New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-22
LIGHT RAYS FOR TUBERCULOSIS.
TREATMENT AT THE CONGRESS
IN THIS CITY.

The Congress of tuberculosis met in joint session
with the Medico-Legal Society last night at the
Hotel St. Andrew. Seventy-second-st. and Broad
way. The proceedings opened with dinner. The
organization was effected and the subsequent dis
cussion was held in the dining room. The congress
will be in session all to-day in the Palm Gardens
OF the ST. Andrew, where papers will be presented
upon the different forms of tuberculosis ard differ
ent methods for its treatment.
These temporary officers were chosen 10 serve
until permanent officers elected: Honorary
president, DR.. Robert BarthaIow, of Philadelphia
president. Dr. A n. Bell. of Brooklyn: vice-presi-
dents DR. II. B. Baker, OF Michigan; DR.. c. X
Cole. of Helena, Mont. DR.. E. Chancellor. of ST.
Louis; Dr.. T. D. Crothers, of Hartford, Conn; Dr.
J. Deand, of Philadelphia; DR. Charles Denison. of
Denver; DIR. f. A. Leseman, of Chicago; Dr. d. s
Moore of Jamestown n. D.; DR.. a. E. Osborne. Of
Glen Ellen. Cal; DR.. o. V. B. Wingate, of Mil
waukee; DR.. A r. GrinneH. of Burlington Vt;
DR. Ralcey Hustled Bell, of ST. Louis and W. s.
Gotthei Of New-York DR.. Denison was chosen
secretary and treasurer.
Clark Bell, president of the Medico-LegaI Society
welcomed the congress TO the city. DR.. Baker re-
sponded for the Congress. and then DR.. j. Mount
Bleyer. under the caption, Special Hospitals and
sanitarums' read paper "Colored Rays of
Light and Their Importance in the Treatment OF
tuberculosis" The paper illustrated with
periments with lights and R6ntgen rays. Half
a dozen physicians Joined in the discussion that
followed.
DR.. Bleyer said among other things:
The subject Of light rays has Of late attracted
such attention in the medical world that. to the
thinking, up-to-date physician Is felt for a
simple, though scientific, explanation of the more
salient points Of the laws of light in operation We
have in light rays therapeutic agent that has
been underestmated II not altogether lost sight of
and neglected to n great measure. The few
thoughful men who have Strven to advance the
title OF light rays in this direction have been scofTed
at Their labors have not been accorded respect
tHl consideration. simply because the average
therdptst VIII adopt nothing that cannot be dem
onStrated in the glass receiver of his laboratory
the reaction OF which he cannot see going be-
determine. In the light of recent observations we
are slowly arriving at the realization that some
OF our principles of therapeutics must soon change
that their Waterloo is impending
1 nave found that not all the rays of the spec
tfum are able to exert an influence upon the direc-
uon or the movement of the spores. 1t being only
those winch are strongly refraCted (blue indigo
ana yi9e0 that produce stimula ton. Light acts
~, stimulus to animal and plant protoplasm ft
INDUCES characteristic changes of form in Individual
cells ana causes movements in fixed directions in
Tee living unicellular organisms. "
DR.. Bleyer told of experiments made on patients
suffering from all forms of tuberculosis and h,Dg
disease with satisfactory results and argued thar
In the practical application OF his theory would ba
round certain cure for those diseases