THE SUN BATHER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5388, 15 February 1929, Page 3

THE SUN BATHER.

MEDICAL MAN’S WARNING. NEED FOR MODERATION. “I see people ciut on the beaches absolutely exhausted,” said a prominent medical man the other day, discussing the liability of many in these stifling mid-summer days; to indulge unwisely in the popular pastime of sun-bathing. It is only to be expected that during this hot spell many should be complaining of suffering fropi 'a touch of the sun,’ and medical men agree that in this climate there is distinct danger in over-exposure to the rays of ts,e sun. Oases of actual sunstroke, though rare, do occasionally cc.cur, but apart from that a great deal of. inconvenience and general ill-health may be traced more pt less directly to the effects of the sun. “The two classes of people who require to exercise special c,are in Protecting themselves from the direct rays are yquug children and adlults not in the best of. health. Even they if they expose themselves carefully and with moderation, may do so without harm. It is important to learn that the ill-ejffects that may follow from too long exposure of the skin t« the hot sun by one unaccustomed to it are not confined only to sun-burn-ing, but may include serious injury tq the general health. REDUCING RESISTANCE. “Contrary to the popular idea on the subject, over-exposure is apt to reduce the resistance of the system and produce exhaustion. Anyone in such a condition is more liable to become a prey to any other illness. Many people who speak of suffering from “a touch of the sun’ are blaming the sun direetjy, whereas the actual, position is that their over-ex-posure to it has rendered them liable to Some other trouble. It is the head and back of the neck that specially require protection, and children need this, most of all. It is unwise for batsers to sit about for long in the sun unless they have been gradually accustoming themselves to do : so, and, in. any case, they should have their heads covered. , EARLY MORNING BENEFITS. “By far the best t,ime of. day to en-, joy the; sun’s rays is in the early: morning and no : t later than ; o’clock. / From a medical point of view these are the most valuable rays, having all the light without the heat they possess later in the day.” One medical man has pointed cut that New Zealanders are less liable to suffer from the rays of the sun than are the people in England, for the sufficient reason that we have much more opportunity to become accus-tomed-to the effect of. the sun’s rays. When sun-bathing is scientifically reg,qlgted - and called helio-therapy, the jiatieij't at first is npt exposed fori more.! than 10. minutes. This; is ally increased as ~his condition may warrant, but the time is very rarely extended beyond, an hour.