View report page

29
(iv) Debility. Cases associated w ith poverty and unhygicnic conditions resulting in
malnutrition and where the parents are not of robust type. These cases have
shown very definite improvement under Light treatment, even when cod liver oil
in some form had already been given. These undoubtedly are the cases where
Light treatment should be supplemented with cod liver oil.
(v) Nervous Instability. Condition marked by sleeplessness, fitful appetite, irritability
of temper; these cases are usually only children; these children respond quickly,
but require extended treatment.
(vi) Late Rickets. There have been one or two outstanding successes. These were
cases with marked genu valgum or genu varum; they, however, necessitated prolonged
uninterrupted treatment. In spite of these, which seem to be exceptions,
rickets with any marked bony changes in the limbs are very obstinate and never
completely approximate to normal, even after months of treatment. These cases
really should have artificial light only as an adjunct to more specialised treatment.
(vii) Backward Children. This group of cases, of which there have been 16 treated,
should not include cases of defective development. Where it is a case of true
backward development with no history of birth injury or general disease, but
resulting from severe illness in the early weeks of life, the result is very definite
and marked improvement is early. There have been five cases treated which
were unable to sit or stand at 12 months, and these showed great improvement.
A few individual and isolated cases have been treated, including the following :—
Chorea.—2 cases. These two cases very quickly responded and were apparently
completely cured.
One case of Impetigo which developed in a child being treated for Asthma. Both
the Impetigo and the Asthma, but particularly the former, very strikingly responded
to treatment.
Several cases, where the only abnormal feature was the child's weight, remained stationary
over a period of weeks, no cause being apparent. In every instance the child increased in
weight after a few exposures, and maintained a steady increase while under treatment.
One other observation—not truly clinical, but very marked—is the effect on the morale
of both mothers and children, the dirty, untidy and uncarcd-for gradually becoming the clean,
tidy and cared-for.
The use of cod liver oil in some form along with the treatment is of value in cases where
there is evidence of dietetic deficiency; but it has been found that the administration of some
calcium preparation has tended to give better and quicker results.
Conclusion.
Artificial Sunlight is passing from the experimental stage to its rightful place in
medicine, and its wide-spread and increasing popularity as an adjunct to treatment is unquestionably
based on results, such as have been obtained at this Clinic and in private and
hospital practice. The medical officer would like to draw attention to two salient features,
startling in their unexpectedness.
In the first place the effect on morale. It is known that disease lowers moral tone, but
it is only a recent observation that sunlight holds the balance between these two.