Abstract
It was first shown by Huldschinsky1 that rays from the mercury vapor quartz lamp produced a definite antirachitic effect on rachitic infants. Hess and Unger2 demonstrated that the sun's rays also prevented infantile rickets. This beneficial effect of the sun was confirmed with carefully controlled animal experiments by Powers, Park, Shipley, McCollum and Simmonds.3 Hess and Weinstock4 found that the rays which exerted this curative effect were shorter than 313 millimicrons. This means that the effective solar rays range only from 313 to 290 millimicrons in length, and constitute a very small percentage of the total solar radiation. As these very short rays are readily absorbed by smoke, dust and moisture in the atmosphere, the ultraviolet content of the sun's rays is markedly reduced in the winter months, when the sun is low in the sky, and the rays consequently have to pass through a greater distance of our atmosphere.5, 6 It is, therefore, reasonable to expect that the antirachitic effect of sunlight wi...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
