Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-11-09


hence. Ill lend nay Paper | wish ]
may be -.
From the Turf Reg. for Sept.
4 REMARKABLE FACT IN NATu-
RAJ HISTORY.
Kaskaskia, Qn.) July 30.
Mr.. EDGTOR,-l have noticed but
one communication in your useful
Magazine, Of which the Turkey Buz-
card Of our country was the subject,
aid that is by Don Juan, in the 4th
number Of your last volume. That
bird is certainly one Of the most useful
we have, and ITS preservation, IN some
Of the Western States, is protected
by legislative enactments. But ! am
not writing now with a view to ampli-
ty its merits, but to state remarkable
TACT in regard to it, which, though
well authenticated, will doubtless stag
ger the credulity Of your readers.
Major John PLIERS, farmer Of
great respectability in this county, in
formed me that while he lived at his
fathers, in Missouri, some ~ years
ago, a buzzard was taken alive, having
|gorged itself over a Carcass to such a
degree as to prevent its f1ying-its
weight being too heavy for its wings;
when he, together with his father,
brother, and neighbor, with a shoema-
ker's awl, ripped open its eyes, 50 that no
part OF the ball Of either remained. The
head of the bird was then put undei
one al its wings, in which position 1t
remained few minutes, when to the
surprise Of all, he gradually removed
his head from his wing, shook himself
as if to arrange his disordercd feathers,
and re-appeared with two good sound
eyes, free fiom blemish, and possessing,
in every Iegree the power Of vision!
The seemingly cruel experiment was
|rcpeated with the same bird on differ
'ent occasions, IN the presence Of differ
|ent persons, fifty times, and always
v 18th ehe son.e result; and not the least
injury appeared to have been occasion
ed by it. After the lapse of a few
months, this bird few away to its ac-
|customcc haunts.
have mentioned this fact to several
persons, practical. IDeducated men,
who, though they had ''never seen the
Ike" expressed no surprise or doubt Of
its trutn, but replied that they always
heard that the dozen from the inside Of
ia buzzard's wing, was a cure for blind
mess in horses; aud one man remarked
that he cured a most inveterate case OF
approaching blindness in himself by it.
lie procured the down, spread it on a
bandage, applied it to his eyes, and re-
covered.
In confederation Of the statement Of
Maj. Pillcrs,-whose deposition Is
|hcreunto <ubjoiDed,-l can state my
own experience on the subject. Trav-
cling some three years since in the
American Bottom, 1 staid part Of a day
with friend OF mine, whose step-son
had the day before taken half-grown
buzzard, disabled from flying by over
eating. So soon rs saw the bird, the
above statement Of Maj. PLIERS came
fresh upon my recollection; and, as !
had ai~ avs been incredclous, ] was de-
|termined to put it to The test Of exPer-
imeEt, and accordingly mentioned the
fact to the young gentleman who had
the bird, and desired him to operate
upon it. Having no sharp pointed in
'strument at hand, other than pin,
with fhat-he pune tured one of its eyes:
the aqueous humor flowed out. a
whiteness like film came over the eve,
and all its lustre instantly disappeared.
The head was then placed under the
wing Of the bird, where it remained a
few minutes only; and when taken out
the eye had resumed its usual brillian-
cy, appearing as sound as the other,
with not a speck upon it. In this ex-
pertinent, It is true, the eye ball was
Tot ripped open-,hat ope ration seem
ing too cruel to have my participation,
as far as it goes, it serves to inspire a
belief in the statement Of Major PIP
lcrs. SIGMA.
Resistance to tyrants, is obedience to
God. "-.Ho.to on .Jefersoa's zeal.