The Washington herald., 1915-06-02

wv We should OF the sun neditn-
w giving germ-destroying rays.
The government is expecting the sun Q
rays to destroy the germs Of the foot
and -mouth disease this summer.
Tho plant in the cellar and the child
in the dark bedroom Of a city nat rarely
thrive Take both into the open where
the sun may hathe them and witness
the change.
Johns Hopkins Hospital has porches on
which all patients can be drawn out into
| the sun. Each room has a door SUI
fciently ide to allow the bed to be
| wheeled through without disturbing the
patient Every hospital in America
should have similar advantages. Euro
pean sanitariums have made consider
| able use of sun baths.
What do you consider a sun bath?
| There is nothing difficult to follow In
| the method in giving these. The sun
| may shine directly upon the skin. or
through glass, or in the open. In whlch
case the patient wears a loose linen
kimono.
The sun is the oldest and most mod
ern of therapeutic agents.
Basking in the sunshine Is good; mild
exercise in the sunshine is better. As
! this treatment is directed generally to
HeuGdStneHlC anu poeiShtS' eAAo
exercises should not be made too Sc
we're. We get the physiologic effect from
the sun baths in two ways-the action
of the heat rays on the sweat glands
and the irritating effect of the chemical
rays upon the skin. Both OF these bring
the blood into the little capillaries along
tie surface of the body. increasing oxida-
ton and relieving congestion OF the
brain, heart and vital organs.
The action Of oxygen by the skip pores
tends to health of body and particularly
to heath of skin. Women should re-
member this and never allow their skin
pores to be continually clogged with
cream or powders and shut away always
under layers of clothes.
Sunlight is great germ and bacteria
destroyer; any skin regularly bathed in
It will show no more serious trouble than
sunburn. This does not mean that the
skin should continuously be exposed. be-
cause sunburn. like any other burn, can
be painful, and. because the skin Is the
body's protective covering. IL the skin
peals off In large quantities. 1t presents
an element of danger of infection.
Why not utilize the tops OF our houses
and our porches? A good family gym
nasium may be built on the roof toys.
with glass sides and skylights that may
be open or shut. Let the children play
about in this, with one garment for
clothing. and under suitable conditions
the elders can do likewise. substituting
for play light physical exercise.
In sanitarium in the outskirts Of
Paris, sun baths are combined with hy-
dropathic treatment. There Is large
garden attached to the establishment.
with shade provided here and there. The
patients bask in the sunshine or walk
49, t.l IN h.
single white linen garment and put on
a light wrap II they leave the sunshine.
The eyes are often protected and light
weight, broad straw hats are sometimes
needed The sun treatment may last
one hour or two and at its conclusion
the patient Is given water treatment.
This may be a cool sponge or shower,
with the spray directed especially up ana
down the spine. or alternating warm and
cool showers as the physician In charge
Of the case may direct. This is ioiioweo
by rest and a light lunch.
The results obtained by this treatment
are very satisfactory and patients are
sent there suffering from wide variety
of troubles. such as nerve exhaustion.
arterio-sclerosis. certain heart affections.
rheumatism and kidney diseases.
II such simple agents as sun and
water. intelligently used, have such
great remedial value as to aid and cure
serious organic diseases. how much great
er their value would be In preserving
health ard promoting the DEVELOPMENT
and resistive force Of the young. Town
bred children. even before the schools
going age. are sadly handicapped by Sc
clusion in dark rooms 1t II not pos
sible always to have detached homes and
gardens. but we have many parks. gem
orally occupied only by the children who
have nursemaids. Our young city moth
ers would do well to reflect on the SIM
pier manners of the European women.
who see no lack OF dignity In bringing
their sewing or whatever work they have