Light Therapeutics

By John Harvey Kellogg M.D.

Discover the healing potential of light with John Harvey Kellogg, M.D.'s groundbreaking work, Light Therapeutics. This insightful and pioneering book delves into the therapeutic uses of light, exploring its profound effects on health and well-being.

John Harvey Kellogg, a renowned physician and health reformer, presents a comprehensive study on the various applications of light therapy. Drawing from his extensive medical expertise and innovative research, Kellogg explains how different forms of light can be used to treat a wide range of health conditions, from chronic illnesses to acute ailments.

Light Therapeutics provides an in-depth analysis of the scientific principles behind light therapy, including the physiological and biochemical mechanisms through which light influences the human body. Kellogg discusses the different types of light treatments available, such as ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light, and offers practical guidance on their appropriate uses and benefits.

Throughout Light Therapeutics, Kellogg emphasizes the importance of integrating light therapy into a holistic approach to health care. He advocates for the use of light as a natural and non-invasive treatment modality that can complement traditional medical practices and enhance overall health and vitality.

This book is an essential resource for medical professionals, health practitioners, and anyone interested in alternative and complementary therapies. Kellogg’s clear and accessible writing style makes complex scientific concepts understandable, providing readers with valuable knowledge and practical insights into the benefits of light therapy.

Join John Harvey Kellogg, M.D., on a journey into the world of light therapeutics and discover how harnessing the power of light can promote healing and improve quality of life. Light Therapeutics is a timeless guide that continues to inspire and inform the practice of modern medicine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porirua Publishing
• Release date: Jun 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9781991305947

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Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

PREFACE 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 9

I. — The Physics of Light 11

THE COMPOSITION OF LIGHT 11

THE INVISIBLE RAYS 11

THERAPEUTIC LIGHT RAYS 11

HOW RADIANT ENERGY BECOMES HEAT 12

PROPERTIES OF THE CHEMICAL RAYS 12

SEPARATING THE RAYS 13

LIGHT FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES COMPARED 13

IMPORTANT PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE IN PROPERTIES OF HEAT RAYS AND LUMINOUS HEAT RAYS 14

II — The Physiologic Effects of Light 16

EFFECTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ACTINIC RAYS 16

A VITAL STIMULANT 16

THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT UPON PLANT LIFE 17

THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT UPON ANIMAL LIFE 18

EFFECTS OF THE ACTINIC RAYS ON THE SKIN (SOLAR ERYTHEMA) 19

PENETRATING POWER OF DIFFERENT RAYS 20

HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES INDUCED IN THE SKIN BY LIGHT RAYS 20

EFFECTS OF LIGHT UPON THE BLOOD-VESSELS 21

THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT UPON THE CUTANEOUS CIRCULATION 21

THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT UPON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 22

THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT UPON THE CUTANEOUS GLANDS 22

THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT UPON GENERAL METABOLISM 23

THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT ON THE BLOOD 23

THE ACTION OF LIGHT RAYS UPON BACTERIA 24

III. — The Therapeutics of Light 27

THE INCANDESCENT LIGHT AS A CURATIVE AGENT 27

DERIVATIVE EFFECTS OF THE THERMIC RAYS 28

PAIN INHIBITION 28

PIGMENTATION 29

SOLAR ERYTHEMA 30

VASCULAR RELATIONS OE THE SKIN WITH INTERNAL PARTS 31

RELIEF OF VISCERAL CONGESTION 35

REFLEX RELATIONS OF CERTAIN CUTANEOUS AREAS WITH DEEPLY SEATED ORGANS 36

EFFECTS OF THE INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC-LIGHT BATH 39

THE SUN BATH AND THE ARC-LIGHT BATH 42

LOCAL LIGHT APPLICATIONS 42

IV. — Effects of Heat and Cold, and Their Use in Therapeutic Combination 45

EFFECTS OF HEAT 45

EFFECTS OF COLD 47

CONVECTION HEAT 49

RATIONALE OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT USED AS A HEATING PROCEDURE 50

IMPORTANCE OF COOLING THE SKIN SURFACE 53

THE AIR BLAST AS A COOLING PROCEDURE 54

VALUE OF COMBINED HOT AND COLD PROCEDURES 55

V. — Technique of Light Applications 57

THE SUN BATH (Fig. 15) 57

LOCAL APPLICATIONS OF SUNLIGHT 63

THE ARC LIGHT 66

THE ARC-CABINET BATH 67

AN IMPROVISED ARC-LIGHT BATH 67

LOCAL APPLICATIONS OF THE ARC-LIGHT 68

APPLICATION OF THE ARC LIGHT TO THE SCALP (Fig. 30) 79

THE RED AND BLUE SCREENS, AND WHEN TO USE THE THERMIC RAYS, WHEN THE ACTINIC RAYS, AND WHEN THE FULL ARC LIGHT BEAM 82

THE INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHT BATH 82

THE PHYSIOLOGIC EFFECTS OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT BATH 82

THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS 87

CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS 89

THE PHOTOPHORE (Figs. 10, 11, 34) 89

INDICATIONS 90

TECHNIQUE OF APPLICATION 92

THE INCANDESCENT LIGHT BATH IN BED 93

THE COMBINED ARC LIGHT AND INCANDESCENT BATH 93

THE HAND PHOTOPHORE 93

COMBINED LIGHT AND ELECTRICAL BATH 94

VI. — Phototherapy Plus Hydrotherapy 98

THE COLD DOUCHE (Figs. 38, 39) 101

THE SHALLOW BATH (Figs. 40 and 41) 103

THE SALT GLOW (Fig. 42) 106

COLD MITTEN FRICTION (Figs. 43, 44) 106

THE COLD TOWEL RUB (Figs. 45, 46, 47, 48) 110

THE WET SHEET RUB (Figs. 49, 50, 51, 52, 53) 113

THE HALT-SHEET RUB (Fig. 54) 114

THE WET GIRDLE (Figs. 55, 56) 115

THE COTTON POULTICE (Fig. 57) 115

THE ALCOHOL RUB 115

PHOTOTHERAPY WITH AEROTHERAPY 117

THE COOL AIR DOUCHE 118

THE COLD-AIR RUB 118

THE CABINET AIR-DOUCHE 119

COMBINATIONS OF THE ELECTRIC-LIGHT BATH WITH HYDRIATIC APPLICATIONS 119

VII. — Clinical Phototherapy 124

FEVER CONVALESCENTS 124

MALARIAL CACHEXIA 124

LIGHT BATHS AFTER SCARLET FEVER 124

CACHEXIAS DUE TO TOXEMIA 125

DIABETES 126

OBESITY 128

SCURVY—PUEPURA 128

CHRONIC GASTRITIS 129

HYPOPEPSIA OR HYPOHYDROCHLORIA 129

HYPERPEPSIA OR HYPERHYDROCHLORIA 130

CONSTIPATION 130

GASTRIC ULCER 131

NERVOUS DYSPEPSIA 131

CHRONIC APPENDICITIS 131

JAUNDICE 131

CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER 131

CHRONIC NEPHRITIS 132

NEURITIS 132

NEURALGIA 133

CHRONIC MYELITIS AND SPINAL SCLEROSIS 133

LOCOMOTOR ATAXIA 133

EPILEPSY 133

HABIT CHOREA 134

HYSTERIA 134

NEURASTHENIA 134

MIGRAINE 134

WRITERS’ CRAMP 135

MELANCHOLIA 135

MANIA 135

GENERAL PARESIS 136

ANEMIC HEADACHE 136

HYPEREMIC HEADACHE 136

SUPRAORBITAL HEADACHE 136

POST-ORBITAL HEADACHE 136

NEURALGIC HEADACHE 137

INSOMNIA 137

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS 137

CHRONIC PLEURISY 137

FUNCTIONAL HEART DISORDERS 137

ARTERIOSCLEROSIS 138

CHLOROSIS 138

EXOPTHALMIC GOITER 138

MYXEDEMA 139

CHRONIC RHEUMATISM, ARTHRITIS DEFORMANS, RHEUMATIC GOUT 139

PHOTOTHERAPY IN CHRONIC DISEASE 139

PHOTOTHERAPY IN DISEASE OF THE JOINTS AND MUSCLES 140

DYSMENORRHEA 140

AMENORRHEA 141

CHRONIC METRITIS 141

CHRONIC OVARITIS 141

CHRONIC PROSTATITIS 141

SPERMATORRHEA 142

SYPHILIS 142

SKIN AFFECTIONS 142

BALDNESS—ALOPECIA AREATA 143

ACNE 144

DRUG ADDICTION 145

SPRAINS 145

POTT’S DISEASE 145

FRACTURES 146

DISLOCATIONS 146

VARICOSE AND OTHER CHRONIC ULCERS 146

RODENT ULCER 146

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS 147

LUPUS 148

LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS 149

TUBERCULAR GLANDS 149

EPITHELIOMA 150

ERYSIPELAS AND SUPPURATING WOUNDS 150

OTITIS MEDIA AND MASTOIDITIS 151

NEVUS 151

HYPERTROPHIC SCARS 151

THE LIGHT TREATMENT OF HAY-FEVER 152

THE LIGHT TREATMENT OF WOUNDS 152

THE LIGHT TREATMENT OF SOFT CHANCRE 152

VIII. — Phototherapeutic Appliances 153

DESCRIPTION OF THE AUTHOR’S INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC-LIGHT BATH 153

