The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

14 The Health Bulletin May, 1927
bage or lettuce grown exposed fully in
open fields to the full power of sunlight
seem to possess certain food qualities
partially lacking in the same plants
grown mostly in hot houses or partly
under cover. It has been demonstrated
that the quality of cow's milk or goafs
milk may .be considerably affected by
varying the amount of sunlight available
to the animals. Sun-ripened apples
and other sun-dried fruit have
always been regarded as superior food.
Taking a Sun Bath
Sun bathing is simple and easy
enough, but there are well-outlined
methods which must be observed if the
greatest benefit is to be derived. There
are also definite precautions to take in
order to prevent considerable discomfort
following. In the first place, suddeii
ftid unaccustomed exposure to hot
sunshine, as on the beach for the first
time in the beginning of the season,
will almost surely result in severe blistering
and subsequent discomfort and
pain, without any resulting benefit.
When a patient is sent to a sanatorium
where the sun bathing is used systematically,
the first thing they do is to
accustom the patient to outdoor living.
On the first day only his feet are exposed
for less than five minutes at a
time for probably three or four times
at hourly intervals. Each day following
the first day's exposure the amount
of exposure is increased, until eventually
the entire body, naked with the
exception of a loin cloth, is exposed for
several hours daily.
In several northern sanatoria it is
no unusual sight to see groups of children
playing happilj- in the snow on a
sunshiny day. They liave no "colds"
or other similar troubles.
A very small per cent of the sun's
rays are known as ultra violet rays,
probably less than one per cent of tlie
whole. Tlae rays are invisible. They
are ea.sily taken up by dust, fog, smoke,
or moisture. They cannot penetrate
ordinary window glass, although it has
been recently reported that a special
kind of glass has been perfected
through which the rays are effective.
Unless this special glass is used, it is
necessary for the exposure to take
place in the open.
The results of proper sun bathing are
indicated by the coat of tan, which
becomes deeper as health improves, and
the process is continued. In just what
way the rays are effective is not definitely
known. It is thought to be due
to chemical changes through which the
blood is enriched by the special action
of these particular rays of the sun.
In view of the foregoing, it should
be clear to the parent and guardian of
children that the element of sunshine
in the proper growth and nutrition of
babies and young children is one of
the greatest importance.
Not long ago, on account of serious
illness in our family, we were compelled
to spend an afternoon or two
at home. Having to remain about the
house gave us an opportunity to observe
our own seven-year school boy
together with about three neighbors in
about the same class. When these
youngsters arrived from school and
finished the last half of their luncheon,
the first half, of course, having been
taken at the schoolhouse cafeteria, it
was astonishing to us to observe the
terrific energy displayed by all of tliem
in getting to their play. Around the
house and on the premises for five
solid hours, without a particle of interruption,
they played. Played jail
and policeman, played ball, played
OLDER CHILDREN AS NURSES
building water mills with dams, and
fished, and every other conceivable
kind of play, all of it requiring a deal
of energy. When night came and the
play had to be discontinued for the
evening meal and other activities before
bedtime these children were nearly
exhausted.
The thing that most impressed us
was the reawakening of conviction that
this process of play on a systematic
scale is just as necessary to a child's
development and growth, mental and
physical, as the food and water he
drinks and the air he breathes. Where
it is possible to do so the older children,
especially the older girls (we are
talking about small children, 8 to 12
living in intensive play period), should