Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-07-18
HOW THE VIOLET RAY MAruREp PIGS

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The success of the Generals ex
periments in grape growing led hin
to make some experiments upol
animal life. He selected Pigs upoI
which to first try bis hand. In tn,
autumn Of 1869 he built a piggery
into the roof and three sides of which
he introduced olet colored anC
white glass in equal proportions. H'
separated q recent litter of pigs int
two parties, placing one in q common
pen under ordinary sunlight, and tn,
other under violet ray In order t.
make it as tar as possible an expert
mehtum cruciS, he selected the light
est and puniest specimens to be act
ed upon by the actinic rays of light
The two sets of pigs were treated
exactly alike fed with the same kline
of food at equal intervals OF time, anC
with equal quantities by measure a
each meal, and were attended by the
same man. They were put in theil
pens on the third day of November
1869, and kept there until the fourth
day of march 1870, when they were
weighed again. The aggregate weigh
of the three sows under the violet
light on the Sd of November, 1869
was 1872 pounds; on the 4th of March
1870, it was $50 pounds increase 39S
pounds, The aggregate weight Of
the three sows in the old pens on the
Sd of November, 1869, was IA
pounds, and on the 4th of March
1870, it was $50 pounds, increase
368 pounds, or II pounds less than
those under the violet glass had
gained. The influence of the violet
ray was thus even here very marked
though owing to the laten ess of the
season it is doubtful if it was then as
powerful as in the spring or midsum,
mer.
HOW A BULL-CALF ACTED UNDER THE
RAY.
The story of Gen. Pleasonton's
successful treatment of sickly cali
is so extraordinary that it is best told
in his own language. My next ex-
pertinent" he says, "was with an
Attorney bull-calf, born on the 29th
January, 1870. At it's birth it was
so puny and feeble that the man who
attends my stock--a very expe-
ricnced hand-told me that it could
not live. | directed him to put it in
one of the pens under the violet
glass. 1t was done.
IN TWENTY FOUR HOURS
very sensible change had occurred
in the animal. II had risen on its
feet, walked about the pen, took its
food freely by the finger, and mani
tested great vivacity. In few days
its feeble condition had entirely dis
appeared. 1t began to grow and it's
development was marvellous. On
the 3lst of March, 1870, two months
and five days after its birth, its rapid
growth was so apparent, that as it's
hind quarter was then growing, |
told my son to measure its height,
and to note down in writing the
hight of the hind quarter, and the
time of measurement which he did.
On the Goth of the following May
(1870), Just fifty days afterwards,
my son again measured the hind
quarter, and found that in that time
it had gained exactly six inches in
height, carrying its lateral dev elop-
mcnt with it. Believing the question
solved, the calf was turned into the
barn-yard, and when mingling with
the cows he manifested every symp-
tom of full masculine vigor, though
at the time he was only four months
old. Since the first of April of this
year, when he was just fourteen
months old, he has been kept with
my herd of cows, and has fulfilled
every expectation that | had formed
of him. He is now one Of the best
developed animals that can be found
anywhere"
CHILDREN REARED IN THE SAME WAY.
In view of all the circumstances of
the case-that is always providing
the Generals experiments be confirm
ed-perhaps the glowing language
in which be closes the account of his
experiments is not too eloquent. "If
by tho combination" says the ex-
perimenter, "of sun light and blue
light from the sky, you can mature
quadrupeds in twelve months with
no greater supply of food than would
be used for an immature animal in
the same period, you can scarcely
conceive of the immeasureble value
of this discovery to an agricultural
people. You would no longer have
to wait five years for the maturity
of colt and all your animals could
be produced in the greatest abun-
dance and variety. "A prominent
member Of the bar q short time since
told me that his sister, who is wild
ow of q late distinguished general in
the army, had applied blue light to
the rearing of poultry with the most
remark able success after having
heard of my experiments. In regard
to the human family, its influence
would be wide spread-you could not
only in the temperate regions pro-
duce the early maturity of the tropics
but you could invigorate the consti
tutions of individuals, and develop
in the young generation physically
and intellectually, which might be
come a marvel TO mankind. Archi
tects would be required so to arrange
the introduction of these mixed rays
of light into our houses that the oc
cupants might derive the greatest
benefit from their influence. Man
kind will then not only be able tC
live fast, but they can live well anc
also live long"
aN- Darwinian, a correspondent O.
The Cincinnati Commercial, who ha,
been interviewing Chinaman, writes
He tells me that it is the tradition O.
the Chinese Rationalists that the