SUGGESTIONS FOE OPERATING THE SOLAR THERAPEUTIC LAMP 159

Light Therapeutics

A Practical Manual of Phototherapy for the Student and the Practitioner

With Special Reference to the Incandescent

Electric-Light Bath

BY

J. H. KELLOGG, M. D.

Author of Rational Hydrotherapy, The Art of Massage," etc. Member of the

British Gynæcological Society, the International Periodical Congress of Gynæcology and Obstetrics, American and British Associations for the Advancement of Science, the Société d’Hygiène of France, American Society of Microscopists, American Climatologicol Society, American Medical Association, Michigan State Medical Society, Superintendent of the Battle Creek (Mich.) Sanitarium

PREFACE

THIS work does not profess to be an exhaustive treatise on the subject of light therapy. It is intended rather to serve as a practical manual for the clinical use of the electric-light bath in its various forms, and in its various applications, general and local.

An effort has also been made, in a small way, to correlate the electric-light bath to those other forms of rational physiotherapy which naturally and profitably associate themselves with this newest of physical curative measures.

Twenty years ago this work could not have been written. The electric bath had not yet been devised. The photophore, the electric thermophore and most of the other therapeutic methods and appliances described in this manual were not even dreamed of. Probably no non-medicinal remedy has ever found its way so rapidly into general favor as have devices for utilizing the physical properties of light in combating the inroads of disease.

The first incandescent light bath was constructed by the author in 1891. After it had been used in the treatment of some thousands of patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, a bath was exhibited at the Chicago Esposition in 1893. A visitor from Germany saw the bath, visited Battle Creek to become familiar with the technique of its use, and on returning to Germany began its manufacture and sale in that country. German medical men and financiers soon recognized the value of the method. Winternitz of Vienna constructed a bath after the author’s description, which was first published in a paper delivered by request before the American Electro-Therapeutic Association at its fourth annual meeting, New York, Sept. 25, 1894.

The bath soon became highly popular in Germany. Hundreds of Light Institutes were opened in the leading cities. King Edward of England was cured of a distressing gout at Hamburg by means of a series of light baths. He had the bath installed at Windsor and Buckingham palaces. Emperor William soon after followed his example, as did several other of the crowned heads and titled families of Europe.

In time the fame of the bath spread back to its home. A New York firm actually imported a bath from Berlin as a therapeutic novelty. The last few years have witnessed a growing interest in phototherapy and the time will soon arrive when no hospital will be considered completely equipped which does not include in its outfit a full set of electric light appliances for therapeutic use.

Trusting that this volume, incomplete and imperfect as it is, may prove of practical use to some of those who have recognized the value of this new method in the clinical management of many forms of chronic disease, the author submits this little work to his colleagues in the profession, craving their consideration and criticism.

J. H. K.

Battle Creek, Mich.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Incandescent Electric Light Bath Cabinet

Pigmentation Produced by the Application of the Photophore

Cutaneous Vascular Areas on Anterior Surface of Body Connected with the Different Viscera

Cutaneous Vascular Areas on Posterior Surface of Body Connected with the Different Viscera

