bear young when 18 months old. A weak
child, weighing but 31/2 lbs. at birth, weighed at the end of four
months 22 lbs.--the light in this instance having come through blue
curtains. Two major-generals with rheumatism were cured in three days.
A young lady whose hair had come out regained her tresses; and to
these must be added various other cures of severe ailments which we
have not space here to recapitulate. The above are the alleged facts;
and we propose to consider the supposed discovery in the light of
previous investigations.

With reference to the theories of electricity, etc., advanced by
General Pleasonton to account for his phenomena, their absurdity is so
complete that we shall waste no time over them. The important question
in the matter, and the only one in which the public is interested, is
whether or not blue glass is capable of producing all or any of the
results imputed to its use. In order to clear the way for the
examination of the investigations, the records of which we have
carefully collected, let us consider first those which General
Pleasonton quotes in support of his views. These are (1) Seunebier's
researches, which go to show that the blue and violet rays are the
most active in determining the decomposition of carbonic acid in
plants, and (2) experiments of Dr. Morichini, repeated by Carpa and
Ridolfi, proving that violet rays magnetized a small needle. The first
statement has been totally disproved. Dr. Von Bezold, in his recent
work on color, states that "the chemical processes in plants, as far
as they are dependent upon light, are principally caused by the rays
of medium and of lower refrangibility. The development of the green
color of the chlorophyll, the decomposition of carbonic acid, as well
as the formation of starch, etc., in the grains of the chlorophyll,
are induced by the red, green, and orange rays." The blue, violet, and
ultra violet rays, the same authority goes onto explain, influence
"the rapidity of growth, compel the so-called zooespores to move in
certain directions, and alter the positions of leaves, etc." In
confirmation of this, we have Sach's experiments in 1872, which show
that light, transmitted through the yellow solution of potassium
chromate, enables green leaves to decompose over 88 per cent. of
carbonic acid; while that passed through blue ammonia copper oxide
decomposes less than 8 per cent. This proves the superiority of the
yellow ray to decompose carbonic