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87
Routine course of dosage.—Begun with 4 minutes (half back
and half front) at 4 feet from lamp, then 4 minutes at 3 feet,
increasing by 1 minute per week at that distance up to 7 minutes.
In delicate babies the initial dose is less. In strong children and
for skin diseases the distance is lessened.
Average Duration of Treatment.—For
Malnutrition 3 to 5 months.
Rickets 6 to 9 months.
Anaemia 3 months.
Debility 6 weeks.
Marasmus 3 months.
Skin diseases About 4 weeks.
Pulse and Temperature.—Temperature taken before first
treatment and at any time if the child appears to be unwell. Pulse
is never taken, as this appears to be valueless in children who
may be nervous. Febrile patients are never treated.
Record of Weights and Heights.—It has not been found
practicable to take heights except in special cases. Average gain
in weight of patients per week:—
Malnutrition 1.7 ozs.
Rickets 2.5 ,,
Marasmus 5 ,,
Debility 4.25 ,,
Anaemia 2.25 ,,
As the malnutrition cases are chiefly children which have been
stationary or losing weight for weeks or months, a gain of 1.7 ozs.
is more noteworthy than it appears.
General opinion as to brightness.—In many cases the mothers
volunteer the information that the children are brighter and more
cheerful.