AN APPEAL FOR SUNLIGHT [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—As in past years at this season, I ask you to let me appeal for sunlight. Your readers have been generous in the past, and sound constructive and preventive reasons can be adduced why they should be generous again. The medicinal value of sunlight has been proved up to the hilt. In your coluMns in past years I haVe described the cure of so-called " surgical tuberculosis " by sunlight under Dr. Roller, at Leysin, in the Alpes Vaudoises, and have sought to draw therefrom certain conclusions for our national life, efficiency, and happiness. Those conclusions are now everywhere accepted. This year the semi-jubilee of Dr. Roller's work, begun with five patients in 1903, will be celebrated by the holding of the First International Congress on Light, in September, at Lausanne and Leysin. All over the Continent, but especially in Germany, the traveller sees the widespread achievements of sunlight as a means Of preventive medicine, averting what I have called the diseases of darkness, and achieving what can only be called creative hygiene.
We cannot afford to be behind. I appeal for the support of the Sunlight League (first patron the late Queen Alexandra), which has striven during four years past to preserve and spread the light of life in our country. The Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, 1926, has been in force during the past winter, and has definitely failed. No further legislation may be hoped for during many years. Nothing remains but education. We do not buy lamps, nor send children to the country by our funds, but we spread the light, and are thus indirectly sending thousands of children to the country, promoting smokeless methods in our new houses, and teaching vast numbers of parents how to release their children's bodies and restore them to the light. We shall yet see schools in the sun all over the country, where epidemics are unknown, and rickets and tuberculosis are exorcised. A copy of our journal, Sunlight, will be sent to all readers who will send help for this work to our Hon. Treasurer at 29 Gordon Square, W.C.—I am, Sir, &c., C. W. SALEEBY, The Sunlight League. Chairman- of Couneib
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