The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-04-05
GEN. PLEASONTON's RECIPE.
A Scientific Examination into the Blue Glns.
Remedy.

Much as some people are inclined to
laugh over General Pleasonton and blue
glass, there are principles underlying his
experiments which may some day work
as astounding results as those effected by
the experiments of Franklin, Galvan',
Volta, Watt, or others of notorious fame.
General Pleasonton states that he was
induced to experiment with blue glass
because certain physical facts made him
doubt the commonly accepted idea that
the sun is hot, burning body, emitting
the heat we feel in the sunlight to the
earth. Aeronauts who ascend very
high in balloons complain of intense
cold in the upper regions of our atmos-
phere. The SUBMITS of mountains in
The tropics, directly under the most pow
erful rays of the sun, are covered with
perpetual snow. The ordinary effects
of heat are conduction, radiation, retiec-
ton, refraction and undulation, all of
which tend to reduce the power of heat.
Now, from the fact that on the surface of
the earth more heat is felt and observed
than when we approach nearer the sun,
it is very evident that heat does not
emanate from the sun, because we all
know, that we always feel warmer rs we
approach hot object. Besides, from
our knowledge of the results of combus-
ton, no explanation can be given of the
condition of the sun, as for nearly six
tho lsand years no diminution whatever
can be detected in its brightness, and we
can discern no indication that it will not
continue in the same undiminished
splendor for six thousand years more;
but with burning sun, of the bulk the
sun is known to be and with the great
power it is known to have, an inexhaus-
tible supply of fuel would be needed,
and very perceptible changes would be
discerned. This inexhaustible amount
of fuel is not compatible with a limited
and finite sphere, as the sun, and we
have no evidence that the sun is under
going any decadence. I would suggest
that since blue rays seem to have SC
many beneficial results i'll the nursery,
hospital and hot house, a greater amount
of good results may be obtained il, in.
stead of using flat blue glass, which
merely gives blue tinge to the light,
the glass be clear white, but of prismatiC
form, so as to separate the blue ray en-.
tirely from the other colored rays com
| pOolIlS Il pCdlu VI bSiip. IL "PPc"io w
me that if there be any virtue in Genera
Pleasonton's experiments with blue
glass, the good results would be more
discernible than in commingling blue
rays with the other rays, which is Ger
tainly done when light is allowed to pass
through blue glass. Let beam of ligh
be passed through some convenien
sized prism, and let the blue ray, which
will then be divided from the othe
colors, fall only on the diseased membe
or limb, or on some plant experimental
with, free from all the interfering infu
ences of the other colors. And, in thi
way, experiments may be made with tn
other colors composing beam of light
the effects watched, and perhaps SOM
important results may be obtained whicl
may be usefully applied in the arts
manufactures and various pursuits
Very respectfully,
LAWRENCE S. BENSON.