Northern Europeans spend a lot of time in their cold and cloudy winters planning their summer holidays. They are proud of their healthy color when they return home after the holiday. But they also know that a certain amount of sunshine is good for their bodies and general health. 

In ancient Greece people knew about the healing powers of the sun, but this knowledge was lost. At the end of the nineteenth century a Danish doctor, Niels Finsen, began to study the effect of sunlight on certain diseases, especially diseases of the skin. He was interested not only in natural sunlight but also in artificially produced rays. Sunlight began to play a more important part in curing sick people. 

A Swiss doctor, Auguste Rollier, made full use of the sun in his hospital at Lysine. Lysine is a small village high up in the Alps. The position is important: the rays of the sun with the greatest healing power are the infra-red and ultra-violet rays; but ultra-violet rays are too easily lost in fog and the polluted air near industrial towns. Dr. Roller found that sunlight, fresh air and good food cure a great many diseases. He was particularly successful in curing certain forms of tuberculosis with his "sun-cure". 

There were a large number of children in Dr. Roller's hospital. He decided to start a school where sick children could be cured and at the same time continue to learn. It was not long before his school was full. 

In winter, wearing only shorts, socks and boots, the children put on their skis after breakfast and left the hospital. They carried small desks and chairs as well as their school books. Their teacher led them over the snow until they reached a slope which faced the sun and was free from cold winds. There they set out their desks and chairs, and school began. 

Although they wore hardly any clothes, Roller's pupils were very seldom cold. That was because their bodies were full of energy which they got from the sun. But the doctor knew that sunshine can also be dangerous. If, for example, tuberculosis is attacking the lungs, unwise sunbathing may do great harm. 

Today there is not just one school in the sun. There are several in Switzerland, and since Switzerland is not the only country which has the right conditions, there are similar schools in other places.
Who started an outdoor school in Switzerland?
How did they reach their destination in winter?
Did they take their own desks and chairs with them?
What else?
What was one factor is choosing where to set up their desks?
What else?
Weren't the students cold?
Were they wearing a lot of clothing?
Then why weren't they freezing?
Is there a condition in which sunlight can be dangerous?
What is that?
Where in Switzerland is Rollier's school?
Is it the only one in the country?
Which rays have the greatest effect?
What does fog do to ultra violet rays?
Are they stronger near big cities?
What things did Dr. Rollier believe helped fix many diseases?
Any others?
What do people from Northern Europe spend a lot of time on during the winter?
What ancient civilization was aware of the sun's powers?
Auguste Rollier
Auguste Rollier
on skis
on their skis
yes
 They carried small desks and chairs
school books
as well as their school books
was free from cold winds
 was free from cold winds
faced the sun
faced the sun
No.
Roller's pupils were very seldom cold.
No
Although they wore hardly any clothes,
their bodies were full of energy
 That was because their bodies were full of energy which they got from the sun
Yes
 If, for example, tuberculosis is attacking the lungs, unwise sunbathing may do great harm. 
If tuberculosis is attacking the lungs
tuberculosis is attacking the lungs
Lysine
Lysine
No
Today there is not just one school in the sun.
infra-red and ultra-violet rays
the rays of the sun with the greatest healing power are the infra-red and ultra-violet rays
they get lost
too easily lost in fog 
no
ra-violet rays; but ultra-violet rays are too easily lost in fog and the polluted air near industrial towns.
Sunlight
Sunlight began to play a more important part in curing sick people.
artificially produced rays
artificially produced rays
planning their summer holidays
planning their summer holidays
Greece
In ancient Greece