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TO LIGHTS.—Protracted exposure to artificial lights or the Pacing of lights unwarrantably close to the skin may result in severe burns or sunburn. The hazard of such injuries is especially pronounced when the skin is not inured to exposure. Experienced operators protect the closed eyes with pads of cotton or gauze and often use pledgets of cotton over the lips and at the edges of the nostrils when the light is directed to these sensitive parts. When burns of this nature result from heat rays treatment under First Aid, Volume VII, Section 5, will be found applicable. Ultra-violet and similar light rays may also produce “sunburn,” which will require treatment of a similar nature.
X-RAY THERAPY.—The x-ray or Roentgen ray, is known as a means of diagnosis, or as a treatment for the removal of superfluous hair, but it is rarely thought of as a valuable thera¬peutic agent. Before we consider it in this light, let us first briefly review the nature of x-rays and their position in the great electro-magnetic spectrum.
LOCAL LIGHT-BATHS.—Appliances are procurable by means of which light can easily be applied to any portion of the body. Some are small, containing as few as two or three while others contain several bulbs and are large enough to cover practically the entire front or back of the body. These
may be placed over the body or a part of it, while the patient reclines in bed, or on a couch or treatment table, or perhaps sits comfortably in a chair. For the effects and indications
see Infra-red Therapy, page 2711.
In using upon local areas light applications which produce considerable heat, it is advisable, before the pores have opened sufficiently to protect the surface by perspiration, or the cuta¬neous vessels adjacent to the radiated area have respponded to the requirement for greater drainage, to dissipate the heat to the rest of the body, thereby aiding the skin to reduce the excess. This may be done by passing the hand over the heated area occasionally, or by applying a cold wet cloth for a moment at intervals of from three to five minutes, depending upon the degree of the heat, the distance of the source from the skin, and also upon the state of the skin. If this is dry and harsh, lifeless, anemic, and “hidebound,” greater care will be neces¬sary to give assistance than if it is normal or comparatively normal. After perspiration has been produced, even though it may be slight, this additional protection will not be necessary. But even then, if the heat is continued for pro¬longed periods, it is advisable to apply the cold compress for a minute or so every ten or fifteen minutes. This is not so vitally essential as when hot compresses, for instance, are used for long periods, as the light-heat is not so depressing to the tissues; but, in order that their full tone may be retained and normal reaction follow the treatment, the occasional cold appli¬cations should be given. Much depends, however, upon the individual’s strength. If there are grave doubts on this point, a physician should supervise the treatment.
The electric-light cabinet is such a valuable and convenient means of providing heat to the entire body that it is being installed more and more in the bathrooms of private homes. When its use becomes general, an important step toward the maintenance of national health and the reduction of disease towill have been taken. The following are but a few of the many conditions greatly relieved by treatment in the electric-light cabinet: boils, carbuncle, defective circulation, general cold, dropsy of pregnancy, eczema, beginning fevers, fish-skin disease, scleroderma, catarrh, ozena. obesity, peritonitis, chronic rheumatism, syphilis, tetanus, chronic alcoholism, asthma, and high blood pressure.
Some nervous people become hysterical or otherwise “up¬set” under the influence of the light-bath. Much of this is psychological, but nevertheless it has physical effects. If such persons cannot be made to see the benefit and the safety of the bath, it must be avoided or used with much caution. Since the considerable heat to which one is subjected may be quite depressing, especially to the heart, it is advisable, often neces¬sary, to protect the heart during the bath by placing a cold compress or an ice-bag over the heart region. This depressing effect is insignificant or unnoticed in most cases, and usually is entirely overcome by the tonic application that should follow. In some skin disorders, particularly when there is burning or itching, or when there are moist eruptions, the light-bath may be too exciting. This does not apply to psoriasis or to eczema, except the weeping form of eczema. With the exception of the slight fever occurring with acute colds in fairly vigorous individuals, any fever condition is a contraindication to the bath. Aside from these conditions, there will be individual conditions in which it might be unwise to use the genera] light-bath, or in which special precautions might be necessary.
Whether used for prophylactic or hygienic, or for thera¬peutic purposes, the frequency and duration of the light-bath will depend upon the general condition of the subject, as well as on any abnormal condition that may be present. Once or twice a week will be sufficient for the majority of persons using the bath for hygienic purposes. The person desirous of gaining weight may use it with good effect, for the improved digestion, assimilation, and elimination will have a favorable effect upon the metabolism and weight. But one a week will be ample for most of these cases. In obesity, epilepsy, rheu¬matism, and pronounced general toxemia, two or three baths a week may be taken for some time. But directions cannot be given here for the proper use of this agent in the various abnormal conditions in which it is of value. It should not be used promiscuously and indiscriminately; there are conditions in which harm may result unless proper precautions are taken.
