briskly rubbed with dry towel, and per-
haps ssaged-end the patient rises from
his bed a new man.
The peculiarity of the heat supplied by
the electric lamps IS that the rays require
no medium but may be radiated directly
on to the body. even through a glass screen
or in a vacuum. The air surrounding the
bather may be freezing. yet the body world
still be warmed by the radiation from the
electric lamps. In all other baths of a sim
flar character air as a medium is necessary
in applying the heat to the body
The electric light rays 90 closely resemble
the suns rays that they will cause sunburn
and freckles when directed for any length
oi time on the uncovered skin. This dis
coyery is full of possibilities-no doubt
there are slaves Of the desk who when it
becomes generally knOwu will take electric
h at and light baths for the sake of gaining
complexion which may compare favorably
with Il yachtman's, after a long cruise in
the tropics.