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The last figure, 322, includes all kinds of different cases, such
as rheumatism, sciatica, alopoecia and various skin complaints.
The results with regard to alopoecia are conflicting. In one case
of baldness the result was remarkable, a beautiful head of hair
growing in a short time, but on the whole the results have been
rather disappointing. In four cases a typical Herpes Zoster
rash has developed while the patient has been under treatment.
Each of these patients was being treated with the Mercury Vapour
Lamp, and it is possible that the Herpes was due to the treatment,
though if this be the cause, it is difficult to see why only four
patients have developed this disease.
In connection with the scheme for sending patients to Dr.
Rollier's clinic at Leysin, a table is appended giving details of the
cases which have already been sent to Switzerland under this
scheme. Five patients are still at Leysin and each of these is
making satisfactory progress. Two of them are already clinically
cured and are expecting to come home in the early spring, and we
hope to fill the vacancies thus caused with other suitable cases.
With regard to "S.B.," the first case mentioned in the table, it
should be explained that this patient was suffering from a lupoid
ulcer of the foot. It was considered possible before he went
away, that the ulcer had become malignant probably as the result
of X-ray treatment, but we hoped that prolonged heliotherapy
might lead to a cure. Unfortunately, although the patient's
general health improved out of all recognition, the ulcer showed
no sign of healing and amputation of the foot became the only
alternative.
All those patients who have returned, have been seen
recently and are doing very well. It takes some little time to get
acclimatised after returning to this country, and for this reason,
these patients have been treated in the Solarium during the
winter months. No single case has yet broken down, and when
it is remembered that one or two of these patients are living under
very adverse conditions, this is a tribute to the value of the
treatment."