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artificially, and several methods are at present in operation, but it
seems quite clear that a great deal can be done by " artificial sunlight,"
combined with open air, and as it is impossible for every
patient to go to an Alpine health resort, it is anticipated that a great
deal can be done for them in this country, not only by sunlight,
but also by the exposure of the patients to artificial sunlight produced
by electricity.
While at Leysin we found that there were patients of some 16 or
17 nationalities. They are being sent from Russia, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Latonia, Latvia, Germany, France, Belgium,
&c., though naturally the largest number were from Switzerland.
So struck were we with the treatment, that we thought it would
be well for the Council to send out an experimental party of half-adozen,
so that we would have an opportunity of demonstrating to
the Council the beneficial results of residence in Leysin. Unfortunately
there are no immediate vacancies, but a letter has been
written to the Secretary of Dr. Rollier's clinics to advise us when
any vacancies occur, and my recommendations as to this will be
found at the close of the report.
The next question to consider is how far Heliotherapy, whether
natural or artificial, can be applied to patients in Bermondsey.
It does not come within the province of the Borough to undertake
the treatment which we saw carried out in Leysin. This is being
done in some places in the South of England, notably at Chailey,
Alton and Carshalton, all of which places we have visited, but the
experience gained not only at Leysin but at these places in England,
has convinced us that a great deal can be done by these methods for
the prevention of Tuberculosis, and this is the role it seems to me
Bermondsey might take in dealing with this scourge. I asked Dr.
Rollier what he thought of the practicability of using what sunlight
we can get in Bermondsey for the treatment of patients, and he
thought it would be very valuable combined with the open-air
treatment. He also said that on days when natural sunlight was
not available the next best thing was artificial sunlight, preferably