SUN BATHS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4807, 6 February 1925, Page 3

SUN BATHS.

SOME OF THE DANGERS. THE RIGHT PROCEDURE. Whenever good results have been achieved by a system of curative treatment there is always a danger of its being advocated indiscriminately, to the serious detriment not only of the public confidence in the system itself, but also to the unfortunate patient who happens to be the victim of mistaken enthusiasm.

Nov/ this is exactly what is taking place in regard to sun bathing, and my own recent experience, writes a West End Physician, has convinced me that a word of warning is needed if the application of what may be called a natural method of treating certain human ailments is not to fall into undeserved disrepute.

Experiments have shown that sun treatment has greater possibilities than anyone ever dreamed of. And yet it cannot be stated too plainly that the system, if employed in unsuitable casse. may do more harm than good. Sunstioke and heartstroke are the most obvious dangers, for if the temperature of the brain rises too high death may result. It is therefore imperative that those undergoing the sun cure should be protected against either contingency arising by the provision of shields for the head and the spinal, column. But the most important aspect of this subject centres round the question of suitability. There are many individuals who should on no account be submitted to sun baths, and of such are those who will not readily pigmnet, or, in other words, do not become brown as the result of exposure to the sun. Albinos are unsuitable for sun treatment, while the very young, the aged, and the infirm should never attempt to improve their physical condition by sun bathing, except under the closest medical supervision. There ip a right way and a wrong way to take a sun bath. The patient should begin by exposing the feet, and then gradually the rest of the body should be uncovered, so that full exposure is achieved in about 10 days or a fortnight.

Fatigue must be avoided at all costs, and, indeed, the efficacy of the treatment may easily be gauged even by those with scanty medical knowledge, for unless the baths are followed by a feeling of exhilaration, of mental and physical well-being, there is ’something wrong, and careful inquiry into the cause is advisable. Sun treatment is destined to play a very important part in curative medicine in the future, and is an excellent remedy for certain ailments, as well as being a wholesome tonic even to those in normal health. Sun baths have an exhilarating effect ; they induce a feeling of fitness arid banish any tendency to depression. always assuming, of course, that they are indulged in wisely.

People who respond to sun baths find that they begin to enjoy an increasing immunity to common complaints, such as colds and catarrh, and their powers of resistance to the inroads of disease of all kinds are greatly increased.