Beach at Sylvabelle sanitorium, postcard.

La croix -- Plage de Sylvabelle. Postcard. [c.1912]. Private collection.

A postcard from Dr. Monteuuis's sanitorium at Sylvabelle depicts one of the facility's prime sun-bathing spots. Groups of sun-bathers can be seen scattered along the beach. In his 1907 book on sun, light, and air baths, Monteuuis described the "bain" or "cure de soleil" as a general exposure of the unclothed body to the sunlight outdoors. To perform the cure, the patient would lie in a sheltered place on a mattress, turning every few minutes. This was called the "direct bath." It was followed by the patient being wrapped in blankets for what was called an "indirect bath," meant to produce perspiration and thus the opening of the pores (Monteuuis, 1907, pp.54-55).

Private collection.