Edwin D. Babbitt

Edwin Dwight Babbitt (February 1, 1828 – June 28, 1905) was an American physician, Spiritualist, and early promoter of Chromopathy.

Doctor of Magnetics
"...duly qualified to administer sun-baths, water-baths, massage, mental and psychological forces, electricity, suncharges, substances, and other refined natural agencies for upbuilding the system."


 * Doctor of Magnetics, D.M., was a degree awarded by Babbitt's very own New York College of Magnetics, and later College of Fine Forces.

Chromopathy, or the New Science of Healing by Light and Color
"All fine elements upbuild the mental forces also and are more safe, penetrating and enduring than grosser elements."


 * Babbitt's Lamp Shade, described in the ad copy as "The most Simple, Useful and Beautiful thing of the kind ever devised", is a translucent paper covering of a graded blue tint, producing a soft blue light to "soothe and strength the eye and nerves". Lamp Shade Holder extra.
 * The Chromo Lens, described as being "5&frac12; inches in diameter, made in the form of a double convex lens, and being hollow will hold about 8 ounces. These lenses are made of glass of different colors, and when filled with water will concentrate the rays of light into a brilliant focus by holding them from 6 to 11 inches from the object. Not only does each color when focused over different parts of the body which are diseased have a penetrating healing power, but the water inside after being exposed to the sun is found to possess a most refined medical power which is often more potent to heal than any drug."

Other Therapeutic Innovations

 * Babbitt's "Sun and Vapor Bath", patented on 6 August 1889 under US Patent No. 408204, is described as "a solar thermolume, [which has for its object to provide a new and improved solar and heating bath or apparatus for subjecting the body to the action of the sun's rays, steam, or other style of heat, or to the influence of electric light, for the purpose of curing various maladies and increasing physical and mental forces."

Selected Bibliography

 * "The Health Guide: Aiming at a Higher Science of Life and the Life-Forces" (1874)
 * "Vital Magnetism, the Life-Fountain: The Magnetic Theory Defended, and a Better Philosophy of Cure Explained" (1874)
 * "Babbitt's Wonders of Light and Color" (1878) &mdash; a pamphlet summary of the complete Principles
 * "The Principles of Light and Color" (1878)
 * "Religion as Revealed by the Material and Spiritual Universe" (1881)