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16
become robust and vigorous in body, alert in mind and
totally changed.
Natural sunlight is, of course, to be preferred and
what has been effected in Alpine regions has been carried
out scientifically in Hayling Island; also in Sussex
and elsewhere. Unfortunately sunny days are few in
these isles, so that recourse must be had to artificial
light, and the results have already fully justified the
expense incurred.
Professor Leonard Hill, whom I have met recently
and whom I have heard lecture on different occasions,
is the chief exponent of Artificial Sunlight. He has,
with others, during 1924-5 done much research work and
is still actively engaged in this cause. He lays stress on
the fact that long exposure is not necessary, ten to
twenty minutes, or half an hour three or four times a
week may be sufficient. He extols the modern dress of
women and deplores that of men. Lie states that in the
Tropics Europeans have too much sunlight and undoubtedly
suffer therefrom. He says that the beneficial
rays may proceed from white fleecy clouds, and from
blue sky when the sun is absent, especially in a clear
smokeless atmosphere; that the ultra violet rays are not
potent, indeed are arrested, in passing through ordinary
glass windows.
Hence it is essential that all should take advantage
of natural sunlight in the open air, especially on a clear
day; we realise now more fully the cause of much of the
pallor of the faces of the women and children in the
slums. Of course, we have all known something of this
for years, but no one before has elaborated a system or
founded a science on ultra violet radiation. In these
days of overcrowding we ought to have flat roofs and
roof gardens. We shall hear of London schools being
supplied with these rays in every large classroom and
the children, with very little clothing and eyes protected,
becoming sunburnt, rapidly improving in muscular
development, with fine soft skin, increased appetite, and
much less prone to infectious disease. In the meantime
you will do well to assist in the establishment of a
separate clinic for Harrow.