298 



Scientific Proceedings (116). 



153 (i735) 



The cure of infantile rickets by artificial light and by sunlight. 



By ALFRED F. HESS and LESTER J. UNGER. 



[From the Home for Hebrew Infants, New York.] 



Some years ago we reported an attempt to cure rickets in 

 infants by means of the ultra-violet rays. The results were not 

 conclusive. Since this time Huldschensky has reported cures by 

 this method. During the past winter this therapeutic measure was 

 again employed and its effect followed by means of frequent radio- 

 graphs of the epiphyses of the long bones. The mercury-vapor 

 lamp was used and exposures of the entire body were made every 

 few days from three to twenty minutes at a distance of 120 to 

 75 cm. The effect in all cases was curative, as demonstrated 

 both by clinical examination and by the appearance of calcification 

 at the ends of the bones. 



Following this success with artificial rays the effect of sun- 

 light on infantile rickets was investigated. To this end infants 

 were exposed, under careful supervision, to the sun's rays in in- 

 creasing degree. After a period of three to four weeks a similar 

 calcification of the epiphyses was noted, as well as general im- 

 provement. This beneficial effect of the sun's rays as well as of 

 the artificial rays was achieved although the diet was in no way 

 altered; some of the babies were receiving, both preceding and 

 during the treatment, dry milk of the same lot. 



These results lead to the conclusion that the remarkable 

 seasonal incidence of rickets is due to the seasonal variation of 

 sunlight; that many cases of rickets are due to defective hygiene 

 rather than to dietary errors (although diet is also an etiologic 

 factor in this disorder); that sunlight should be used to prevent 

 and to cure infantile rickets; and that in metabolism studies both 

 on animals and on man, the influence of sunlight must be noted 

 and taken into account. 



