The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-03-20


During the past year probably no
subject has engrossed the attention OF
medical aud scientific men OF this
country, so much as "blue glass" 1t
was first presented to the public by
Gen. A. j. Pleasanton OF Philadelphia,
in book entitled "Blue and sunlight:
their influence upon life and disease"
The eastern press showered storm OF
criticisms on the ideas advanced, but
the experiments made by Gen. Pleas
anton previous to the publication Of
his book, and since made by those who
have tested his theories, leave little
room 20 doubt that there is genuine
merit in blue glass and sunlight, for
the cure and prevention OF disease.
Gen. Pleasanton is an elder brother
Of the cavalry leader Pleasanton, and
gained his title from being briga-
der general of Pennsylvania MALTA.
He lives in Philadelphia, is q lawyer
OF prominence. and q gentleman OF
wealth and culture.
Previous TO 1860, experiments in
blue rays of the suns light had greater
chemical powers than any OF the others
developed q great amount of heat, and
was especially stimulating to vegeta-
ton. Experiments had not been ex.
tensive enough to prove its beneficial
effects, and it was left with Gen. Pleas
anton TO work out practical results.
On farm Just outside the city he
built large grapery, covered il with
glass, every eighth row Of which was
blue. BY this arrangement the sun
during the course Of the day cast a
blue ray Of light on every plant and
leaf within the grapery. In April, lS-
81, he set out 20 varieties OF grape
vines in his grapery, the cuttings be-
ing year old, the size Of a pipe-stem,
and cut to the ground. The vines
soon began to show q most vigorous
growth, and in few weeks the grspery
was filed with vines and foliage. In
FIVE months after the setting il was
found that the vines had grown 45 feet
| in length and were an inch in liameter
above the ground. fhe U Et season
the vines made unusual RrJwth and
bore l, 200 pounds ~ iue;Jus fruit.
From that day TO this the vines have
kept up the same vigorous growth, be-
ing entirely free from disease and in
sects, and producing most prolifically.
After so successful an experiment
with vegetable life, he tried blue light
upon animals. He first experimental
with litter Of pigs, placed in o pen,
lighted by blue and plain glass in equal
proportions. The animals gained won
derfully in weight, size, and strength.
and in few months were found to
weigh very much more than a similar
litter raised in the usual way. Subse-
quent experiments on animals resulted
favorably, and now all his cattle are
raised under blue glass, showing great
vigor and surprising precocity.
1t is claimed that the effects on sick
people have been equally wonderful.
The wife Of DIR. Beckwith was suffering
from nervous irritation and exhaustion,
which resulted in severe neuralgia and
rheumatic pains depriying her of sleep
and appetite for food, producing great
debility aud wasting away OF the body.
DR.. Beckwith arranged one sash OF
window with alternate panes of blue
and plain glass. His wife then expos
ed portions Of her body which were af-
fected by neuralgia to the effect Of the
associated rays Of blue glass. In three
minutes she experienced relief and in
ten minutes the pains disappeared. In
three weeks she was restored 10 her
normal condition. This lady had been
treated by the highest medical skill in
New York and Philadelphia. DIR.
Beckwith says: "From my observa-
tions Of the blue sunlight upon my
wife, regard il as the greatest stimu-
liant and most powerful tonic that i
know Of in medicines. IL will be in
valuable in typhoid cases, cases Of de-
bility, nervous depression, and the
like"
Many experiments were made on
cases Of rheumatism, neuralgia, bleed.
ing at the lungs. spinal meningitis. and
on bald heads, all with the most favor
able results. The glass used is darh
! purplish blue.
Gen. Pleasanton gives the following
explanation OF the effect Of blue light
Sunlight passes through plain
transparent glass with very slight oh.
: struction, as il does through the at
mosphere and ether OF space; il produ
/ ces no heat. for the glass remains
: as cold as the outside aimospher,
while the sunlight passes through il
When, however, the adjoining sunligh
moving with the same velocity as tn,
frstmentioned. viz: ls6, 900 miles pc
second, falls upon the blue papes o
glass, six Of the seven primary rays o
/. sunlight are suddenly arrested by IL
!. only the blue ray being permitted tc
; pass through IL into the apartment
}. The sudden stoppage OF these six ray
OF light, with this enormous velocity
produces friction; this friction evolve
. negative electricity, which is the elec
I tricity Of sunlight passing through tb
. cold ether OF space and our cold nj
mosphere, both OF which, being nega
lively electrified, impart their electric
= ity by induction TO the rays Of sunligh
as they pass. The blue glass is oppo
!. sitely electrified. When the opposit
electricities, thus brought together
meet al the surface Of the glass, thei
conjunction evolves heat and magne,
ism; the heat expands the molecules {
the glass, aud current Of electro MAG
!, netism passes into the room, impnrtin
vitality and strength 10 any animal Q
vegetable life within H. When the a
po.x.hoxo ~ tho x<<c. Iocouros th~