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192
Children with recurring styes responded well to sunlight
treatment and so, too, did those with boils. Children with chronic
blepharitis required a long course of treatment; and of the 8
children in this series 7 had improved or were cured.
Debilitated children formed the largest group treated. Of the
70 debilitated children re-examined, 30 were cured, 32 had definitely
improved, 6 derived no benefit from treatment and 2 were worse.
A debilitated child was considered cured when he ate and slept
well, was bright and "full of spirits" (a description frequently
given by parents). Debilitated children who were also undernourished
were improved rather than cured.
Effect on Body Weight.
Each child was weighed before and after the course of treatment.
Some 104 children were weighed, and of these 84 (81 per
cent.) gained weight, 16 (15 per cent.) remained stationary and 4
(4 per cent.) lost weight. From observations made in various parts
of the country by members of the School Medical Service it would
appear that the average yearly gain in weight made by an elementary
school child is 4-5 lbs. It is not suggested that every child adds
to its weight by equal monthly or yearly increments, but a yearly
gain in weight of between 4 and 5 pounds can be taken as a reasonable
estimate for an elementary school child. In this investigation
it is found that, of the 84 children who gained in weight, 21 gained
at a yearly rate of between 4 and 5 lbs., 52 gained at a yearly rate
of more than 5 lbs. whilst only 11 gained at a yearly rate of less
than 4 lbs. The fact that, of the 104 physically defective children
here reviewed, 20 per cent. gained weight at a yearly rate of between
4 and 5 lbs. and that 50 per cent. gained weight at a yearly rate of
more than 5 lbs. is strong evidence in favour of artificial sunlight
treatment.
The criticism is often made that in assessing the results of
treatment by artificial sunlight too much reliance has of necessity
to be placed on the opinion of parents as to whether their children
have or have not improved. In the case of children with styes
and boils this criticism does not hold, and these children do well
with artificial sunlight treatment. So, too, in the case of a
debilitated, listless child. There can be no mistaking the progress
made under sunlight treatment provided one knows that no other
form of additional treatment is being given.