THERE is another way in which clothing is often unconsciously made to produce injurious instead of beneficial effects. This is when, by reason of its texture and color, it interferes with the free access of light to the surface of the body. This is a violation of a very important law of hygiene, and the serious consequences which follow do not all fall upon the skin. Many of them are visited upon other and even more important organs.

Sunlight is as indispensable to the welfare. of the body as it is to that of plants. Yet it is one of many of God's precious gifts which we studiously refuse to accept in all of its fullness. We consider the furnishing of our homes incomplete unless it includes window draperies, as expensive as we can afford, which allow the direct rays of the

partial entrance into our living rooms. Were they known to be certain harbingers of pestilence and death, hardly any greater effort would be made, in many instances, to exclude them.

But instead of being an enemy bent upon doing us injury, science assures us that sunlight is our very best friend-that it is constantly employed in preparing and maintaining both the external and internal conditions which are most conducive to health. It not only purifies the air we breathe, banishes mold and dampness from our dwellings, destroys the germs of disease which surround and threaten us, but directly stim

ulates the nutritive activities of the system, perfecting the processes of growth and repair, so that all of the tissues are of a better quality and possess greater functional power. But although science has discovered and recorded these and other highly beneficial effects which are invariably produced by the direct rays of the sun, most of them are still unknown and unpractised in every community, except by a fortunate few. The vast majority are too indifferent about all matters relating to the preservation of health to care to learn anything about them and it is about as profitable as the thankless task of "casting pearls" to make any effort to teach them.

This discouraging feature does not prevent the few who possess the fuller knowledge from making strenuous efforts to impart it to others. They will succeed in this undertaking, for knowledge, when it comes in contact with ignorance, however formidable and dense it may be, will as surely permeate and remove it as the bright rays of the sun will dissipate a morning fog.

Already, by means of lectures, magazine and newspaper articles, instruction in the public schools and sanitary enactments, commendable progress has been made. Much more even would have been accomplished were it not that, in so many instances, ignorance is so powerfully supported and defended by indifference and greed. The inertia of this triple alliance is an obstacle very

difficult to overcome. The changes required to provide a better environment can seldom be made without incurring considerable expense and for this reason property-owners are frequently blind to the necessity for them and deaf to all appeals for their making except to those which emanate from the halls of legislation.

The most intelligent among us, however, are beginning to comprehend that in the construction of our dwellings an abundance of air-space is a prime necessity which must. be secured at any cost, and that it is much to our interest, physically, not to drive the sunlight completely from our living rooms, but, with very few exceptions, we still do not realize of how much benefit we deprive ourselves by wearing clothing which, for any reason, prevents the light of the sun from reaching the surface of the body.

As a result of experiments instigated by the discovery of the X-ray, we have learned a number of valuable facts concerning the action and effect of direct sunlight. The most important of these are, first, that when applied in a concentrated form, as through a lens, upon the bare skin it exerts a most powerful healing influence upon all diseases of a parasitic nature; second, that certain rays, at least, pass beyond the skin, and even entirely through the body, conferring undoubtedly, a vivifying effect upon all of the internal organs.

These facts not only serve to emphasize the important relation which sunshine sustains to health but also explain why it is that, during our summer outing, when our bodies are almost constantly exposed to the direct rays of the sun, with the least interference from clothing, our general health is so much better.

The logical inference is that, were the sun allowed as free access to our bodies in the winter, the wholesome effects experienced in the summer season would continue.

But in the cold season many things conspire to prevent us from receiving the full benefit which the sun is able to confer. It shines, it is true, every day, but not for so many hours, and its beams are shorn of their

penetrating power, to a certain extent, by reason of their obliquity. Besides, when we do seek it, in the open air, its good effects are materially lessened both by the limited time the low temperature permits us to enjoy it and by the thick, heavy clothing, especially that prepared from the skins of animals, which we interpose between it and our bodies.

Moreover it is impossible for us to bask in its life-supporting rays within the sheltered precincts of our living rooms because it presence there, for any length of time, would ruin our expensive carpets and wall hangings. Better colorless blood than faded furnishings!

Since it has been repeatedly demonstrated that perfect photographs of objects can be made with light that has passed entirely through the body, our interest in the effects of light upon vital organs and functions is greatly increased. Before these experiments were made the salutary effects of sunlight were believed to be confined entirely to the skin and capillary circulation. But now that we have unmistakable proof that a portion, at least, of the sun's rays penetrate every tissue of the body, we are forced to conclude that every organ is directly and independently affected by them.

