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unfortunately also some medical practitioners, have formed the
opinion, as is so often the case with newly introduced therapeutic
agents, that ultra-violet radiation is a panacea. Whereas, as a
matter of fact, much harm may be done in certain cases by unskilled
and injudicious use, and careful examination and complete
diagnosis is a very essential preliminary to actino-therapy, frequent
re-examination to determine the effect and to assess the dosage
being also essential. In this connection it is obviously highly
important in cases of malnutrition, debility, anaemia and so-called
pretuberculosis to eliminate at the outset definite underlying
organic or constitutional disease which may require specific treatment;
for whilst in some of these cases ultra-violet radiation may
be of value when combined with specific treatment, in others it is
definitely contra-indicated. Where, however, such conditions are
hereditary, dietetic, environmental or catarrhal in origin the
general application of ultra-violet radiation is of great value, and
it is cases of this type which have been treated at the Town Hall
Light Clinic. It has been suggested that the administration of
cod liver oil produces comparable results in this type of case, but
this has not been our experience, and a large number of children
who have received prolonged treatment with cod liver oil and malt
or with virol, either alone or in combination with Parrish's food,
have shown little or no improvement, whereas the subsequent
treatment with artificial light has resulted in a very rapid improvement
in the physical condition of these children. In this connection
the fact must not be overlooked that on the one hand the
child is receiving ready-made vitamin, whilst on the other hand
the vitamin is manufactured within the tissues of the body as the
result of stimulating a metabolic process which has become sluggish.
Furthermore, the production of vitamin is only one of many
of the proven beneficial results of exposure to ultra-violet radiation.
The treatment has also been used with very marked benefit in cases
of chronic bronchial catarrh, bronchitis, rheumatism and adenitis.
Children suffering from hypertonia of the nervous system, the
highly strung, excitable, irritable and choreic types do not in all
cases appear to respond very satisfactorily to ultra-violet radiation.
Throughout general irradiation has been used chiefly as an adjunct
to natural sunlight, during the period from September to May,
and parents have been instructed and persuaded in regard to the
importance of taking full advantage of natural sunshine and fresh