Evening star., 1938-10-26

A'ASA' ees - ~ PCT Ccut WOISc BuuUuIIl
than women with the same exposure
and blonds are 40 to ITO per cent more
sensitive than brunettes. =
One gets q quicker sunburn with the
same exposure in March and April and
November and October than any other
time of the year. Folks with unstable
nervous system, with overactivity ol
the thyroid gland, and with tubercu-
losis are more sensitive than normal
persons.
Certain drugs, such as rose bengal,
methylin blue, anthracine derivatives
and quinine. senttize the cells Of the
skin as 4 Photographic plate is sensi-
tlzed, so that 1t can be sunburned
with ordinary light. as we'll as by the
ultraviolet rays from the sun, certain
narrow wave length bands Of which
normally produce this effect.
1rradtation with this ultraviolet
light lowers blood pressure. increases
the heart beat. increases the amount
OF fat In the blood and reduces the
blood sugar IN diabetes. but not in
normal persons. and increases the
rate Of basal metabolism
Other Effects Shown.
These striking effects Of the invis-
ible short wave components Of SUM-
light and the light of various arc
lamps were described to the Academy
OF Physical Medicine, meeting at the
Willard Hotel Yesterday, by Dr. Henry
Lurens. professor of physiology at
Tulane University, New Orleans.
At the same time DR.. Robert s
Harris Of the Massachusetts, Institute
OF Technology reported experiments
showing that various types of disease
causing viruses and poisons. notably
the viruses of rabies and infantile
paralysis, are rapidly attenuated by
irridating them with ultraviolet.
This opens up an entirely new ap-
proach to the problem of reducing
these ultra-microscopic organisms to
very weak form in which they are
not themselves virulent, but immunize
persons from virulent forms OF the
same bug when injected into the blood
stream.
Produces Vitamin d.
One of the functions of ultraviolet
In nature is production of vitamin D,
lack of which is blamed for rickets in
children, and which recently has been
used in very heavy doses in the treat
ment Of sr:hritis and hay fever. This
IS produced in two ways. DR.. Harris
explained-one by the irradiation of a
substance known as ergosterol In
plants and the other by irradiation OF
fatty substance. probably cholesterol,
which Is present In the animal body
The animal form Is found chiefly in
the hsh liver oils It is also pro-
duced from the fat in the skin cells
OF human beings by sunlight. which
explains why cod liver oil and sun
shine have approximately the same
effects.
Stomach Study Aided.
This indicates that certain animals
may be able to make the. substance
Independently Of, sunlight and explains
Why SONG species never sets.ssrkeas
30 seey4ksp have a speca1k fkcsIly
Dt* mskmt the nnteriak Il &IJi
mentally It Is vastly more difficult to
make animal than plant Vitanin b.
Effects of alcohol and tobacco in
producing Inflammation of the stomach
tissues, which may eventually result
in ulcers or cancer, now can be seen
for the first time by means Of the
gastroscope, which enables a physician
to look directly into this organ, ac-
cording to report presented by DR.
William A. Swain of Temple Uni
versity. Philadelphia. It Is also pos.
sible, he said, to observe directly the
healing of ulcers Progress in treat.
ment hitherto has been largely 9
matter Of guess work.
Although the instrument has been
available for the past five years, he
said. few physicians are familiar with
it. 1t consists of rigid tube. to which
is attached a flexible rubber tube
Within these tubes are placed many
mirrors so arranged as to reflect to the
eye of the doctor clear picture of the
stomach. regardless of the position
into which the instrument is bent.
One of the great values of the in