This new view of the action of light is both interesting and instructive. It fully explains the fact, long since known by experience and observation, that the more frequently our bodies are exposed to the sun the better it is for our health and vitality. What comfort and satisfaction it is to know that our vital organs are not obliged to receive, at second hand and in a round-about way, the light necessary to enable them to perform their functional work in the best manner, but get it direct and uncontaminated, from the original source of all life and energy! And what pleasure it affords one to realize that, at will and with so little trouble, he can treat his liver to a sun bath which will be as stimulating to that frequently overworked, elaborative organ as a "tub" is to the skin. It only remains for scientists to determine by actual experiment

KINESITHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE DISEASE.

ALTHOUGH motion in the form of massage and Swedish movements has won an enviable reputation as a remedy for the relief and cure of chronic forms of disease, its usefulness in acute disorders is but little known. The idea prevails that its processes, by their very nature, cannot exert a curative influence over any disease which is not due to, or accompanied by, lessened functional activity.

Such an opinion is a mistaken one which cannot be too soon corrected. It is true that it is nature's plan-a plan which is enforced by the penalty of increased pain and discomfort to keep every sufferer from inflammatory or febrile disorders in a state of rest as long as these conditions obtain. Such a course is necessary to preserve the inflamed parts from injury and to prevent all unnecessary waste of vital energy which is the source of all curative power.

But this fact does not exclude motion as a remedy when it is properly applied. The essential causes of disease seldom lie in the affected part alone, and that is always the best remedy, whatever its form or name, which assists nature to remove these causes in the most safe and rapid manner.

Both in respect to the relevancy it bears to the essential causes of disease, and the assistance it affords in removing them, motion is excelled by no other remedy. Its field of operation includes every square inch of the surface of the body, and through this medium every tissue and organ can be reached and influenced.

Under the manipulations of a trained and intelligent hand, organic function can be increased or inhibited; the circulation accelerated or retarded; secretion augmented

and support of both acute and chronic inflammation, dissipated; the waste products. of the system more perfectly prepared and eliminated, and the temperature reduced when fever is present, or raised, in any part, which is below the normal.

Surely, an agent which is able to wield such a controlling influence over all of the most important functions of the body should occupy no second place in the list of remedies which are employed in the treatment of many acute forms of disease! Nor does it with those who have had experience with its

use.

Last month the readers of this department were given a description of the satisfactory results of motion as a remedy for an acute inflammation of a joint due to a sprain. The following case illustrates its equally happy curative effects in an acute condition of an entirely different character.

On Wednesday, September 9th, at 9 o'clock in the evening the writer was summoned to visit Dr. T., 74 years of age, who had been suddenly taken, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, with vomiting abdominal distress and diarrhoea. distress and diarrhoea. Having previously enjoyed uninterrupted good health for a period of years, as a result, the doctor believes of regular and abstemious habits of living, from which there had been no intentional departure, the cause of this undoubted evidence of internal disorder was as perplexing as its presence was distressing.

The suspicion immediately arose that the disturbance had been caused by some fault in the condition of the food eaten within the last 12 hours, and inquiry disclosed the fact that the half of a cantaloup was ordered as a part of the noon meal, but only a portion of it was eaten, because it had a "peculiar taste."

As the stomach had already been emptied by frequent draughts of tepid water to quiet the nausea, the symptoms were believed to be due to the irritating presence, in the bowels, of the suspected melon, and copious and repeated enemas of warm water were

given to bring it away. But although there was evidence that these reached and filled the colon, neither traces of the melon nor of undigested food were brought to light. The pain, however, was relieved, and as the pulse and tongue were normal no further. treatment was considered necessary. But as the patient expected to return to his home, about 75 miles distant, the next morning, he was requested to report his condition before leaving.

At 8 o'clock the following morning the patient reported, by telephone, that he had passed a comfortable night, had eaten a good breakfast and would leave on the 9 o'clock train.

About an hour later a messenger arrived with a note stating that all of the symptoms had returned. As other engagements would not allow an immediate visit, instructions were sent to repeat the treatment of the evening before, and to abstain from all food during the day.

A visit paid at I o'clock found the patient relieved and resting quite comfortably. There was some soreness over the abdomen but this was attributed to the repeated retching and straining to vomit. Although the abdomen was slightly tympanitic there was no localized swelling or tenderness. The tongue was slightly coated but not red at the tip, and the pulse, though full was neither hard nor rapid.

A visit at 9 o'clock the next (Friday) morning found the patient decidedly worse. He had passed an uncomfortable night with sufficient pain in the right hypochondriac region to make him restless. Feeling weak and exhausted he had ventured at about 8 o'clock to sip a glass of warm milk. Contrary to his expectation, instead of bringing relief in any way, it greatly aggravated his sufferings. Vomiting set in and continued even after the stomach had rejected all evidences of the presence of the milk. The abdominal pain became very severe and more continuous.

