The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-06-15
Copied from the Providence Republican
Herald of the 9th May, 1886.

DOCT. JOHN WILLIAMS, OCULIST
We are now convinced, by the testimony
given us by numbers of our fellow .ciuzens, who
had been blind or otherwise afflicted in their
eyes, and who are now III attendance on the
gentleman, whose name heads these remarks,
that he mast be a very skilful Oculist, to be of
much essential service as he has been to a
great many, of all ages and of both sexes, within
the few weeks he has resided in this city. We
think he has given demonstIative proof of the
superior innocency and efficacy of the remedies
he applies to the eyes of all his patients. We
were previously partly convinced of these facts
by reading the controversy between him and his
opponents in Boston but moro especially from
the manly, scientific and candid statement
physician of that city.
AS Doct. Williams allows every one to do,
we thought it our duty to co. hear and see for
ourselves, in order that those who read our pa
per may rely on the correctness of our report.
First-We saw an elderly lady, who became
totally blind of one eye, and 80 dim sighted of
the olher, as to render it impossible for her TO
see the face of Mr.. Wilson when in the pulpit
for upwards of twelve months and that she
had been encouraged by him to tly to get good,
as he had done, although 76 years of age. She
declares that she can now distinguish his vene-
rable face, though at good distance, very dis.
tinctly.
Another Lady declared she had been almost
blind upwards of thirty years-sometnes en-
tirely, sometimes was better, and worse-but
she has been moro benefited by Dr. Williams
remedies than by every other means whatever
Another declared she could neper see TO read
any thing by the sight of the right eye, but that
now she declares shc begins TO do with ei.
ther. Another declares she could aeper see to
read small print without glasses suited to elder.
ly persons-that now she begins so TO do
Another Lady nearly 25 years of age, declared
she had been afflicted IA or Is years but during
l3 years very severely in both eyes-during the
four last, she wore from necessity glasses that
magnified, which ultimately distressed her eyes
SO much, she could neither see to do ahy thing
Nth or rithout them she said she could never
obtain any relief from any Physician or Doctor,
TIL she applied TO the above gentleman, who
has done for her vast deal OF good SO much
SO. she begins to enjoy herself as heretofore.-
We could state many other Ladies and Gentle
men who answered to our interrogations, as to
the benefit they had all individually and col.
lectlvely experienced-and almost decidedly
declared that they were satisfied they were do
ing ,oen though some were not SO much ad.
vancod as others.
The limits of our paper will only allow us to
add, that the person who now travels with DR..
w. as attendant and under Secretary, assured
us he had been dreadfuly afflicted or years
j of which he had been under the care of
the Doctors in the Boston Eye Infirmary, with
little benefit. At the close of which ne was
there informed, that the sight ef his right eye
was lost, without any hope of recoveiy-that
he addressed to DIR. w. who received him at
Boston, amongst vast numbers of others, and
he now sees better with both eyes.
The last we shall now name is ar. Michael
Laughlin, of Main-stroet, in this city, who to-
tally lost the sight of one and almost the sight
of the other eye, for several months, although
he had consulted in vain, as he states, several
very deservedly celebrated Doctors in this City.
He declared also that not finding relief, lie was
conducted by his wife to Mr.. Williams, at Bos-
ton, was supplied by him with the means of
cure, and within the short space of three
weeks, he could see with both eyes The re.
medies were applied to mis- eyes by his wife, here
in Providence. He said he thought it his duty
to come TO our Office, and make his case public
at his o,on expense, and to pay us for the in.
sertion, out ofgratitude to the Doctor, although
he had paid him, before hand, whatever he
demanded. The old proverb is - that facts are
stubborn Mings,"-and difficult to be converted
into falsehoods,