The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-22
1 new DOMAIN TOR SCIENCE,
1lended Light q Universal Stimulant, Re-
storer and Purifier.
THE MARCH OF SCIENCE.
Remarkable Results Of General
Pleasonton's Experiments.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE SICK.

Tho attention OF tho scientific world has lately been
aroused by statements purporting to como from DR..
Ponza, the director OF the Turin Lunatic Asylum.
From those statements II would appear that, at tho
instance OF Padre secchi the great Roman astrono-
NOR. experiments made by Dr. Ponza 70 test tho
action OF certain colored lights upon patients suffering
from mental alienation. Remarkable results wore at
tanned by tho Of blue and red light. The account
At hand OF these experiments and their results Is
tremcly mcagrc and detailed information is
anxousy looked Tor by tho medical profession in this
country. Enough Is known, however, to justify the
assertion that should the results attained by Or.
Ponza be absolutely and exclusively traceablc to tho
action OF these colored lights, tho threshold
Of or tho astonishing and far-rcachng dis
coveries Of modern
Now, 1t may not be known to the readers Of tho
HERALD that whereas these experiments of Dr. Ponza
arc OF a comparatively recent date experiments OF
analogous character have been made for the last if
teen years by an eminent gentleman Of Philadelphia,
and that experiments identical those OF Dr. Ponza
OF Turin recommended by him ut least eight
years ago. That gentleman Is General Augustus J.
Pcasonton. For tho accuracy OF tho statements made
In this article he holds himself responsible and al
though his differences and deductions will naturally DO
taken quantum raiean his high character renders his
testimony with regard to facts absolutely unmpeach-
able. Certain OF the experiments conducted by Gen.
eraI Poasonton and their results had previously been
communicated to the learned societies Of this country
and Europe and at tho time attracted much attention
They had, however, for their object plants and
animals only. Siuce that time, however, tho
General has experimental upon various forms
of disease by means Of mixed light, with
results which are detailed below. Recognizing
the immensely of the field opened out to
scientific investigation by these new experiments Of
the Italian physician and believing that General Pleas
onton the foremost American oxpermenter In this
new domain the HERALD at sent representative
10 investigate fully all tho experiments made by him
from first to last and also 10 elicit the opinion Of the
celebrities of medical science in Philadelphia upon the
whole question OF the OF disease by light 1t
may here BIO said that the members Of the faculty
that CITY, while give their views fully the
HERALD shrank, with instructive delicacy, Eom the
fictitious prominence which would be thrust upon
them by the publication OF their These
sequcntly withheld General Plcasonton found by
tho writer busted with the Of his estate in
Philadelphia Upon hearing the object Of his visit, the
General at once postponed the claims OF real estate
upon his attention and stepped with tho HERALD repre-
sentative into the realms Of light 81 have heard
said the General, "of the experiments made by
Ponza, Of Turin, and my astonshment has boon
slant for years that such experiments not
made before In the case Of an intimate friend Of
mine one OF whose relatives was and is now
under treatment the Kirkbride Asylum for the In
sano, recommended eight years ago, the same
method now being pursued BY the Italian physician
Although General Plcasonton's word amply satisfied
tho writer; STILL in order that this fact might be
proved beyond any doubt. no determined TO see both
the gentleman referred to aud DR.. Kirkbrde whose
name Is borne by the institution under his care His
H. ton
eraL The gentleman himself distinctly remembered
the recommendation made to him, eight years pre-
vously, by General Pleasonton, but not certain
shat he had urged its adoption upon Dr. Kirkbflde.
The latter however, stated bis complete recollection
OF such recommendation having been made by the
gentleman at the instance OF General Peasonton To
ask why such recommendation had not been acted
upon was OF the success recent experiments
rather delicate matter. Tho writer therefore, con-
hncd himself to clicltng DR.. Kirkbrides views upon
che value Of such treatment
II have" said the Doctor ssgiven the subject no
attention whatever IL appears TO me by no means
impossible nor even improbable, that colored light
may have the effects ascrbcd to it. At any rate do
think tho subject deserving Of the fullest
Sound conclusions can, in such matter, be reached
only by numerous and repeated experiments under
various conditions think it good that such oxperi-
mcnts should be made.
lis your purpose" rcjoncd the writer, ito mako
such experiments herc?n
Undoubtedly; but how soon I shall begin them
nm no. prepared to say"
THE BIRTH IDEA
To return TO General Pleasonton. The writer asked
him how he had first got tho idea OF expcrim cnting
npon plants and animals with the violet light trans
united through blue glass combined with the ordinary
sunlight "From tho act !" answered the General that
had long thought that the blue color OF the sky SO
permanent and alpervadlng and yet varying in in.
tensity Of color according to and latitude must
have some adding relation and connection with the v
lng organ zatons on this planet knew thai various
experiments had been made in England and on the
European Continent with homogeneous glass coIored
with the several primary rays but they resulted in
nothing SO far as any Improvement in the process Of
developing vegetation wus concerned As the only APP
proach any good results produced by the violet
ray, determined TO experiment with this alone'
very long conversation followed, in which the
General developed his vows Finally he said:-
sThere Is nothing satisfactory In matters OF this
sort as seeing things with ones own eyes; SO IL YOU
can spare tomorrow, Will take you my country
house, and there you Will be able to judge OF my
periments and their results for yourself" The oIer
was gladly accepted.
TIM caArEgr KxrERrMxxrs
The next day repaired TO lhe Generals country
house. Upon arrival, we NJ proceeded to the
srapery where General Peasonon's first experiments
wcro made In the year 1861 Of these experiments ho
gave the following account:-"My erspery was finished
In March, 1861. It's Dimensions 81 fcet long, rs
feet wide, IL iect Liph at the ridge, with double
pitched roof IL stands, AS you soc, at the foot OF
Ieraccd garden IN the direction OF northeast by
10 southwest by west on three SIDES you notice The
border twelve feet vide On the fourth, northeast by
east the border Is only ave feet wide being walk Of
The garden. The borders inside and outside were en-
ravatcd depth OF three icet SIX inches, and were
RIIed with the usual nutritivc matter carefully pre-
pared for growing The nrst question to
be solved the proportion OF blno or violet
glass TO DO used on the roof AL venture
I adopted every eighth row of glass the
roof 70 be blue violet glass, that the sun In us
daily course should cast q beam o violet ilght on
every leaf In the grapery. Cuttings OF vines each ono
year DID, OF the Thickness Of pipe STEM aud cat close
to The pots containing them were planted in the Dor
dcrs Inside ami outside OF the grapcry Ia the early
part OF April. 1851. Soon after beng planted the
growth OF the vines began. The rapidity with which
they grew soon attracted the attention oil all who saw
hcm. In few weeks the walls and inside OF the root
we're closely covered with the most luxurious growth
81 iolinse and wood The scotsman who sold me the
vincs Was lost IN amaxefncnt when no saw them. He
stated tbat no had never anything similar N an