The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-11-08
AND COLOR AS A MEANS OF
CURING DISEASE.
The Wonders of Light and Color, includ-
ing Chromopathy.

Although little has been said of late about
curing disease by the use of blue glass ac-
cording to the theory of Gen. A. j. Pleas
anton, to explain which we gave so much
space about two years ago the General re-
mains firmly convinced of the truth of his
theory, and has small but devoted band of
followers But DR.. Edwin u. Babbitt, the
author of the twenty-five cent pamphlet of
which the title heads this notice, in his
views Of the effect of light and color on the
human system, has gone far beyond Gen.
Pleasanton, and maintaining that not blue
alone should be used for the cure of dis
ease, but the other coors of the spectrum as
well, has developed his ideas in system
which he calls chromopathy, or healing by
color. Light and color he places among
what he terms the fine forces" which in
cludc electricity, magnetism and the other
forces. His point is that light and color
have curative powers much safer, more en-
during and more penetrating than drugs,
and he here explains the way in which vari-
Gus colors affect various diseases. and cites
n number of cases showing the effect of color
on the human system.
In an Italian lunatic asylum, of which
DIR. Ponza was director, Il mailman was
cured by passing night in n violent col
ored chamber, ana a violent lunatic became
much calmer by passing u day in 4 blue
chamber, while a patient who was morbidly
taciturn, became gay and atflhc after :.
three hours stay i'll Z red chamber, lighted
by red glass, which last may be accounted
for from the fact that Il torpid and mean-
choly condition often results from an excess
of blue venouS blood. In Il French insane
asylum the cases Of violent lunatics were
aggravated by red and yellow light, while
the same ones would become quiet and some
times so to sleep when taken into the blue
room.
But most of tie cases cited by Dr. Bah
bitt are much nearer home n Italy or
France, and record the healing by light and
color of such grave diseases Us rheumatism
slccple>Sness. Among the " wonders" which
he cnunlerates is that hollow convex lens,
made of glass of different colors, may be
filled with water and focused upon differ
ent parts of the body in way which will
produce 4 healing power, while the water
within receives 4 quality, which is said to
act rs a nervinc, laxative or astringent. ac-
cording to the color used, and produce bene-
fetal effects in cases where drugs have en-
tirely failed.
In order to understand thoroughly the
grounds of DR.. Rabbits views, the pam
phlet should be read in connection with
book Published by him last year, entitled
-" Principles of Light and Color an octave
of some $50 pages. To give any adequate
idea of this volume in the brief space at our
disposal would be out of the question. But
two or three of its points may be shortly
alluded to. One of these points is, that all
scientific men have hitherto failed to reach
fundamental principles, one of the causes
of their failure being their ignorance of the
atomic constitution Of things. Correct sci
ence is impossible, says Dr. I5abbitt, without
a knowledge of atoms, and he proceeds to
explain his theory of atoms, which is:
That although the largest atom is incon-
celvably small, 1t is an epitome of the uni
verse, having Il graduation of elliptical and
spiral orbits i'll emulation Of those of the
solar system; having its aXial centre Of
unity around which its external spralS re-
volve rs i principle of diversity having its
positive end ut which rcpulsion rules, and
its negative end at which attraction Is the
dominant principle; constituting the most
marvellous of machines with wheels within
wheels driven by water, even the water of
ether, some Of which is much swifter than
the lightning; resembling also an animal
with veins, arteries, nerves, spine, viscera,
blood and nerve force.
But it is no: visible light and color alone
of which Dr. Rabbit speaks.
In the year 1870 commenced cultivating
in Il dark room and with closed eyes, my in
terror vision, and i'll Il few weeks or months
WAS able to see those glories of light and
color which no tongus can describe or in
tclleCt conceive of, unless they have been
seen. Do You say it was imagination /?
But he mere agnation can come hail Avay
to the reality of these things. The finest
moSsic tintS and the most exquisite works
of art are but trash by the side of these in
terror SplendorS. | have witnessed what
have been called marvellous decorations in
museums and palaces of Europe, but none
of these are fit to be spoken of in compare
son with them peerless colors and aquatic
forms. When | opened my eyes after Sec
ing these celors upon the sky and earth
around me, they seemed almost colorless
and DIM and feeble.
Besides light and color DR.. Rabbit i. an
ardent advocate of mcslnerism and phren-
ology.
A lady of New York became more and
! more melancholy in spite of religious conso-
Inf