The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-22 00:00:00

BLINDNESS AND LUNACY.

A highly interesting paper was read at the last
sitting of the French Academy of Medicine of Paris,
by Dr. Bouisson, Physician to the Hospital of St.
Eloi, of Montpellier, on a curious case of blindness
and lunacy in the same individual, in which the
cure of the former infirmity had brought on the
cure of the latter. About a year ago a man of
about 50, a native of the department of the Gard,
was brought to the hospital above mentioned. His
eyes, upon examination, were found to be both
affected with cataract, and his incoherent answers to
the questions addressed to him sufficiently revealed
his state of mind. An operation being resolved
upon, Dr. Bouisson ordered the patient to be chloro-
formed ; but, although he was thus effectually
sent to sleep, the danger of his awaking during
the operation, and frustrating the hopes of the sur-
geon by some act of insubordination, which in a
lunatic might be expected, induced Dr. Bouisson
to have him secured with a strait-waistcoat—a
precaution which was continued even after the
operation had been successfully performed, an at-
tendant being specially entrusted with the care of
the lunatic, with orders to apply compresses steeped
in cold water on his eyes from time to time. On
the tenth day, the patient, who until then had not
had the slightest idea of what had been done, was
allowed to see the light. A stupid smile gleamed
on his face for an instant, and he exclaimed—" I
can see !" These were the first coherent words he
had uttered since his arrival at the hospital. He
was now daily subjected to those trials which were
requisite to ascertain the complete success of the
operation. With his recognition of the objects
around him, his mental faculties seemed also gra-
dually to revive. First he named the things he
wanted, and stretched out his hands for them ;
then he began to appreciate distances and dimen-
sions correctly ; his memory returned next with
considerable rapidity ; and in the course of a few
days intellectual spontaneousness began to mani-
fest itself. He asked for more food, wanted to
get up from his bed, and desired to be allowed
to go home, which boon, however, was refused.
His ideas soon became clearer, his speech more
intelligible, and his recollections of the time
when he could see, before he was attacked with
cataract, became brighter. Vain endeavours,
nevertheless, were made to ascertain the period
when he lost his reason ; all he could state was that
he had been blind three years. After a stay of six
weeks at the hospital, he returned home an altered
man, enjoying both his eyesight and intellectual
faculties.

THE NEW RECORDER OF SOUTHAMPTON.—On
Friday last Southampton sessions were held. The pH •
sonars were tried by W. M. Cooke, Esq., of the Western
Circuit, the new Recorder. According to ancient usage the
latter was accompanied from the Audit-house to the Bar
Gate, where the sessions are held, by the mayor as corpo •
ration in their robes of office, preceded by trumpeters. In
till evening his worship, F. Perkins, Esq., gave a grand
banquet al the Dclphin Hotel to the Recorder, magistrates,
members of the bar, and some of the principal inhabitants
of the town.
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TILE LATE 211NISTERIAL CRISIS nil - NAPLES.

A letter from Naples, in the Debats, gives some
details of the circumstances which preceded the
late ministerial crisis in that city :
" Crispi had the impertinence to pronounce the
pro-Dictator's programme useless, and that of the
Ministry, drawn up on the same plan, inoppor-
tune. When Conforti read this prospectus of
the Government in the Council, Crispi rejected
it. ' Not to accept this programme,' exclaimed
the Marquis de Pallavicino, who presided at the
council, a man must be either a fool, a block-
head, or a rogue.' Crispi protested loudly against
this last word, but the marquis would not with-
draw it. Conforti said nothing, but left the pro-
Dictator alone to defend the policy of immediate
annexation. Crispi, on his side, would not give
way. The marquis then determined to have the
question definitively decided by Garibaldi him-
self. Ah !ah !' cried Garibaldi, who was in
bed at the time, on seeing Pallavicino appear
before him somewhat paler than usual, 'so we
have a storm. Come, sit down on my bed,
George, and frankly tell me all about it. With-
out further entreaty, the Marquis began to de-
scribe in the most sombre colours the situation
of the country, the consequences of the Dictator's
ever-changing policy, the political follies and in-
trigues of his friends. Garibaldi heard him for
about twenty minutes without a word, then .he
exclaimed, Constitute Italy, George, and consider
me as the meanest of her sons !' He had already
two days before written to Victor Emmanuel a
letter which has been repeated to me from me-
mory, and it concluded as follows Sire—As
soon as your Majesty arrives within 20 miles of
my camp, I pray your Majesty to inform me, that
I may go and lay at your Majesty's feet the libe-
rated provinces, and place myself at your Majes-
ty's orders.' He consequently gave the Marquis
full powers, and thus divested himself of his civil
dictatorship without even the semblance of regret.
He signed whatever Pallavicino wished without
reading or asking a question ; in fact he consented
to everything. He thus saved the country; as he
broke the trammels of the intriguers who had
for a moment circumvented him. Pallavicino re-
turned to Naples the same evening, quite ra-
diant, and taking a pen, he wrote the Plebiscite
for immediate annexation, even before he knew
anything of Count Cavour's speech. The Plebis-
cite was discussed yesterday in the Council of
Ministers. Those who voted for immediate annex-
ation were—Pallavicino, Conforti, and Coppola ;
and those against it, Crispi, Auguissola, and Guira.
The document appeared in the official journal last
eight. At the same time the office of secretary to
the Dictatorship was abolished, and Crispi may re-
turn to Sicily, for at Naples he is neither loved nor
esteemed. All the committees throughout the king-
dom have been suppressed. The Neapolitan diplo•
matic body, as well as the consulates, have been
abolished, and their powers delegated to the ambas-
sadors and consuls of Sardinia. Several governors of
provinces have been recalled, and their attributions
limited to those of the old intendants. Part of Ber-
tani's decrees will be annulled. The office of Finance
Minister is given to Baron Coppola, who was Prefect
of the Basilicata in 1848, afterwards a refugee—a
very moderate man, but unknown as a financier. De
Sanctis has not accepted the office of Minister of
Public Instruction, and is gone with the Neapolitan
deputation sent to request Victor Emmanuel to
proceed to Naples. Mazzini has been informed
that he may stay at Naples if he pleases, as his con-
duct is now an affair for the police. General Turr
has been appointed to the military command of
Naples. The health of this gallant Hungarian is
in a very delicate state."