Page 11 - To Dragma March 1932

^unshine C^arm 'Whose Qrop
is Jfealthy
By E L I Z A B E T H GREGG M A C G I B B O N ,
Children
Writing for Sunset Magazine
the frail little Helen benefited
OUTSTANDING in the reports of those who attended the Child by the routine prescribed
Health Conference in Washington last winter was the statement for her brother. Out of this
that to date nothing adequate had been done in this country in experience the sunshine farm
the way of convalescent care for children of the upper and middle classes was born. San Francisco and
The charge was made that convalescent homes had been provided for Oakland physicians who
the children of the poor, but that nothing comparable was available to knew Dr. and Mrs. Hibbs
the parent who could pay for such health service. and who saw what could be
accomplished by this type of
As far as California is concerned this is not true. For the past seven treatment under the direc-
years there has been on the Pacific Coast a "sunshine farm" where deli- tion of a trained nurse who
cate children are made robust through a regime of air and sun baths was also a mother, urged
prescribed rest and balanced diet. "Top o' the H i l l " or, as the children Mrs. Hibbs to return to Los
love to call it, "the Farm," is situated in the foothills four miles east of Gatos and take a place large
Los Gatos in that climate world famed for its equability. e n o u g h to accommodate
their young patients who so
The story back of Top o' the Hill is worth the telling. Katherine often needed just such care.
Barnes (A ' 1 0 ) , an Oakland girl, left Stanford University to take
her nurse's training at the New York Post Graduate Hospital. There Starting in a small way COURTESY OF Sunset Magasif
she met a young southerner, David Lacey Hibbs, who had just completed
his medical course at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Re- this was done. The first chil- A blossom-tiinc scene at Top o' the Hill.
sult—a wedding and the return of the pair to Oakland, California, dren sent by interested phy-
where Dr. Hibbs set up as a practicing physician. Two children were
born to the Hibbs, and all went well until young David at the age of sicians responded much as Mrs. Hibbs' own had done. Quartz lamp
five, following measles, developed a bronchial condition bordering on
incipient tuberculosis. Simultaneously little Helen, the two-year-old therapy brought the children through the first winter with their tan
daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hibbs, was pronounced a cripple, and prob-
ably would never be able to walk. unfaded and their high spirits unsubdued. The modest venture was a

The pediatrician in charge recommended sun baths and rest for success.
David, and accordingly both children were taken by their mother to
Los Gatos for six months. David was completely restored to health, and From the first a very definite routine prescribed by leading pediatri-
cians was followed at Top o' the Hill. Air and sunshine were given in
"Play is life" said John Dewey large doses, which meant that in good weather the boys wore nothing
but shorts and shoes, and only sleeveless jerseys were added to this
costume for the girls. Sun and air baths were given twice a day, the
time spent with body exposed to the sun being gradually increased
as the child became accustomed to it. Posture exercises followed the
morning sun bath. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon nourishment were
served, and all children were required to rest on their beds daily from
two to four. Seven o'clock was bed time for the little ones, and eight
o'clock for the older children. Naturally many children were not well
enough at first for so normal a schedule, and these were kept in bed for
longer periods or entirely, according as their doctors ordered.

As more and more of these beautifully bronzed boys and girls were
pronounced well and returned to their homes, word of the Farm spread