Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-14

minors, especially those suffering from
rheumatic diseases, and the third sec
ton was made up Of children of poor
miners suffering from ricketts,, skin dis
eases and other child ailments.
The treatment adopted consisted Of
| two exposures weekly. for the most part,
although more frequent exposures were
given in special cases. The initial ex-
posure was two minutes to the front
of the body and two minutes to the
back, and the dosage was increased
gradually.
At the end of three months the boys
of the treatment group and those in
the control group were weighed and
measured. It was found that the aver
age gain in weight for the treatment
group was pounds 6 and frac&
ton ounces. and that the average In
crease in height for this group per boy
was 0.762 inches.
For the control group the average
weight increase was pounds 10
and a fraction ounces and the average
height increase was 0.50 inches. It was
thus shown that the average increase
in height per boy in the Treatment"
group was nearly double the control
group average. Similarly, 1t was shown
that the average height increase Of the
treatment group was so per cent greater
than the control group average.
X X y
Although the opening of the clinic
was arranged primarily for demonstra-
ton. miners and their wives were in.
vited to undergo treatment. and the re-
suits were equally convincing, the
report said.
Healthy men taking treatment for the
tonic effects, men who sought treat-
ment while wounds received in scci-
dents healed and men suffering from
sickness, all showed improvements.
Many mothers came with babies and
reported that not only did the infants
benefit, but that their general condi.
ton improved as result Of their exc
posure to the rays while holding the
children before the lamps, the commit.
tee reported.
Toward the end of the three months
about 500 patients we're receiving treat
ment," the report said.
at was especially interesting to note
that successful results were obtained
in the case Of rheumatic conditions re-
sulting from mine accidents and un.
healed wounds. ,
Most Of the children attending were
suffering from ricketts,, general debility
due to malnutrition unhygienic con-
ditions, skin diseases and acute ILL
nesseS. A large percentage of the chill
dren benefited, and results were espe.'
ciall-' satisfactory in impetigo and
eczema cases."
X X X
The committee reported q conviction
that such treatment is of real value
to the mining industry, and that fur
Their demonstrations would show 1t to
be valuable in other industries. Speedy
establishment Of a number of clinics
was suggested. and it was pointed out
that this could be done at o small cost.
These experiments are Of far broader
Importance than merely their demon
stration of the practicability of using
a mercury lamp substitute for natural
sunlight; they prove the value of the
suns rays; and whether the rays come
directly from the sun or from a man..
made machine substitute the curative
property thus discovered and demon
strated will be sure eventually to rev.
olutionige medical treatment of certain
diSeases-sunlight in place Of drugs. 1t
is not inferred that the value of sun
shine has but recently been known, for
1t has been recognized for decades, but
has not hitherto been generally applied.
There Is danger Of overblistering the
skin, whether with o mercury lamp or
in open sunshine, which Is not only
painful in its effects, but really dan.
gerous. Like all tampering with the
forces of Nature, Il il well to follow
Davy Crockett's motto, BE sure you're
right, then 60 ahead" In other words,
follow the directions Of o competent
doctor-one who keeps pace with mod
ern progress In science.
(Copyright, 1929. By Paul v. Coiiins)