St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-02-23
The Blue Glass Cure.
NEW MEDICAL AGENT AND A NEW
TRAFFIC.

TRAFFIC.
From the New York Evening Postl
Gen. Pleasanton's book on the re-
markable medical qualities of sunlight
thrown through blue glass has been
widely read since its publication, and
has resulted i'll many experiments with
no little success. 1t is understood that
Gen. Pleasanton was the first to dis
cover the good effect of blue light upon
the nervous system of man and other
creatures, but his book was the first
popular writing upon that subject, if it
was not indeed, the first published
treatise upon it of any kind. DR.. Bay
ard of Fortieth street, in this city, has
tor long time past been experiment
ing npon the effects of blue light in
sick rooms, and lately, if we are not
mistaken, he has frequently treated
patients i'll this way and cured them.
As to the exact effect of the blue
light the opinions of scientific persons
differ, and it is too early now to dis
cuss the subject from Il scientific point
of view. 1t is certain that many ply
sicians in this city and elsewhere are
now giving their attention to this sub
iect, and that the demand for blue
glass is increasing every day. Indeed
there appears to be quite little "cor-
ner" in the blue glass market. One OF
the Chicago hospitals has some of its
wards fitted up with blue glass window
panes and shipment of 100 cases
was made only the other day from New
| York to that city, where the physicians
have been studying the effect of blue
light for some time past. The matter
is under discussion also in the New
York hospitals.
Sunlight passes directly through the
colorlesS glass, having no effect what
ever upon it, but blue glass catches
and retains heat, and room lighted
10y blue panes is said to be warmer
than one with windows of ordinary
glass. Gen. Pleasanton thinks that the
i blue light imparts curative qualities 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 white, as should always he the
case be it remembered, in the windows
of the aquarium on Broadway, and il
is said that the fishes upon whose tanks
this light falls directly are livelier and
and in better health than others. Ger
tainly, as Prof. Butler, whose expert
ence with fish in general and aquaria
in particular has been extensive, said
to reporter of the Evening Post, the
fishes at this aquarium have been kept
in better health than has ever been the
case in this city before. An enthusi,
astic uphOlder of the Pleasanton theory
says that the late lamented whale
would not have lived for two days after
his arrival in New York, had it moi
been for the blue light; and it is un.
derstood that he attributes to the same
cause the absurd satisfaction displayed
at all times by the living hippopOt
anus.
That blue glass proved to be suita
ble agent in the raising of litter Of
motherless pigs has been asserted by
PleasantOn and gardeners are begin
ming to study the advantages of blue
glass in lighthouses. In regard to thu
effect upon the human being, we ar,
told that in diseases of the eye it i
very useful, which appears to be nat
ural. 1t is also used for all nervous
diseases, including neuralgia and ner,
vous headache. Gen. Pleasanton tell
in letter to Chicago newspaper, how
he cured himself by a sun bath in /;
blue-lighted room from the effects of /;
severe fall from his carriage; and how
at the same time he converted his ply
sician so that now he acknowledges tb'
merits of blue glass.
Of course the blue glass excitemen
will be a popular subject for newspape
ridicule. The gentleman who proposes
to have pane set in the top of hi
head to cure badness, and the othel
Il gentleman who has had pain there 70
years and wishes to have it removed
have been heard of form Newport
Meanwhile people are becoming mor
interested in the subject every day
dealers are happy, and there is SOM
thing new to talk about which appear
to have in it more substance and interes
than many other subjects of popula
|, conversation.