As a general hygienic agent for improving the functioning of all organs and thereby reducing the susceptibility to dis¬ease, this light-bath is of much value. It aids in the oxidation of systemic wastes., especially protein wastes, and in increasing general metabolism and vital combustion, while increased skin activity hastens elimination of waste products, including those formed by the heightened cell activity. This bath is not a panacea for all ills. Of itself it will not cure any abnormal condition or give immunity to disease. But as a prophylactic agent it is of great value, especially when used in conjunction with other agents and practices tending to promote and pre¬serve health.
It is especially beneficial for those living seden¬tary lives, such as most professional men and women and a large number of other women who deny themselves adequate physical exercise and fresh air. The vast majority of people never bring about perspiration intentionally, often, in fact, doing all they can to prevent it. This is one of the most potent causes of illness and reduced health among civilized peoples. But in the electric-light cabinet bath we have cleanly, enjoy-able, convenient, non-laborious means of producing a profuse perspiration. This cannot be considered as a complete substi¬tute for sweating provided by physical exercise; but those who will not or cannot take enough exercise for this purpose cannot do better than to induce sweating through the light-bath.
There are many conditions of ill-health in which the elec¬tric-light bath is beneficial. It has the same general indications as the Russian Bath and the Turkish Bath, as mentioned under Hydrotherapy. Because it produces perspiration so quickly and freely (the quantity often being double that in the Turkish bath), it is especially valuable in diabetes. In cardiac disease, obesity, toxemias of gastrointestinal origin, and in dropsy from disease of either the heart or kidneys, this bath is of particular value. Good results are secured also in chronic malarial poison¬ing, chorea due to mimicry (habit chorea), migraine, neuralgia, neurasthenia and neuritis, hysteria, syphilis, and tetany. In conditions resulting from pronounced general toxemia, such as chronic rheumatism, the light-bath is superior to all other baths. When the heat-producing capacity is reduced, as in anemia, it is excellent to heat the body thoroughly in prepara¬tion for the tonic cold applications necessary for overcoming the condition. Arteriosclerosis and high blood-pressure, in¬somnia, general gastrointestinal disorders, premature senility and mental diseases are benefited greatly by the light-bath, and various abnormal states of health classifiable under dis¬eases also respond favorably to it.
It is for this reason, no doubt, that the light-baths have a, bracing effect. Hot-air and vapor-baths, even though followed by tonic applications, often leave one weak and exhausted for some time afterward; but after the light-baths one usually feels as vigorous and energetic as before—often more so— in spite of the profuse perspiration produced. But, as with ail superheating procedures, there should be a cold or cool tonic application afterward. It is usually best to have some form of hot bath ready for immediate use upon stepping from the light cabinet. A shower bath is best, a tub hath perhaps next best, for the entire body should be under the influence of the hot (or decidedly warm) water, so as to avoid chilling and reducing the ability to react after the cold or quite cool bath to follow at once after the rinsing off with the hot or warm water.
If this plan in followed, there will he no danger of poor reaction and one will be able to go out of doors immediately upon dress¬ing, without danger, though, in severely cold weather, the tonic application should be fully cold, or one should wait until com¬plete reaction is assured. This may be made more certain by exercising for a few minutes after the bath and drying are completed, unless there is some physical condition contraindi-cating such exercise. A further advantage of this bath is that the heat and light are uniform. Thus exact prescriptions can be given when necessary, which cannot be said of the vapor hot-air cabinets.
The superiority of the electric-light cabinet bath over the Turkish or Russian bath or hot-air or vapor cabinet baths is considerable. The surrounding temperature in the latter has to be higher than that of the body, in order to produce marked skin activity with the resulting profuse perspiration, but in the light cabinet it is below that of the body—from 96 degrees even to as low as 85 degrees. Yet in the light-bath perspira¬tion appears much sooner than in the other baths. It must be concluded from these facts that the radiant light and heat pene¬trate the tissues more deeply than the conducted heat, and that they greatly increase cellular activity, heighten metabolism and energize the circulation from within outward.
In the electric-light cabinet, containing from about thirty to fifty bulbs, one sits upon a covered stool or chair, in a flood of light re¬flected from the mirrors or special materials forming the lining of the walls. The head is in the clear at¬mosphere outside, the cabinet being provided with folding top doors having a circular neck opening. Be¬neath the feet, in some cabinets, are additional bulbs under a firm plat¬form of glass. Thus the luminous rays strike every portion of the body except the head which, during the bath, is usually protected with a cold wet turban. Often a cold cloth is placed about the neck as well.
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