Evening star., 1927-05-17
EXERCISE URGED
TO CURE AUTO ILL
Dr.. J. C. EIsom of Madison,
Wis, Warns Physicians
of Obesity Trend.

Mans sentence to live by the sweat
of his brow was a benedictlon ana
not a curse, DR.. J. C.. Elsom of Madl'
son. Wis, told the American Elec'
trotherapeutic Association and the
American College of Physiotherapy
at their joint meeting at the Carlton
Hotel yesterday.
Obesity, caused by overeating ana
underexercise, DR.. Elsom said, has
it's damaging finger in a great many
human ailments for which cause
is sought elsewhere. He denounced
"automobilitis" as q growing Amer
lean disease. The increasing use OF
automobiles, he said, tends toward
a decrease of heaithful exercise and
hence to the growing fleshiness of
the people.
DR.. Elsom urged that practicing
physicians use more care in prescrib-
ing exercise. At present, he said, it
is too often the doctors pratice to
tell a patient to "go get some eXer-
else" without giving him any idea of
just what to do. The physician, he
said. should make study of the
proper kinds of exercise for different
ailments and particular for different
periods in life.
Light Rays Described.
Yesterday afternoon members of
the two societies went to the Bureau
of Standards. where they listened to
an exposition of the faculties of light
rays by DR. w. w. Coblenz. one of the
country's foremost experts on radia.
ton, The use of light in the treat
ment of disease still is in its infancy,
it was explained, and physicians
should learn more of the nature of
light before attempting to prescribe it.
Ultraviolet rays, as described by
| DIR. Coblenz, are powerful therapeutic
agents, but do not penetrate deeply
| into the body Little good is OBJ
tanned it was explained, from special
forms of window glass, which admit
these rays. if the patient remains fully
clothed, and it would he"Of much more
value to remain unciothed for a few
minutes each morning in the full light
of the sun.
Infra.red rays, on the other end of
the visible spectrum, go far more
deeply under the skin, are very sooth-
ing, and are valuable therapeutic
agents for the relief OF pain. DIR.
Coblenz explained to the physicians
some of the extremely fine apparatus
| by which radiation is measured, such
as the thermo-coupler by which 1t is
possible to figure the temperature of
| distant planets.
Electrical methods in the treatment
of cancer and malignant tumors were
described by DIR. Gustav Kolischer of
Chicago, DIR. William H. Schmidt of
| Philadelphia and DR.. George Austin
Wyeth of New York The therapeu-
tic value of oxidation was described by
| Prof. Albert j. Mathews of the Univer-
sity of Chicago. and the effects of the
lower frequencies of radiant energy
on forms of germ life by DR.. William
Bentham Snow of New York City.
X-ray therapy was discussed by DIR.
! f. l.. Hunt of Washington and DIR. l.
| Seth Hrsch of New York City.
| The laboratories of the Bureau of
Standards devoted to X-ray, ultra
violet and high frequency currents
were visited.
! Banquet Is Held.
The annual banquet of the two socie-
ties was held last night at the Carle-
ton Hotel, with the principal address
bv DIR. Frank B. Granger. member
of the council on physiotherapy of the
| American Medical Association. Mo-
tion pictures showing the use of ply
siotherapy at the watering places in
| Europe were shown by DIR. Richards
Kovacs of New York City, secretary
of the American College of Physio-
therapy. After the, convention DIR.
Kovacs will lead about 80 physicians
on a tour of the health resorts.gof the
United States 20 study the pQssibili-