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patients from frequent long journeys to hospitals in the more central districts of London. The type
of cases treated remains much the same. Children suffering from general debility and malnutrition
form the most numerous class. We have had also good results in the treatment of asthma, chronic
bronchitis, enlarged glands of the neck and chronic blepharitis. The Sunlight Centre still consists
of a single Sunrae 30 amp. carbon arc lamp, and the staff look forward eagerly to the opening of the
new Centre, and to the employment of its more ample resources. The total number of cases which
finished treatment during the last year was 85. The vast majority of these were discharged from
active treatment, although still kept under observation because they had apparently derived as
much benefit as they were likely to from the treatment. A few left off because, either they were
leaving the district, or because they could not attend regularly. It was thought that it would be of
interest to provide a table of these showing the details of each case, and such a table is appended.
It was thought that this would give, better than anything else, a correct idea of the work of such a
centre and the result obtained. The Table gives the date of birth, height and weight at beginning and
end of treatment, duration of treatment, the effect on the skin as regards erythema and pigmentation,
the disability for which the treatment was given, and any complications in addition, the progress made
with a special note as to any improvement in any catarrh that might be present, and the result.
In addition the change noted by parents and teachers in patients of school age.
The eight-five cases have been classified under the following heads :—
Debility 30
Asthma and Bronchitis 11
Rickets 10
Rheumatism 4
"Pre-tuberculosis" 9
Enlarged glands 5
Enuresis 2
Blepharitis 3
Septic dermatitis 1
Pallor 1
Cyclical vomiting 1
Fragilitas ossium 1
Night terrors 1
Marasmus 2
Phlyctenular conjunctivitis 1
Chronic, rhinitis 1
Threatened intussusception 1
Delayed dentition 1
It will be seen that the cases included under "debility" far exceed those in any other category.
Under this head have been massed a heterogeneous collection of cases. They include the ordinary
weakly child in whom no definite disease can be discovered, but who just does not "get on." These
are quite numerous and are frequently relegated to the department by the Council's Medical Officers
in the hope that some good may come of it, and the results would seem to show that in most cases
they are not disappointed. This class also comprises patients who are convalescent, either after
operation or some serious illness, such as pneumonia.
Of the other categories that under the heading "asthma and bronchitis" is the largest. And
on the whole children, suffering from these complaints do well with a carbon arc. Some of the results
in asthma are very striking, but they are seldom equal to that achieved in the first case of asthma
ever treated in the department. This was a boy who after having suffered from frequent and severe
attacks of asthma for seven years, was completely cured within three months and put on twelve pounds
in weight. But a more modest improvement is almost general. It is hardly necessary to emphasise
that all the cases of rickets did extremely well. The value of ultra violet light in these cases is of
course thoroughly established. Under the heading " pre-tuberculosis " are included children whose
families have one or more members who have been the subjects of the disease and some in whom
the disease has been actually suspected and who have been sent away to sanatoria, although actual,
active tuberculosis may not have been proved. One case was a suspected case of tubercular peritonitis
but this case left off treatment after a very short time, in order to go to a special open-air sohool.
All the cases of enlarged glands did fairly well, but their progress was somewhat slow.
Septic conditions including Blepharitis, chronic Dermatitis and Phlyctenular conjunctivitis
all did well. But the chronic Rhinitis, a child in whom the nasal discharge was at one time both
purulent and hæmorrhagic, only made slow progress. It should be added that when she first came
under treatment, the nasal hemorrhage caused suspicions of diphtheria, but bacteriological investigation
proved that this suspicion was groundless. The one case of delayed dentition grew sixteen
teeth in seven months.
In the remaining cases, the table may be allowed to speak for itself.