"Light showers" as vital boosters: sunlamps and the hygienic lifestyle in an industrialized environment

Abstract

During the first half of the twentieth century the Austrian physician Arnold Lorand (1803?-1901) published several editions of his advisory book “Old age deferred, The causes of old age and its postponement by hygienic and therapeutic measures”. Therein, Lorand faced the challenges of a modern life style for human health in terms of endocrinology and outlined a hygienic lifestyle that was thought to maintain the human organism in good shape and prevent “premature old age”. Lorand recommended, among other things, the application of two devices for the irradiation of the human organism with short- or long-wave light rays. With this advice, Lorand addressed two main audiences: everybody who feared about his or her vitality as well as those concerned with their personal performance in different areas of life. Lorand’s book Old Age Deferred represents an example of permanent negotiations between physicians, patients, producers and salesmen of sun lamps about the purpose of such medical devices. This historical case example can be used to explain the development of some irradiation devices to articles of daily use.