BLUE-LIGHT BATHS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 904, 18 May 1877, Page 3

BLUE-LIGHT BATHS.

“Blue-light baths” are, it appears, an infallible remedy for pains in the bones arising from rheumatism or railway collisions, and an interesting account is given by General Pleasonton, in a letter to the Chicago Times, of the immediate benefit he derived by adopting this mode of treatment. In October Inst he met with a serious accident in alighting from a train in Philadelphia. His physician said there had been no fracture of the ribs or bones, but that ho would suffer a long time from the effects of the shock and fall. Liniments and plaisters afforded no relief; he therefore resolved to try a blue-light bath. In his bath-room he had a window with a southern exposure arranged with alternate panes of blue and transparent glass. Uncovering his back, the gallant general sat with his back to the blue and sun (lights which were streaming through the window into the bath-room. As soon as these lights began to fall on his back General Pleasanton felt much relieved, and at the end of half an hour the pains had ceased altogether. Towards evening they returned, but they were much less than before he had taken the blue-light bath, and he was able for the first time to get some sleep during the night. The next day he took another bath of blue and sun lights, which effectually relieved him of all pain, and since then, now about three months ago, he has not had the slightest return of uneasiness, three consecutive sun and blue-light baths have completely removed the effects of his accident. The glass used was of dark blue, the colour being derived from a preparation of cobalt fused with other ingredients, and was imported from France.