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1928
38
too sudden or too long-. Overdose of the ultra-violet and violet
rays causes "sunburn," overdose by the more penetrating and
heat rays applied to the head produces "sunstroke," applied
widely causes " heatstroke."
But when Actinotherapy is used, wave lengths are introduced
which are foreign to sunshine. Sunshine contains some
of the longer ultra-violet rays, but the shorter and physiologically
more active ones are lacking.
Ultra-violet rays are generated by special plants designed
for the purpose. The lamps in general use are the mercurv
vapour lamp, the Tungsten lamp, and the Carbon-arc lamp. In
a water-cooled mercury vapour lamp the ultra-violet rays usually
amount to about 28% and sometimes these rays may rise to
about 50%.
Sunlight at sea-level contains less than 2% ultra-violet
and sunlight at its best in England contains not more than 7%
ultra-violet rays. Moreover the spectral quality of the ultra-violet
light from lamps is different from that of the sun, in that it
contains a large proportion of rays of very short wave length.
It will therefore be seen that a little knowledge may be a very
dangerous thing. These new methods instead of being confined
to those qualified to use them are in danger of becoming the prey
of unqualified smatterers and downright quacks. A treatment
capable of so much good and of so much harm should be
administered only by those with the requisite knowledge and
skill. It is well known that the treatment has largely fallen into
the hands of persons ignorant of electricity, ignorant of the
physiological effects of the different types of radiation, and
ignorant of medicine. "Sun-ray Institutes" are springing up
all around us. "Beauty parlours" are providing blue-ray baths
for their credulous patients, and hairdressers are using forces of
which they know little or nothing upon the hair and skin of
women silly enough to believe them. Their frauds may be harmless
or they may not. If they are harmless they are money-making
frauds; if they are harmful, they are a menace to the public.
There are no limits to human credulity.
Sir George Newman uttered the warning that artificial
heliotherapy has been seized upon with avidity by the quack and
the charlatan. The results in many cases have been deplorable
and tragic: many sufferers have been deceived by specious
promises that ultra-violet rays are the modern elixir of life and
an infallible remedy for any and every disease.
It was for these reasons that the sanction of the Board
of Education and the Ministry of Health was hedged in by so
many conditions, and no charge of reckless optimism on the part
of the public health and school medical services in regard to the
value of Light treatment can be substantiated.