A careful examination disclosed the following additional symptoms: Abdomen more distended; marked tenderness and a

feeling of hardness in the right hypochondria; no stool or even an escape of gas during the last 18 hours; inability to lie comfortably with the right leg extended; tongue red at the tip and unnaturally dry; pulse 96 full and hard.

This group of symptoms, especially when occurring in a person of advanced years, pointed to a very serious if not dangerous condition. Evidently there was the beginning of an acute inflammation which, whether it forboded appendicitis, peritonitis or intussusception, demanded immediate relief.

Enemas of warm water were immediately resorted to with the expectation that they would produce their previous palliative effect. But it was found that the bowel was now too irritable to retain them and also that the water when returned contained small quantities of blood and mucus.

Being satisfied that the seat of the trouble was in the region of the coecum, and knowing from much previous experience, the effectiveness of massage as a remedy for removing congestion, the basis of every form and variety of inflammation, it was believed that its intelligent use in this case, would both avert the threatened inflammation and overcome the inhibited peristallic action.

Beginning at the right inguinal region, deep pressure movements of a circular nature, were made, first from right to left, over the course of the colon and, later over the entire abdomen, gradually approaching the region of congestion and irritation.

This center of therapeutic attention was approached a number of times before any attempt was made to apply treatment directly to it. When, finally, this part was subjected to treatment it was, at first, quite sensitive but under light manipulations the sensitiveness gradually diminished. At the end of 10 or 15 minutes, as much treatment as seemed necessary was borne without discomfort.

This abdominal treatment was continued about 30 minutes, after which several rota

tions and strong flexions of the right thigh were made.

The only immediate effects of these processes were a lessening of the abdominal pain and a perceptible gurgling of gas in the lower portion of the ileum.

After an interval of half an hour the same processes were repeated, and continued for a longer time. The results were greatly increased rumbling, some escape of intestinal gas, and a sensible diminution in the size of the abdomen.

An hour later a third treatment consisting of abdominal massage was given, followed by deep pressure upon the splanchnic nerves in the dorsal region of the spine. This practically ended all treatment. It was succeeded by a free and repeated escape of gas, and the absence of all pain, the patient falling into a quiet sleep.

To insure a free action of the bowels, later on, by as harmless means as possible, 8 ounces of olive oil were administered in two equal doses at an interval of 4 hours.

At 4 P.M. the pulse counted only 78 and the skin was moist. There was some thirst and a strong desire for food. Water, as much and as frequently as was wanted, was given but no food of any kind was allowed.

At 6 o'clock the next morning (Saturday) the patient was again visited. He had had a comfortable night sleeping almost continuously from 11 to 6; a full and free movement of the bowels had just occurred; the hardness and tenderness in the right hyponchondria had disappeared; the tongue, with the exception of a slight white coating, was natural, and the skin was moist.

Considerable weakness and a feeling of soreness throughout the abdomen were all that was left to remind him of his recent serious condition. The patient was very anxious to take the 9 o'clock train for home, and as he felt sure that he was equal to the undertaking, permission to do so was given. There was great hunger, but notwithstanding nothing which had been eaten since Wednesday had been retained, so that, practically, there had been an unbroken fast for

66 hours, it was decided that all food must be withheld until after he had reached home.

The journey home was comfortably made and at 12.30 the patient broke his long fast with a small cup of panada, no discomfort following. At 3 o'clock more nourishment consisting of boiled rice and apple sauce was taken, and at 7 o'clock a good, square meal of meat, bread, vegetables and dessert -his ordinary dinner-was indulged in.

The patient was at his place of business. on Monday morning and up to the present time, October 14th, has remained well.

NEW YORK MEDICAL GYMNASTIC AND MASSAGE SOCIETY.

Report of meeting held October 4, 1902, at 2 o'clock P.M.

PRESENT, Drs. Thompson, Barclay, Patchen; Messrs. Langner, Speck, Niederee, and Mrs. H. V. Barclay.

The president opened the meeting and ordered the minutes read. They were adopted as read. Being the first meeting after the Summer vacation there were no committee reports or paper to be read and new business was taken up for discussion. Dr. Patchen informed the society that he had assumed the editorship of the department of Kinesitherapy in the DIETETIC AND HYGIENIC GAZETTE, which is therefore virtually now the official mouthpiece of the Society. The secretary commended highly the action of Dr. Patchen and expressed a desire that all members become subscribers of the GAZETTE.

Dr. Patchen then moved that a sufficient number of printed copies of the membership list advertised in the Medical Directory be struck off and sent to physicians in New York city and vicinity, who are not members of the County Medical Society (the latter all have the Directory). Motion was adopted.

The president called attention to the fact that the word massage is still used in con