VIOLET RAY TREATMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 19

VIOLET RAY TREATMENT.

QUESTION OF EFFICACY

SPECIALIST "ASTOUNDED." As a result of experiments by the Medical Research Council on a group of children who underwent violet ray treatment for seven months, little difference could be found at the end between them and another untreated group, stated a recent cable message from London.

Astonishment at the report was expressed by a well-known Wellington specialist, who declared that there was absolutely no question as to the beneficial results of violet ray treatment in the hands of properly skilled staffs (says the "Dominion"). In the United States, on the Continent, throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain, there were literally thousands of violet ray centres devoted purely to this treatment. In the poorer districts of London alone hundreds of patients were treated weekly, whilst at Humanity House, controlled by a New Zealander, something like 2000 cases a day underwent treatment. Moreover, all the big hospitals have their actinotherapy plants. *

"I ask you," said the specialist, "are all these people wrong? Why, as a result of my own clinical experience I am aimply astounded at a statement like that. It is well known that violet rays have certain definite curative properties. For instance, they are a definite cure for rickets. The treatment in this case may take a few months, but quite definite results may be obtained in even two months. In the treatment of surgical tuberculosis, where the disease affects membranes and joints, there have been cures in New Zealand. However, it would be possible to elaborate on this aspect of the subject for hours on end." The Dangers. "It is, however, necessary to give a word of warning concerning the use of these rays by'ignorant, and unskilled hands. There are definite dangers in the use of the rays in'cases such' , as that. The - lamps .we use contain about 28 per cent ; of violet rays, compared, , in the case of ■ the sun, to -some seven - .per cent. Clearly they are very powerful and can be made to produce anything from a mild reddening to a bad scald from boiling water. Besides, there are certain constitutional dangers. Used ignorantly it is possible to liven up a quiescent tuberculosis of the lung, while definite harm may be done in certain types of heart and kidney diseases."