Figure 1.--Heliotherapy summer camps were very common in Italy during the inter-War era. There were camps at various sizes. This photo was taken Nonta *Summer 1936). Nonta is not a seaside resort. It is located 70 mi North of Venice. The goal of the summer camp was heliotherapy. It was a coed camp. The girls and boys wore romper-like swim suits. The boys and even several girls did not wear shirts. This was a lunch time served in an open porch. Note the prominent portrait of Mussolini.

Heliotherapy is the use of sunlight for therapeutic purposes. The Sun has been a focus of humans since the very dawn of humnity. And many ancient civilizations worshipped the sun. It is only in modern times that medical practice based on sun light has developed--heliotherapy. It is also now known as light therpy as artificial lamps are used. I recll experiencing this at a very young age, alhough I do not recall why. I only remember I didn't like it as I had to sit under a UV lamp in just my underepants. As far as we can tell, for most of history, the sun was to be worshiped, but exposure to be avoided. Europeans wanted pale complexions. A tanned skin was a sign of manual labor outdoors. A French doctor noticed that leg sores healed faster when exposed to the sun (late-18th century). A Danish doctor reported similar findings (19th century). Dr. Niels Finsen, who later was awarded a Nobel Prize, first noted that what he describbed as 'sluggishness' was improved with a dose of sunlight. He began investigating this and found that sunlight was bneficial in the treatment of smallpox, lupus and tuberculosis. It was his work on lupus that earned him his Nobel Prize. Sanitoria had begun opening in Europe with a focus on fresh air and sunshine. Heliotherapy only began to be adopted as a medical practice when Swiss doctor, Auguste Rollier, started championing it (early-1900s). Rollier was primarily concrerned with tuberculosis and opened sanatoria he called 'solaria' in the mountains with a special focus ion sundshine. American doctors primarily focused on tuberculosis found benefits in the arid, sun-drenched southwest. Doctors across Europe promoted heliotherapy as a cure for tuberculosis and lupus, cuts and scrapes, burns, arthritis, rheumatism, and nerve damage. The German Army during World War I opened sun-hospitals for its soldiers. Tans after the War began to become trendy as a sign of good health. Americns began flocking to Florida and southern California. Researchers began to understand the actul benefits. They found that sunlight killed the bacteria that caused tuberculosis and other diseases. Others proved that sunlight and UV light could cure rickets caused by a dietary deficiency (vitamin D). In Italy sanatoiria were opened. Rickets was the primary concern. We also notice heliotherapy summer camps in Italy.

Created: 7:18 PM 7/13/2021
Last updated: 7:18 PM 7/13/2021