CURES BY THE SUN.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1925, Page 3

CURES BY THE SUN.

More than twenty vein's ago a Swiss peasant aim had rill hi* hand consulted a young medical pracitioner and was advised to expose the wound to the .sunlight. The practitioner (says the “Westminister Gazette”) was Dr Roilier, who is now famous for his sun treatment ol bone tuberculosis. He had noted how rapidly and cleanly the wounds oi the peasants healed in the bright sunny atmosphere ol the Swiss mountains. It was these observations that led him to try what sunlight could do for hone tuberculosis.

He chose l.ey-siu as the ideal spot for the experiment—a little mountain hamlet in the High Alps at an altituue of 1500 ft. on the southern slope of the Tours d’AI chain of mountains. Amongst the tuberculosis patients who cuirie to - him were huehbneks (Potts disease), patients with large, unsightly glands on their necks, with bodies utterly twisted and deformed and covered with repulsive ulcers. Many ol these unfortunate sufferers had been through operation after operation, or had lam for months in plaster casts. Dr Rollier banished the knife and the plaster cast. He exposed the diseased limbs to the sunlight, beginning with small doses. Cures that seemed almost miraculous were effected, and coon the clinic became known, and patients came from all parts of the world. The work started in a modest little chalet is now carried on in 34 clinics, built with balconies perfectly adapted to sun troament, and there are 300 patients adults and children, who are benefiting, and the larger proportion absolutely cured.

Amongst woods and pastures on a picturesque sight at Crgnat, a few miles from Lcysin. Dr Rollier has established the school in the sun, oi Preventorium, he calls it, where children predisposed to phthisis, with enlarged glands, anaemia, or rickets are educated. , -, -, U the present time there are club„f pi nationalities at the school. Tlie recent arrivals are still fairly pale, ],-'t the three-months’ pupils are already well tanned, and those who have been - at the school for over a year are dec’ - ) copper bronze.