Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-04-07
RESTORATION OF SIGHT.

The Boston Traveller gives some interest,"
ing accounts of experiments made by Pro-
fessor Bronson, in removing imperfections of
sight, produced by age, or malformation.-
According 10 the Traveller, old people have
been enabled TO lay aside their spectacles,
and people of all ages who suffered from
short sight, have been entirely cured. The
Traveller says that Professor Bonson is the
author Of these discoveries, and that his prac-
iice consists entirely in manipulation Pro-
fessor Bronson is well known in this and 9th.
er cities, as a lecturer upon eloculion, and
has opened an office in New York, for medi-
cal practice upon the eye, in which we wish
him success.
But while giving credit to Professor Bron-
son for his efforts in doing good, and while
admitting that his method of treating the eye
is original with himself, we do not admi, tha,
he was the first dscoverer The very treat
ment ascribed to him for restoring decayed
sight, was discovered long ago by John Quin-
cy Adams, and successfully practised on him.
self. This is not the only case in which sci
entific men have made the same discovery,
without any communication with each other.
DR.. franklin in Philadelphia, and DR.. In
genhouse in ST. Petersburg, without any
knowledge Of each other, made simultaneous
discoveries in electricity. Therefore we do
not wonder at Professor Bronson's discovery
concerning the eyes, without any hint from
Mr.. Adams, who had long previously made
the same discovery. Mr.. Adams did not
communicate his discovery to the world, but
mentioned ii incidentally, and as of no great
importance, to two or three friends in The
course of his life. We certainly wonder at
him and them, for not perceiving its general
utility, Mr.. Adams never wore spectacles
his sight enduring 10 the last. Yet those
who remember him in private conversation,
may remember his habit, while listening, of
manipulating his eyes with his fingers, BY
passing them gently over the surface, from
the external to the internal angle
The decay of sight that is remedied by
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absorption of the humors, or relaxation of the
coats, rendering the transparent cornea less
convex. The manipulation, or gentle pres
sure, perhaps by stimulating the coats, and
thereby causing them TO contract, restores the
original conveXity, and consequently the Or
iginal perfection of sight. In rubbing or wi
ping the eyes, we naturally pass the hand or
towel over the convex surface, from the in.
iernal to the external angle This sdiminishes
the convexity, and thus promotes the decay
Of sight, and therefore should be carefully
avoided. The pressure, whether in wiping
or manipulating, should proceed, in eyes Or
iginally perfect, from the external TO The in
ternal angle. Short sight, remedled by con-
eaue glasses, is caused by undue eonrerity of
the external cornea, whether congenital or
caused by disease. In this case all wiping,
rubbing or manipulation should proceed from
the internal to the external angle, the reverse
OF the motion necessary in the case first mem
toned. In manipulation, care must be Ia
ken against pressure too hard, or continued
TOO long, which may develope inflammation,