Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-25


batteries, but it is probable they will
only be taken by mutiny or famine
Rodil has placed himself in situation
where his ruin seems inevitable. Gen.
Bolivar toasted him on board the fri
gate, praising his valor and persever.
ance to take course in which his des-
truction was inevitable.
Had General Washington, departing from
that splendid dignity of character which we
have always considered as the necessary &C
compartments of such aman, twirled away in
waltz after supper, it would have presented
to the eyes of Americans spectacle ludicrous
in the extreme, if their modification did not
prevent them from enjoying it /; but in the
South, the different manners of the inhabit.
ants, not only authorize, but render gratifying,
the easy familiarity and mirth of the Liberator
of Peru. Bali. Fed. Gazette.
We are every day hearing of some
new effort of surgical skill; what would
once have been considered miracle, is
now an affair ofevery day occurrence.
We have often heard it remarked by
foreigners, Italians in particular, that
our physicians were far inferior to
those of Europe, and our surgeons as
far superior. The following account
from the "Reading Chronicle of the
Times" will certainly set the last part
Of the assertion in creditable light.
United States Gazette.
SURGICAL OPERATION.
On the first. of this month we wit
messed, in common with several other
spectators, at Mr.. Abraham Levan's Ia
vern, in this borough, an operation for
blindness, with result so brilliant, and
in a case so interesting, that we cannot
deny ourselves the pleasure of laying it
before our readers. The subject was a
boy, aged about years, from remote
part of this county, and a son of res
pectable farmer. From the child's mo-
Their, who was present, we learned,
that at the age of or 7 months, when
children usually begin to direct their
hands to different objects, it was first
observed that the boy was blind. Be-
lieying the case incurable, his parents
were resigned to his fate. A few weeks
ago, however, a medical gentleman,
who had lately settled in the neighbor-
hood, pronounced the case Congenital
Cataract, and advised the parents of the
child to place him under the care of
DR.. Isaac Hester, of Reading, who, he
told them, had repeatedly operated in
similar cases with success. They did
so, and were not disappointed. When
we saw the patient, the Doctor had al
ready completely succeeded in impart-
ing vision to one of the eyes, on which
he had operated days before. The ef-
feet of the operation we witnessed, like
that Of the other eye, as related by the
mother, was like enchantment. To see
fellow being excluded from the world
as it were, by state Of total blindness,
suddenly brought to light, to the en-
joyment of vision, by skilful direction
of the human hand, was a spectacle
truly delightful.
1t was interesting to observe, when
the bandage was removed, on the third
day after the operation, the readiness
with which the little fellow distinguish
ed objects and colors, and his igno-
rance, at the same time, of their names
which he had, of course, yet to learn.
The only object he recognized Of many
that were presented to him, was pair
Of scissors, whose name he recollected,
it should seem, by reason of their pc
culiar form, having been accustomed
often TO amuse himself with this instru-
ment, while in a state of blindness"