Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-10
Effects OF the Suu on Inmates.

The French Gazette des Hopitaux con-
taiDs curious article on this subject DR..
PODZa, director of the lunatic asylum at AL
essandTia, (PiedmOnt,) having conceived
the idea that the solar rays might have
some curative power in diseases of The brain,
communicated his views to Father Secchi,
of Rome, who replied in the following terms:
1.-The idea OF studying the disturbed state OF
lunatics In connection with magnetic per-
turbatiOns and with the colored, especially
violet, light of the sun, is of remarkable i'm
portance, and consider il worth being cul-
tlvated." Such light is easily obtained by
filtering the solar rays through glass OF
that color. "VioIet," adds Father Secchi,
"has something melancholy and Oppressive
about IL, which, physiOlogically, causes low
sp rtts; hence, no doubt, poets have draped
melancholy in violet garments. Perhaps
violet light may calm the nervous excite
ment OF unfortunate maniacs." he then,
In his letter, advises DR.. PonZa 10 perform
his experiments in rooms the walls of which
are painted OF the same color as the glass
Ianes of the windows, which should be as
numerous as possible, in order 10 favor the
action OF solar light, so that 1t may be adj
missible at any hour of the day. The pa
tients should pass the night in rooms orient
ed TO the east and to south, and painted
and glazed as above. DR. PonZa, following
the Instructions, prepared several rooms
In the manner described, and kept several
patients there under observation. One OF
Them affected with morbid taciturnity, be-
came gay and affable after three hours stay
In red chamber; another, maniac who re-
fused all food, asked for some breakfast after
HdNlDS stayed hours In the same
red cha mber. In blue one, highly-excitei
mailman with straight waistcOat on was
kept all day; an hour after he appeared
much calmer The action of blue light is
very intense on the optic nerve, and seems
TO cause a sort of oppression. A patient was
made to pass the night In a violet chamber;
on the following day, be begged DIR. PonZa to
send him home, because he felt himself
cured and indeed he has been well ever since.
DIR. PonZa's conclusions from his expert
ments are these: ''TfIe violet rays are, of all
others, those that possess the most intense
electro chemical power; the red light is also
very rich in calOrifc rays; blue light, on the
OF chemical and electric ones. Its beneficent
influence is hard TO explain; as 1t is the abso-
lutte negation OF all excitement, 1t succeeds
admirably In calming the furious excite
ment of maniacs."
BY FORMALLY ANNExING KHoKAND, the
Russian Empire adds to its vast territory
fertile province with about 3, 200 900 people.
The Russian OutpOsts will henceforth be In
dangerous proximity TO Kashgar, and will
likewise be within 225 miles OF the East In
dian frontier. 1t will doubtless be deemed
significant in Russia and the east that the
new territory is to be called Ferghana-the
name Of the kingdom whence Baber set out
TO conquer Hindostan and found the great
Mogul there.
1T sEEMs LIKELY that DR.. Storrs will no
longer take q prominent or representative
part in the Congregational body. Still, it
does not follow that he will leave 1t. His own
which be ais all wounds, will, perhaps, prove
more effectual than any council OF ministers
In recODcillng him to those larger views Of
church discipline which now appear To Oh.
tain IN the CongregatiOnalist body Brook
Ign k0Gie.