| Sunlight is of prime importance for perfect health. | | | | the kidneys become more efficient. By the action |
| Even school textbooks stress this basic fact. But | | | | of sunlight, skin diseases are cured, blisters are |
| the things we learn from textbooks are usually | | | | burst and wounds are healed more speedily. |
| left behind in the schools. How useful and indeed | | | | Sunlight maintains and even increases the amount |
| essential, sunlight is in our life, finds no place in our | | | | of alkali in the blood. |
| thoughts. In consequence we invite diseases, | | | | If a pregnant lady takes sun baths regularly, she |
| generally by wilful neglect of this most healthful | | | | gets relief from the usual discomforts of |
| gift of nature bestowed freely upon us | | | | pregnancy such as fatigue, backache, nausea, |
| everywhere, and sometimes by failing to utilize it | | | | over-stimulation (or overexcitement) etc., and |
| properly. | | | | lactation in the post-parturition period is also |
| The sun showers three types of rays upon us: | | | | improved. |
| (1) Rays of visible (white) light: The white light of | | | | Pliny, the famous philosopher and physician of the |
| the sun is made up of light of seven different | | | | fifteenth century, notes in his book that 'the |
| colors, as seen in the rainbow. Each color has its | | | | reason why Rome has been able to develop into |
| specific effect on the body. | | | | a powerful state is that the Romans regularly |
| (2) Infra-red rays: These rays impart heat. The | | | | take sun-baths on their terraces. |
| warmth of these rays is most welcome in the | | | | As the survey of the renowned physician Dr. R. |
| winter. Moreover, these rays relax and soothe | | | | T. Trail revealed, even common disorders assume |
| the muscles, reduce swelling and relieve pain. | | | | virulent forms among people who work in mines |
| (3) Ultra-violet rays: These rays are of special | | | | or who for other reasons are deprived of sunlight |
| importance. Vitamin D is produced in the body by | | | | and have to spend most of their time in the dark. |
| the action of ultra-violet rays falling on the skin. | | | | When sufficient sunlight is not available, the |
| Sunlight is in fact the best source of Vitamin D. A | | | | proportions of fibrin and red blood corpuscles in |
| deficiency of Vitamin D causes a disease of the | | | | the blood decrease, and those of white blood |
| bones known as 'rickets'. Dr. Hess of Columbia | | | | corpuscles and water Increase. |
| University has concluded on the basis of his | | | | Recommendations regarding sun bathing: |
| studies that the incidence of rickets increases | | | | (1) Sun-baths should be preferably taken without |
| during the winter in New York city because of the | | | | any clothes on. But if that is not practicable, |
| insufficiency of solar irradiation. | | | | minimum possible clothes should be worn. |
| Ultra-violet rays are essential for the healthy | | | | (2) It is desirable that the head be covered and |
| condition of the skin too. The prevalence of skin | | | | the eyes closed while taking a sun-bath. Do not |
| diseases is greater among the more sophisticated | | | | cover the face, and never look directly at the |
| people who tend to keep their bodies covered | | | | sun. |
| from head to foot. | | | | (3) The mild sunlight of the morning or the |
| The tendency to disregard the importance of | | | | evening has no deleterious effect on the body. It |
| sunlight is on the increase. Ladies avoid going out | | | | is always beneficial. But it is advisable to avoid |
| in the sun for fear of darkening the skin, or if | | | | exposing the body to the intense sunlight of the |
| they do, they use sunshades. | | | | midday. |
| Not only the skin, but the entire body derives | | | | (4) You should begin by exposing the body to the |
| benefits from sunlight. Exposure to sunlight | | | | sunlight for 5 to 10 minutes, the anterior parts of |
| improves health and augments the resistive | | | | the body for half this period and the posterior |
| powers of the body. | | | | parts for the other half. Later on, the period of |
| Sunlight helps nourish the muscles. All athletes | | | | exposure can be gradually increased, as |
| regularly bask in the sun, as it helps develop the | | | | convenient, to about an hour. |
| size and strength of the muscles, and increases | | | | (5) A feeling of giddiness, fatigue or discomfort |
| the proportion of calcium in them, giving them | | | | experienced during a sun bath, or a burning |
| greater endurance. If the skin is deprived of | | | | sensation in the skin, is an indication of excessive |
| sunlight by keeping it covered, the muscles tend | | | | exposure to sunlight. |
| to weaken and degenerate. | | | | (6) After sun-bath, a cold-water bath should be |
| Sunlight promotes the proper formation of teeth, | | | | taken, I or the body wiped with a piece of cloth |
| speedy growth of hair, and quick and deep | | | | wrung out in cold water. |
| breathing. Blood pressure is brought down, and | | | | |