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In addition to these, twelve healthy children were treated for prophylactic
reasons, and all of these made good progress.
Besides the cases treated in the above table, there were 333 children who came
for fewer than 8 exposures, and who are not included. Reasons for this difficulty
in getting regular and prolonged attendance arc varied, and number, among others,
intercurrent illness, fright on the part of the children during the first few exposures,
and lack of time on the part of the mothers. Also, during the winter, when colds
were common, these attacks were often wrongly attributed to the treatment, with
its resulting loss of favour.
It will be noted that the largest number of cases dealt with falls under the rather
comprehensive heading of "debility and underweight." The great majority of
these cases were suffering from malnutrition, which could generally be ascribed to
insufficiency in the quantity or the quality of their food, or to the unhygienic
conditions under which they were compelled to live. This is emphasised by the rapid
improvement which nearly always occurs when these children are sent away for
convalescent treatment.
From the table it will be seen that a distinct improvement, which can be whollv
or partly attributed to ultra-violet light, is noted in about half the cases belonging
to this group. Under this heading, nine cases were also markedly catarrhal, but the
catarrhal condition was only definitely improved in two.
In the few cases in which the treatment was administered to small healthv
children, little difference in the rate of growth was noticed.
The value of ultra-violet light in the treatment of rickets is again abundantly
shown. No case which completed its course of treatment failed to improve greatly.
The diagnosis of rickets was not made unless bone changes were present, and in most
cases was confirmed by X-ray examination.
Under the heading of "backwardness," were included such cases as delayed
dentition, or delay in talking or walking, and as a rule there was no improvement
which could be attributed to the actual light.
No serious ill effects occurred as a result of treatment, and only in four cases
was any intolerance at all noted. Of these, one was more restless, and two cried and
became sleepless on the average commencing doses. In the fourth case attacks of
vomiting and jaundice occurred after each of the first two exposures, and the treat
ment was discontinued. In all these cases it is quite likely that tolerance could have
been obtained by the administration of exceptionally small doses.
There can be no doubt that the administration of ultra-violet light has proved
itself to be a distinctly valuable adjunct to the other activities of the Child Welfare
Centre. It is important, however, to realise that it is only an adjunct, and ordinary
principles of hygiene and nutrition must take first place in treatment. Within these
limits the existence of artificial light treatment is amply justified.