--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Maughan, George H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 31 number: 8 published: 1928-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "George H. Maughan, “Sunlight and Health,” *Improvement Era* 31, no. 8 (June 1928): 672–673." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3108unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3108unse start_page: 672 end_page: 673 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1928-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3108unse publication_year: 1928 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1928, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Sunlight and Health Sunlight and Health By George H. Maughan, Department of Physiology, Cornell University The human body has been adapted to its environment by the experience of the ages. It has developed the power of resisting certain forces; and its well being has become dependent upon others. Among the beneficial stimuli are radiations from the sun. The body thrives in the light, and becomes less resistant to disease and more anemic in the darkness. But the radiations from the sun extend beyond visible light into the much longer infra-red, or heat, waves and radio waves on the one side, and into the short ultra-violet on the other. Certain of these latter rays have great biologic power. For example, those having a wave length between 290 mu. and 313 mu. are responsi¬ ble for most of the sunburn we experience when over-exposed on the beach. They possess most of the germacidal power in sunlight and are the rays which prevent rickets. Rickets is a disease very common in children. It develops even though the diet contains an abundance of all of the ordinary food elements, including calcium and phosphorus. The symptoms in most animals which develop a severe case are very much the same. The bones fail to lay down the bony materials and consequently they are thin and weak. The ribs are beaded and the joints of the legs and arms are enlarged and contain an abnormal amount of cartilage. The animal is unable to walk without great difficulty and growth is retarded. In our experiments, such a condition in chickens has been repeatedly cured in four weeks by supplying ultra-violet radiations, either from the sun or from artificial sources. The interesting and almost marvelous thing is that these unseen and unfelt rays, in some mysterious way, make the body able to use bone-building substances. During the past two years, extensive experiments have been carried out, in the Department of Physiology of Cornell University, to determine the amount of exposure required to cure severe rickets. A study has also been made relative to the area of the body through which the rays enter; and the region in the spectrum concerned in the cure of the disease. Results have clearly shown that only short exposures are necessary. Five minutes daily irradiation from a quartz mercury vapor lamp or one-half hour in the sunshine is sufficient, but the rays must fall directly upon the skin. The radiations are effective when they fall upon the parts of SUNLIGHT AND HEALTH 673 the body that are not covered. Ordinary clothing, even one thick¬ ness, obstructs the rays; and certain of the longer ultra-violet waves which were formerly thought to be valuable have been found in¬ effective. The Department of Hygiene, in cooperation with the Medical College, has made a study of the effects of weekly irradiations on control of common colds. The subjects have been groups of college students who were unusually susceptible to colds. Results show a marked reduction in number and severity of the attacks of this most troublesome malady. Indeed, many of these young men who were ordinarily subject to almost continuous colds in winter have been, during the period of irradiation, about as free from them as the or¬ dinarily resistant individual. Most people are much less susceptible to colds in the summer than in winter. This seems to be partly due to the fact that they get more sunshine in summer than in winter. A skin which is exposed to air and sunshine becomes, because of this fact, a better covering for the delicate tissues of the body. It adjusts more readily to changes in the environment. It resists the attacks of infectious organisms more successfully. Its glands and cell layers are more vigorous and healthy. In summer time children should be given frequent, but mod¬ erate, exposures of the entire body to sunshine; or so dressed as to expose the arms, trunk and legs while they play out of doors. Perhaps adults could so plan their leisure hours and recreation and modify conventional dress as to secure for themselves more of these vital rays. Ithaca, Netv York Smoke In times of gale, you curve — and sweep — Again my eager eyes discern When winds are stilled, you curl — and creep — You into other visions turn — A sinuous film of gray I see processions, well defined. That hides the grandeur of the hills. And veils the smile of day. Of vestals in their virgin robes: The same ethereal kind Then, like dark spirits raveling Their robes as they go traveling A course mapped out for stars. With the delicate precision Of their transcendant thought. That master- wielders of the brush Upon their canvas wrought Are you that shed those sombre flakes Which leave besmearing scars. Sometimes your way you upward wend And unto me a picture send Of naiads clad in pearl. In pondering your imagery. This simile evolves for us — Your adverse mood depicts mankind In stage of primal crudity: Or of a group of woodland nymphs In graceful dancing whirl. Provo, Utah Robbed of your soot, you symbolize Man's higher self — divinity. Grace ingles Frost