Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-01-16
From the American Sentinel.
HIGHLY INTERESTING FACT.

1
Messrs. Frick & Coin my late re.
searches for information, / have not met
with any article which has 50 deeply to-
|terested my mind, as the following ac.
count Of the behavior Of person born
blind, upon receiving his sight at twenty
years of age, by the operation of an Ocu-
list. LEcToR.
The operator, DR.. Grant, having OBJ.
served the eyes Of his patient, aud con-
WINGED his relatives aud friends, that il
was highly probable he could remove the
obstacle which prevented bis sight, all his
acquaintance, who had any curiosity to
be present, when one Of full age aud IN
derslanding was to receive new sense,
assembled themselves on this occasion, but
we're desired 10 observe profound silence
10 case sight was restored, in order to let
the patient make his own observations,
without the advantage Of discovering his
lfrends by their voices. Among many
others, the mother, brethren, sisters aud a
young lady for whom he had formed a
lparticular attachment, were present.. The
loperatioa was performed Nth great sk Ill
$50 that sight was instantly produced.
When the patient first received the
dawn Of light there appeared such an ex-
Itacy in bis action, that he seemed ready
to swoon away ia the surprise of joy and
wonder. The surgeon stood before him
with his instruments in bis hands. The
|patient observed him from head to foot,
and then surveyed himself as GRATEFULLY,
aud comparing the doctor to himself, be
lobserved, both their hands were exactly
lalike, except the instruments, which he
took for part Of the doctors hands. When
he had continued in this amazement for
several minutes, his mother could no lon
ger bear the agitation Of SO many passions
as thronged upon her, but fell upon his
meek, crying out " my son, my son p
1.-The young gentleman knew her voice,
land could say no more than, g oh me
lare you my dear mother 20 and tainted
On his recovery, he heard the voice Of
Ibis dear female friend, which had sur.
prising effect upon him. Having called
lher to him, he appeared to view her with
Admiration and delight; and then asked
lher what had been done 10 him Width
ler, said he, am carried? Is ali this a.
bout me, the thing which I have heard SC
often Of? is THIS SEEING I? Were
lyou always thus happy, when you said
you were glad 70 see each other? Where
is Tom who used to lead me But, me
thinks, j could now 60 any where without
him. He attempted to walk alone, bn
lseemed terrified. When they saw hi
difficulty, they told hin, that until liz
became better acquainted with his new
being he must let the servants still lea6
him. The boy being presented TO him
be was asked what sort Of creature he
took Tom to be before he had seen him
He answered, " he believed ne was no.
so large as himself, but that he was the
same sort OF creature"
/ The rumor of this sudden change made
1 all the neighbors tIlrong to see him. Al
he saw the crowd gathering, be asked hi
physician " how many there were ia al
to be seenm His physician replied, that it
would be very proper for him TO return
to his late condition, and suffer his eye
TO be covered for few days, until they
should receive strength, for he might vel
remember that by degrees he had, by liitls
and little, come to the strength he had a
present, in bis ability of walking, moving
| &c. and that it was the same thing witt
bis eyes, which, he said, would loose ths
power of continuing to him that wonder
ful transport he was now 10, except ht
would be con,ented to lay aside the usl
of them, until they became strong enough
to bear the light without SO much feeIin:
as he underwent at present. With muci