Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-08-04
(rrom the Literary Gazette, june I'D
THE CURE BLlN ID N f SIS

of its existence, and during period OF jumps
alleled cultivation and progress of almost G
cry science, to lend its best influence tOwaI
the knowledge and success of discovcri
which promised to promote the welI-beng I
mankind. Among other efforts of this descril
ton, the cure for stammering, by MIR. Hun
obtained its warnest commcndauons; and tn
result has at length arrived when, aftera yer,
few years struggle, amid all the conflictin,
claims to mastery over this afflictioII, the sim
pie aud natural system of that gentleman ha
) been called into full practice; and his pupill
, from every part of the kingdom can bear rir0
roce testimony to the entire efficacy of his in
struclions in removing theimpcdimcnts to per-
feet speech.
To have a faculty improved or restored is
of inaPprecable value to mani, and especially
in all the principal profession and pursuits Of
civilized life; but even throughout all the grades
OF society the most important events may
hinge upon the possession or non possession
OF some common human power. Thus, the
other day, the very preservation of our young
and interesting Queen did, to certain extent,
depend ON the want of ready utterance in the
boy Pearson, when agitated by the threatened
act of the n,>yssn!. And this has offered
remarkable illustration of the nature Of the
affection ITSELF and of the excellence Of Mr..
| Hunts practice. Young Pearson has attend
ed his lessons since the event alluded to; and
with such effect that, when produced to give
evidence OH the trial Of Francis, we have no
doubt in saving he will be able to utter his tes-
tiihQny Without the slightest hesitation of any
kind, or remaining disorder in the organs Of
specch.f
fact like This is preferable to volumes of
testimonials. however high, and of arguments,
however well supported; but we have only
adduccd 1t here for the sake of Introducing to
notice another momcntous discovery, touching
another seifsc, wifi, experiments in which we
last week felt it to be our duty TO make our
selves acquainted.
Three weeks ago, Literary Gazette, 1927
i'll notice 10 correspondents, we mentioned
that we had ''heard of Mr.. (Dr.) TurnbulEs
cure of blindness by the fumes of prussic acid,
but had no no personal knowledge pc nc. pro
cess" which notice Immediately procured us
an invitation from DR.. Turnbull to examine
the cases Of several patients, from five to six
to above twenty years Of age, who were .un-
der his treatment for this sad calamity. We
accordingly attended, and it is not easy to ex-
press our establishment and qualification ut
what we saw. The various stages Of cure,
advanced in our presence, by the simple appli-
cation, for about half a minute, or until a little
warmth was lelt by the patient, of the vapouE
of hydrocyanic acid, in small Phiaf, held UP
to the eye, with an aperture fitting the form Of
that organ; the various nature of the diseases
so assaied-opacities of the corna, infamma-
ton, cataract, amaruross, irritis, SC. Sc; the
various stages OF relief which the patients had
reached, with sometimes one eye opened TO
sight and pieasurable to look upon, and the
other left nearly blind and i'm its pristine de-
iormiy, to show what had been achieved the
various appearance oflilns removing, cataracts
breaking up, and being gradually feabsorbed,
pupils being redeVelopcd, and other altogether
extraordinary symptoms of remedy and regen-
Grafton, flct rs, we repeat, with wonder and
delight.
One child had been totally blind from six
days old; had been taught to read on the
raised letters by the humane system taught
III the blind school ; but it could now see
these letters, and it was curious phenomc-
non to behod-could equally read them by
touch and by sight The only difference was
singular alteration in the tone of voice and
pronunciation when reading in two ways
that by the eye being far more natural,
and like the usual reading TO which we are
accustomed, than the other, which was monot7
onons, and with an air of difficulty even amid
the singular readiness acquired by this meth
cd.
Other cases there were Of the wonderful
production of the power of vision TO those
born blind; but we select the case Of girl
twenty-five years of age, and therefore fully
capable to comprehend and to answer any
question put to her. I'm utter darkness for
thirteen years previous to her coming under
DIR. Turnbull's treatment, she now can see her
way, and can distinguish countcnances and
colors.
II possible, more marked instance Of The
efficacy OF the curative process was exhibited
III young man, who had worked for many
years at book-binding. inflammation, and sub
sequent eminent treatment, lanciDg, Sc, had
rendered him so totally blind, that for some
time before, and during the first two or three
attendances for the application of the prussic
acid yapor, ne was obliged TO he led. But
he told us that now lie could safely dispense
with such aid, and readily discern objects
Soon, I'VE have little doubt, he will be restored
to his calling and TO independence. !,
Another most interesting example Of the
value oil tins discovery was that of u gentle
man from Canada.--IIe had been afflicted in
one eye with cataract and blintluess, for ten
years: His remark to lis was, that when he
first came TO England he could not. with the
diseased eye, distinguish COW from a horse
lie now with it could mark. and recognise
countcnanccs, and could appreciate the visible
/ distinctions ofasoverclgn and shilling. This
he did in Our presence, but mitch more readily
alter The vappr of the highly concentrated
| acid had IiI.teI tI,o ,>,,.:t