, 1877-02-11
A CHEMISTS VIEWS.
Tn the Edff0f. pf The T37buue.


A CHEMISTS VIEWS.
10 the Editor of The Tribune. .
CHICAGO, Feb. 9.-For some time back much
has been written in your columns relating to the
use Of blue glass for the cure Of disease. The
exact object to be attained by the originators Of
this scheme By advertising through the papers
in this manner is not evident on the face, unless
it be notoriety. But with this matter have
nothing to do, onls promising that believe
there is some object to be attained beyond the
mere benctiting OF the public.
The question Of primary importance is this:
Is there any advantage in the use Of blue glass
or any other colored glass 10 curing disease! It
is a fact, without doubt. that these articles re-
ferred to will induce many Of our inteilig ent
citizens to put blue glass in their houses, taking
it for granted that by SO doing they will make
them more healthy. aud secure to themselves
immunity from disease But is it not strange
that so many will act upon this matter without
asking the why and the how about it! Now. be-
cause I believe that q great many will be in
ducel to spend time aud money on this thing,
I shall depart from my usual custom and draw
the attention OF the public to the scientific as
pect Of the matter through your columns.
say contrary to my usual .custUn because it has
been nv e1perienve that when scientific man
attempts to crit else any Of the numerous
exceedingly unsce entl6+ productions dealt out
SO layishly by our newspapers day utter DAY, he
is almost certain to be reylied and 1nsulted Dy
some copcctcd correspondent who knows abso-
lutcly nothing about the subject. This doubt
no: is one great reason why 1n1n OF good solid
information make SO few attempts to correct
erroneous statements in the papers.
But now to the subject III hand: am per
fcctlY willing to adini: that in certain cases
blue or other colorei lights might he employed
to advantage in the treatment of disease. l ad-
NIT this not because have seen any evidence
on this subject to the effect that disease has
been successfully treated in this manEer. eut
simply from a priori considerations. The only
justification ! otfer for this admission Is The
fact TINT colo7ed lights certainly do affect the
nerves Of people and animals. AS single
INSTANCE of this, cali to mind the Tell-knoWn
use Of the rcd cloth to inute the rage OF theMlu
bull in the Spanish arena While some colors
are exciting in their action upon the nerves,
others NAV be found quietiDg. or soothing IL
is therefore not unreasonable to suppose that
colored lights might be found Oh use IN rue
treatment OF insane persons or in certain nery-
Gus diseases. It seems to me that have some
where read an article which goes into this mat
ter 10 some extent, but am unable to recall it
now. ..-...-..
But as regards the cure Of such diseases Us
some Of your correspondents mention IN this
connection, such. c. e., as phthls!s, lung COM
plants generally, dropsy, dyspepsia, rheuma-
tism, by the use Ut blue glass, do not hesitate
for a moment to say that it IS al hu1nbu@,
}
such testimony as has been brought forward IN
support Of the blue glass, to he sure But LOOK
at the justification. In the first place. as to inc
value Of this testimony from scientific stand
point. It is worthless, and Tor TINS reason: Sos
one of these expesiinenters has given us any ac-
count Of tho comparative value OF direct sun
1feht through Gle white glass aud through
blue glass. Therefore l submit to any tar
minded man that absolutely no evidence has
been offered indicating that the blue glass mas
in auy way Improved the value Of sunlight in
the treatment of these diseases. This also SHOWS
us that these gentlemen, honest, ano Keen: Auo
reliable as they are in business. are not 10 "
trusted to make scientific oDsefFatlons' ueeausc
they lack the necessary training which such an
.ohscrycr must nave before he can distinguish
between the real and apparent cause o1 an
effect. 4,,o,-
have simply overlooked certain SOURCES " esiol'
because they are not trained IN sclcntlhc oosei
Vatiou, which scientific man could not poss1oly
overlook. Thus, as before stated, ail TINS evl-
dencc is worthless from our present stanapoin''
aud We may justly say, also that " caanos a a.
NIT that tue alleged cures arc sufficiently well
anthcuti atcd to be accepted as evidence OF the
yalue of the bluc-glass treatment.
tioiuv now one step further. let us look ut the
character OF this blue light as compared WIN
common sunlight Sunlight Is maae up u t.a1s Meae
this light is passed through prism it Is dccola-
posed and tho different rays are scpaeatea tru1n
each other forming spectrum ~ WIZ tn.', ~
heat rays are most Intense at one emu, anu iiou'
this end We pass through ane nt stt1 iron through
The dark chemical rays. Now, u We taks =
Mere oil bluc glass and examine TINS spectrum
throucht it we lind that we can see only sIl'ele
portion Ut it, viz the blue. 1haSls luz
shuts out entirely the red, and the green, anu
the yellow, and violet, SO that We cauugS o.. see
ti,en while the plue passes through: NOW,
what do we learn from tnlsi lmo
things. First, the blue glass is incapable OF aaa
;nn- INV blue light to the amount always present
in the sunlight; otherwise it would allow us 10
eec some portion Of the spectrum other tnah tue
1,Iue which would appear blue also through tie
lass, Second, that the value OF the olnc SASS ~
treating the dssaIe5 e lies mot in the blue rays
Transmitted, but III the absence OF the rea' anu
yellow and green, aud violet. supmlt, :ue1l, "
any scientific man, or t" any man Mno Is eapa1 nt
bic OF understanding these lacts k.as ~ - nos w
+na h1ue rar that cures disease, tut the Fea, OF
re11oy or green, or violet, that agsrasstes tne 9s
d;sease Such being the case, rs It nnaouoteu!y Es
mist be. 1t docs no more good to expose lous' w.
nr hand or head, or any otneg PIT ~ " ,,ra ns
body to the direct o'ne y to % shut out these
;n;nrIous rays 1rofn the room, since tue olue ray
naR Rnr " harctakcn up much space already, anq
n11st stop here for fear OF beng tgaoas. -
hare only to add that am strong advocate ,e o.
.mn.natts. not ouly Tor inTa{ids, put i95 Int
sun,ot streuaest CONSTITUTIONS The world would not
be unhappy Il ths5s 1saf Tfss becfstea eai With With
shine in our houses, and nc onz tenngi tai1lcs.
plenty " PRor. RoMYS HlrcucocK.
I ACTORS.
To thu Editor ef 7ae 7'4oa"e.
CHICAGO, Feb. 1o.-1 wish to remind our 's olne-
r,oss friends that they ought to base thelr opln-
S, fans m observation and experience. 1ney