, 1881-08-19
THE SCIENCE OF COLOR HEALING.
BY o. B. BIRD, NJ. d.

BY o. B. BIRD, NJ. d.
About 20 years ago Gen. Pleasanton
began and continued a series of expert
ments to determine the effect of blue
light upon animal and vegetable growth.
Many very remarkable results were pro-
duced. By placing few panes of blue
glass among the ordinary glass of hot
houses, the plants were made to grow
with rapidity never before equalled by
any process of plant culture. Animals
also were found to Outstrip all competi-
tors, when placed for a part of each
day under blue glass. Application of
blue light was soon made to human be-
ings, and here, too, in many cases, the
effects far excelled all expectation.
Other scientific men had given the
subject much attention, and there is now
considerable literature published by
them, all confirming the idea that differ
ent colors produce vastly different eff
fects upon human beings, animals and
plants. Most of these researches, how
ever, concern red and blue light, giving
less attention to yellow; still less to mix
lures, and almost none at all to other
cOlors, and the influences which exist in
the solar spectrum beyond the luminous
or visible part.
Dr. Edwin d. Babbitt, of New York,
has gathered all available information on
this subject and woven it into large
and comprehensive system of his own,
giving the effects of all the different
cOlOrs and combinations, as well as the
influence of the dark portions of the
spectrum, and building up a system
which, supported as it is by reliable testi-
mony and experiments, must be regard
ed as very remarkable and worthy the
attention of scientific men in general and
medical men in particular.
1t is my purpose in this paper to give
n very brief outline of the more promi-
nent points of his conclusions. intend
merely to say enough to draw your atten-
tion to the matter, after which you can
give il such attention as seems best to
you. No brief notice could do justice
to the many phases which he presents, so
/ take principally from one or two chap
ters, the ideas and directions which ap-
ply particularly to the effects of different
colors.
l. In general.
2. Upon animal and vegetable growth.
3. Upon diseases.
When the ordinary sunlight is sepa-
rated by a prism, we have the we'll
known rainbow colors, from red to
WHICH, II 10 Ntll hnOHu, also, JlaJ GER
tain influences extend both ways beyond
this visible spectrum. The Investigations
of Babbitt and others have shown that
the invisible spectrum is fully ten times
rs great as the visible part. Babbitt says
that the influences of the visible colors
are repeated in the dark portions, like
the octaves of keys on piano, and in
modified form, and accordingly calls
them octaves of color.
In regard to the heating power of the
different colors, II Is easily tested by
holding a thermometer for given time
in each one. According to Sir III. En-
glefield, II the mercury rises l degree in
given time in blue light, it will rise,
under the same circumstances in green,
4 degrees, in yellow, 6, in red, 10, and in
the dark portion just below the red, Is.
Thus the heating power at one part of
the spectrum is Is times as great as at
another.
The greatest light of the spectrum is
in the yellow, diminishing rapidly both
WAYS.
fhe greatest electricity is near the vio-
let color.
Thus we have three leading qualities
Of sunlight. occupying three different
places on the visible spectrum, heat at
one end, light near the middle, and
electricity at the other end.
These points are matters of science
and one would think, need not have
waited 80 long for practical application.
Heat. We know il stimulating to flesh
and blood Of the body. and light is
stimulating 10 the nerves, while cleo
tricity is just the opposite, cooling and
soothing. Now since these influences.
heat, light and electricity are found in
vsrizbly with certain colors in the spec
trnia, II seems very natural to look for
the effects Of these agencies upon anv
substance which might he placed within
their respective limits. II. therefore, a
person Is cold, let him get into red
light; II he has deficient sensibility of
nerves. give him yellow; and If too ex-
citable or too warm, let him take blue.
Experiments in this direction have
abundantly confirmed the most sau. .uine
expectations indeed have far excelled
them.
Seeing these influences always associ-
Atsd with certain colors in the spectrum,
il required but step to associate them
with the eclors out Of the spectrum, any
where. In this matter, Babbitt has
probably gone far ahead of all others.
We find many common expressions