SUN RAY QUACKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 296, 11 July 1929, Page 3

SUN RAY QUACKS.

ALL OVER BRITAIN. Cons'dera’ole discussion has been aroused-in the med.cal world by the report in the Med cal Research Council declaring the “artificial light can do no more than a mustard plaster, which is infinitely cheaper.” The Daily Mail understands that a private meeting has been held by representative medical bodies, which discussed steps to deal with unqualified persons who have set up clinics all over the country. The object of the campaign is to secure the registration of artificial light practitioners and the institution of examinations by which they may obta.n diplomas enabling them to practise. It is proposed it should app’y also to the employment of X-rays and electric treatment generally.

Sir William Arbuthnot Lane, the eminent surgeon and health authority, declared recently:—

j “Tbe report of this Governmentsubsidised council, apparently made I after a test by one of its officials, a woman doctor, is futile and absurd. I use one of those lamps, and the reL suits seem as good as those I dej rived from the natural sun bathing ' in the south of Italy.

“The King is receiving artificial light treatment, and it. is ridiculous to question the knowledge and wisdom of his advisers.” Dr. Ernest French, the Harley street skin and artificial light specialist, who first used ultra-violet rays in treating soldiers’ wounds, pointed in the country has a cllnici for artificial sunlight treatment, which for ten years has been an accepted branch of medicine. He said:—

“The council’s report has done good in calling attent on to the unquali. fied practitioner, but its main criticism that artificial sunlight is no more value than a mustard plaster is misleading. The clinical' results in cases or rickets, and skin diseases, baldness, the healing of wounds, and as a general tonic for the system, speak for themselves. “There is a strong case, however, for action to confine the clinical use of the treatment to, med'eal men who are qualified to know the exact amount of light required. Many cases

of serious burns have resulted from unskilled applications.” Mr A. E. Kennard, the bone-setter, sad:— “I send many of my patients to ray specialists, but for whose treatment some of my operations would be impossible. Art'ficial light is a wonderful agent in softening the ligaments and tissues of injured and deformed joints which have been st:ffened for years. It enables an anaesthetic to be dispensed with in many cases.