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duce disfigurement, often serious and sometimes irremediable; and
even more so, to be able to submit to a specialist without delay
the sometimes very urgent cases of external eye inflammation
which in young children may in a very short time do permanent
injury to vision.
Details of the Eye work done for cases referred from this
Department will be found in Mr. Gimblett's Annual Report on
pp. 115—116.
Treatment by Artificial Sunlight
An apparatus for treatment by Artificial Sunlight has been
installed recently by the Borough Council, the lamp used to produce
the Ultra-Violet Rays being the Arnold Alpine Sunlight
Radial Arc Lamp. The installation was made at the School Clinic
at the East Ham Town Hall, and the Light Centre is shared with
the School Medical Service. Treatment of Infants was commenced
on 24th January, 1927. The periods available for the
treatment of Infants are the afternoon of Wednesday and part
of Monday afternoon in each week. Treatment was not given
during the months of July to October inclusive.
The Ultra-Violet Rays improve nutrition and vitality, promote
the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and increase
resistance to infection. Most important is their value in Rickets,
in which, especially if treated early, signs and symptoms rapidly
improve under the action of Artificial Sunlight. In the process
of treatment, reddening and dark colouration of the skin are produced,
just as in prolonged exposure to the sun itself. In our
East Ham experience, in the large majority of cases treated,
mothers are satisfied that their babies have appeared brighter and
more vigorous, sleep better, and are more contented and happy.
It should be mentioned that Artificial Sunlight is not to be regarded
as replacing the old-established methods of treatment,
surgical, tonic, etc., but as a valuable aid to the effect of these.
Abundance of fresh air, general sanitation, and good feeding
retain their former values, even where Artificial Sunlight is
available.
So far as the Maternity and Child Welfare Department is
concerned, the Senior Health Visitor is in charge of the actual
treatment, and is assisted at each Clinic by one other Health