The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-30
EFFECT OF SIGHT uPoN PERSON born

EFFECT OF SIGHT UPON PERSON BORN
BLIND.
Tho following account Is the hlha-
yiour of person born blind upon re-
celving his sight al twenty yours of age,
by the operation ofau occulist, Is from
the American Sentinel.
The operator, Dr. Grant, having OBJ
served the eyes of his patient, and con-
yineing his relatives and friends that it
was highly probable he could remove
the obstacle which prevented his sieht,
all his acquaintance, who had any rurlo-
sity to be present, when one Of tull age
and understanding was to receive new
sense, assembled themselves on this oc-
casion, but were desired to preserve
profound silence in case SIGHT WIS reste-
red, in order to let the patient make lis
own observations without the advantage
OF discovering his friends by Their Vol
oes. Among many others, the mother,
brethren, sister, and a young lazy for
whom he had formed a particular at
tachment, were present The operation
was performed with great skill, 50 that
sight was instantly produced.
When the patient first received the
! dawn OF light, there appeared such an
ecstac5 - b ON, that he seemed
ready 10 swog. way IN the surprise Of
10y and wonder. The surgeon stood
before him with his instrument in his
hands. Ihc patient observed hun from
| head to foot, and then observed himse
as carefully, and comparing the doctor
To himself, he observed both thar hands
were exactly alike, except tie Irslru-
ments, which h0 took for part = tie
Doctors hands. When ne Id conln-
ued in this amazcmont for several nm
utes, bis mother could C. lonEer bear the
agitation of so many pgssion5 as throne-
ed upon her, but te!l upon bis neck, cry
ing out, my son, my son Ihesyoung
gentleman knew her voice, and could
say no more than, oh me are YOU
my dear mother = and tainted. On his
recovering, he heard the voice Of his fe-
male friend, which had surprising eli
feet upon him. Having called her TO
him, he appeared to view her with ad-
mration and delight, and asked her what
had been done TO him ? Whittier, said
he, an | carried Is all this about
me, the thing which | have heard SO OF
ten OF Is tbs seeing 7 Were you
always thus happy, when you we're 50
Ind see each other! Where is Tom,
Yho used to lead me ? IaI me.hinks
=. couie now 60 any where without him.
He .ttcmlt1l & walk alone, hnt see-
ND terrified. When trey w this off
ticulty, they told him thar, TIL he be-
came better acquainted with his being,
lac muSt let the servant still lead hIp.
The boy being presented 10 him, he was
asked what sort Of a creature he took
HIN to DC before he had seen h.m2 h
answered, he believed he vas nc. ~
large as himself, but that he Was IT,
same sort of a creature
The rumour Of this sudden change
made all the noighbors throne to see
him. As h. saw tho crowd gathering he
asked hi physician nov mlny, in all,
were to be seen 2 HIS physician re-
piled, that it would be very proper Tor
him to return to his lato(condition, and
suffer his eyes 10 be covered for a few
days, until they should receive strength,
| or they would loose the power of aff'or-
ding hlm that wonderful transport he
was in. With much reluctance he was
prevailed upon to have his eyes covered
IN which condition they kept him in a
dark room, till it was proper to let the
organ receive its objects without any
further precaution. After several days
II was thought proper to unbnd his
head, and the young lady TO whom he
Was attached was instructed to perform
this kind Office, in ORD. to endear her
still more 10 him, by so interesting Il
circumstance aad th-t she mont mod
crate his ocStaCies, by the persuasion OF
a voice which had 50 much power over
him as hers ever had. When she be-
gan to take off the bandage rom his
eyes, she said, tell mo III What manner
that love you have 1lwayS profssssl for
ne, entered into your heart, tal IS usu-
al admittance is through tie eyes ?
lie answered, deal Lydia, if by
seeing l am no more 10 distinguish the
step of her l love when she approach
es me, to change the sweet ana frequent
pleasure for such IN amazement as |
experienced the Il,tIc line lllely saw !;
or if | am TO nave any thing besides
which may take from me the sense |
have of what appeared most pleasing to
me at that time, (gh-t, apparltion it
seems was you,) t9i' out these eyes be-
fore they lead m. 20 be ungfateiul to
you, or undo myself. wish for them
! bw to sec y0u pluck them from their
sockets, if they are to make me forget
YOU
Lydia, delighted with these assuran-
/ L