Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-08
SUNS HEALING POWER.
Facts About Benefit of Baths in Old
Soils Rays.

FIom the indianapolis News.
Man is naturally an outdoor animal. The
tropics being his natural home he lives in
cold countries only al the expense of an
enormous outlay of labor, and probably also
with q very considerable shortening of his
life
The value of outdoor life is best ap-
preciated by those accustomed to sedentacy
life when opportunity is afforded them to
spend a few days in the open air. 1t needs
no lengthy argument to demonstrate 20
such a person the value of continuous out
door life as a health promoter. The value
Of such a life does not consist wholly n
the purity of the air and the exercise mat
ters of great Importance. but also in the
cooling effect of the air in motion and es-
pecially in the vitalzng influence of the
sunshine.
The rays of the sun. says DIR. ]. II. Kel-
log. contain heat and chemical rays as well
= light rays. The heat acts powerfully
upon the glands and vessels of the skim
while the chemical rays influence the nerv-
Gus system in remarkable way. 1t is the
chemical rays which cause so-called sun
burn.
The marvellous energy manifested in pla ut
life is derived from the sun acting upon the
green parts to organize and VitaliZe he
elements of the earth and air into living
substances. The same energy of the sun
Eight is essential TO animal life. The sun
bath is now a well-recogniZed and much
valued therapeutic agent.
In this form of treatment the whole body
IS exposed to the direct action of the suns
rays. Persons who are not accustomed to
expose to the sun, and individuals who
have light hair and light skins. should
make the first exposure to the of short
duration: ten or fifteen minutes. Longer
exposures are likely to produce sunburn.
M particular harm is done by sunburn ex-
ceptng the Inconvenience occasioned by it..
The pgmentation of the skin induced by
surburn protects the skin from further
injury.
rhe body may be exposed either in the
open air or before a window When the
suns rays are so intense that the heat is
depressing. the heat rays may be filtered
cut by means of a blue screen placed be-
tween the patient and the sun.
After the sun bath a cold plunge, a cold
shower. a cold towel rub. or a wet-sheet
rub should be administered to tone the
skin and the nerves.
In the summer time in a hot climate the
sun bath may be very conveniently taken
in an outdoor gymnasium. A sand pile fur
nishes most appropriate couch. as the
heat which it accumulates may be utilized
as an aid to induce Precipitation when this
Is desired.
Every home should be provided with a
convenient place for taking the outdoor
sun bath in the summer time and sun ba tn
Indoors during the cold season Civilized
human beings suffer greatly because of the
seClusion from the sun occasioned by mod
err modes of life. Those who reside in
cities. like the cave-dwelers of the oiden
time. are by their opaque walls and shaded
windows almost excluded from the sun.
The results are shown in the pale faces of
old and young. the rickety children. the
growing prevalence of consumption and
other constitutional maladies. the increase
In deformities and degenerations. and other
evidences of race deterioration. Out-of-
door life and a return of the simple habits
of our ancestors is the only way in which
the race extinction to which we are at
present rapidly Fastening possibly be
averted.
The sun bath is useful in almost every
form OF disease in which acute febrila
process is not present. 1t is especially valu-
able in neurasthenia. all forms of dyspep-
s.a rheumatism. diabetes. govt, skin dis
case and chronic maladies of every sort.