The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-02-22

4 New Dfscsvery in Medicine and . New
Tra6ac.

THE CURE BY VIOLET BLUE.
New Di.esvsry 8. llsdse,.s aad New
Tra1ic. a&
General Pleasanton's book ON the re-
markable medicinal qualities of sun-
light thrown through blue glass has
been widely read since it's publication,
and has resulted in many experiments
with no little success. 1t is not under
stood that General Pleasanton was the
first to discover the good effect Of blue
light upon the nervous system of man
and other creatures, but his book was
the first popular writing upon the sub
ject, if it was not indeed, the first
treatise upon it of any kind. DIR. Bay
ard, of New York City, has for long
time past, been experimenting npen
the effects of blue light sick rooms, and
lately he has frequently treated pa
tients in this way aud cured them.
As to the exact effect of the blue
light the opinions of scientific persons
differ, and it is too early now to discuss
the subject from = scientific point of
view. Many physicians in New York
City and elsewhere arc now giving
attention to this subject, and the de-
mand for blue glass is increasing every
day. Indeed there appears to be quite
little "corner" in the blue glass mar
ket. One of the Chicago hospitals has
some Of it's wards fitted up with blue
window pancs; aud shipment of one
hundred cases was made only the 9TH
er day from New York to that city,
where the physicians have been study
ing the effect of blue light for some
time past. The matter is under dis
cussion also i'm the New York hospit-
ais.
Sunlight passes directly through the
eolorless glass, having no effect what
ever upon IL, but blue glass catches
and retains heat, and = room lighted by
blue panes ia said to be warmer than
one with windows OF ordinary glass.
General Pleasanten thinks thst the
blue light imparts curative qnaIifies to
the atmosphere, therefore, and that il
acts upon the health OF the patient in
that way, as well as directly upon the
nerves.
There are blue lights, alternating
with " hife, as should slways be the
csse, In the windows OF the New York
Aquarium, aud it is said that the tishes
upon whose tanks this light falls di-
rectly are livelier and in better health
than the others. An enthusiastic up-
holder of the Pleasanton theory says
that the late lamented whale would
not have lived for two days after his
arrival in New York, had il not been
for the blue light, and it is understood
that he attributes to the same cause
the absurd Satisfaction displayed at all
times by the living hippopotamus.
That blue glass proved to be suit
able agent in the raising of a litter of
motherless pigs has been asserted by
PIeasanton; and gardeners are begin
ming to study the advantages of blue
glass in lighthouses. In regard TO the
effect upon the human being, we are
told that in diseases of the eve it is
very useful, which appears to be nat
ursl. 1t is also used for all nervous
disea ses, including neuralgia and ner-
vous headaches. Gneral Pleasanton
tells, in letter TO Chicago newspa-
per, how he cured himself by a sun
bath in blue lighted room from the
effects of severe fall from u carriage,
and how at the same time he convert
ed his physician so that he now ac-
knowledges the merits of blue blass.
Of course the blue glass excitement
will Be popular subject for newspa-
per ridicuie. Gentlemen who propose
TO have q pane set in the top of
their heads to cure badness. aud who
have had a pain there for years aud
wish TO have it removed have been
heard from. Meanwhile people are
becoIEing more interested in the sub
ject every day (; dealers are happy, snd
there is something new to talk about
which appears to have in II more SUBJ
stance and interest than many other
topics of popular conversations.