Anterior Cutaneous Surface of the Body

Posterior Cutaneous Surface of the Body

The Cabinet arc light Bath

Arc Light Bath from Two Solar arc Lamps

Varying Degrees of Skin Pigmentation Produced by the Sun Bath

The Photophore

The Air Blast as a Cooling Procedure

The Combined arc light and Air Bath

Cabinet Method of Cooling the Surface of the Body with Electric Fan

The Sun Bath

Devices Employed by Finsen in the use of the Solar Rays

Before and After Treatment by the Finsen Rays

The Solar Therapeutic arc Lamp

Arc Light to the Spine

Arc Light to the Spine in Reclining Position

Arc Light to the Chest

Epigastric Application of the arc light

Arc Light to the Abdominal Region

Arc Light to the Loins

Arc Light to the Hepatic Region

Arc Light to the Face

Arc Light to the Shoulder

Arc Light to the Hip and Thigh

Arc Light to the Scalp

Arc Light to the Knee

Application of the Photophore to the Spine

Application of the Photophore to the Abdomen

The Hand Photophore

The Sinusoidal Apparatus

The Combined Sinusoidal and Galvanic Apparatus

The Douche Apparatus

The Douche Apparatus, Showing the Controlling and Regulating Mechanism

The Horizontal Jet

The Horizontal Jet to the Abdomen

The Shallow Bath

The Salt Glow

The Gold Mitten Friction

The Loofah Mitt

The Cold Towel Rub

The Wet Sheet Rub

The Wet Girdle

The Cotton Poultice

Horizontal Electric Light Bath

The Swedish Shampoo

The Shower Bath

The Abdominal Heating Compress

The Electric Light Bath Cabinet in Sections

The Horizontal Cabinet for Electric Light Baths

Combined Electric Light and arc light Bath

The Solar Therapeutic arc Lamp

I. — The Physics of Light

HELIOTHERAPY, or the use of sunlight as a curative means, is one of the oldest of natural healing agents. It has been employed from the earliest times by primitive people, who were doubtless led to its use in sickness by natural instinct. Savages, and also wild animals, resort to the sun-bath for the relief of various forms of illness. It is only within the last twenty years, however, that the physiological and therapeutic effects of light derived from natural and artificial sources have been made the subject of careful scientific study. Within this period numerous investigators have devoted themselves to the study of this subject, and the extended researches that have been made have resulted in the development of a new class of therapeutic methods, principles and measures which constitute the science of phototherapy.

THE COMPOSITION OF LIGHT

Considered from the standpoint of physics, white light is compound, consisting of three primary colors, namely, red, green and violet. By means of a prism, and by other means, a ray of light may be decomposed into seven primary and intermediate colors.

The researches of Tyndall established clearly the fact that light is not a force, but rather a mode of motion, and Clark-Maxwell and his followers have confirmed this view by showing that a ray of light is capable of exerting measurable pressure. The more slowly moving rays have a rate of motion of about 395,000,000,-000,000 per second, and produce a red light, while violet light at the other end of the visible spectrum is produced by a wave movement having a velocity of 760,000,000,-000,000 per second. The other colors of the visible spectrum are produced by waves of intermediate velocities.

THE INVISIBLE RAYS

Accompanying these visible rays, which are capable of making impressions upon the optic nerve, there are invisible rays produced, some by slower waves, others by waves of greater velocity. Considering the seven colors of the rainbow as constituting an octave, the whole gamut of light rays, both visible and invisible, has a range of about four octaves, of which one octave, the ultra-violet, is above the visible spectrum, and two octaves, the ultra-red, are below the red.

There are doubtless many other kinds of rays connected with the solar emanations, the properties of which the refined researches of modern physics will in due time fully reveal. Some of these are, in fact, already coming to be more or less known.

For convenience in discussing the therapeutic applications of light rays, they are divided into three classes, known respectively as heat or thermic rays, light or luminous rays, and chemical or actinic rays.

THERAPEUTIC LIGHT RAYS

Light treatment involves not only the use of rays of light such as appear on the ordinary spectrum, but also the ultra-violet and the ultra-red rays. The therapeutically active rays are:—

1. The chemical or actinic rays, viz.: the blue, the visible violet, and the ultra-violet; and

2. The thermic or heat rays; that is, the red and the infra-red rays.

The chemical or actinic rays and the thermic or heat rays produce different and characteristic effects. Until recently, the attention of investigators has been almost wholly directed to the effects of the actinic rays. Freund goes so far, indeed, as to exclude the thermic rays from the therapeutic field, thereby showing a lack of information concerning the exceedingly valuable curative effects of the heat rays when applied in appropriate cases with a correct technique. This work undertakes—for the first time, the author believes—to present an adequate account of the therapeutic properties of the thermic as well as the actinic rays of light.

HOW RADIANT ENERGY BECOMES HEAT

The so-called heat rays, associated with the luminous and chemical rays, are not heat in the ordinary sense, but a form of energy which is capable of being converted into heat, and which becomes heat when brought in contact with an opaque body,—that is, a substance which offers resistance to the passage of the rays. The same law holds good with this form of energy as with electricity. When a conductor through which a current of electricity is passing is ample in size and forms what is known as a good conductor, no heat is produced; but if the conductor offers great resistance to the current, the electrical energy is transformed into heat and the temperature of the conductor rises.

Precisely the same effect is produced when thermic rays are passing through a substance which affords resistance to this form of radiation. The rays pass to the earth from the sun probably with little or no loss, but in passing through the earth’s atmosphere, a portion of the energy is lost by conversion into sensible heat whereby the temperature of the air is raised. It is only when the rays reach the earth or some other opaque body that the larger portion of the radiant energy is actually converted into heat. Dolbear has calculated that the earth receives through the sunlight an amount of energy equivalent to one-fourth horsepower for each square foot of its surface, which is calculated as amounting to one forty-thousandth of the total energy thrown off by the sun for each square foot of its surface.

PROPERTIES OF THE CHEMICAL RAYS

The chemical rays, although they make little impression