The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-05-15
THE BLIND MADE TO SEE BY MESMER
ISM

We copy the following strange but well authen.
cated relation OF the effect of Mesmerism on
Blind Woman, from London letter in the New
York Commercial -
A case of mesmersm has been published IN
this months number OF quarterly i, urEal called
the ZOiSt, which has resulted in the restoration
TO sight OF person who had been blind for 26
years The patient was poor woman, As wears
OF age, and the mesmerser was the wife of one
who is "among the very highest in virtue, talent
and rank in our country" but who, although
willing, as well as her husband to verify the
facts to all scientific persons who may care about
the subject, avoids the needless notoriety of an
pearing in print. The leading points are simply
as tollows:-The patient became blind four months
after the birth of her first child when she was 10
years old. She could with one eye discern light
IRON darkness, but nothing more. The disease
was opacity oil the cornea. A few years after
she became blind. She underwent three opera
tons, on one OF which occasions she saw flash
OF light. When the last operation was perform
ed, which she thinks was about 20 years ago, the
surgeon advised her never TO undergo another,
Tor her sight was quite gone. In appearance the
eyes were covered with thick, Opaque, greyish
white substance, but in one eve there was a small
spot less Opaque, through which, when she held
her head in particular direction, she could dis
Germ the difference between light and darkness
She was hrst subjected TO mesmerism three wears
back, the object being to relieve rheumatic pains
and giddiness of the head, from which she had
long suffered. Of mesmersm she knew nothing
all that was said that il was thought the pain
might be relieved by hand being placed on her
mead and drawn down to her feet. At first she
ielt only 6" cold thrill run down her arms
Next she apoogized for feeling drowsy. and at
last after striving for few minutes TO resist the
influence, she fell asleep, On awaking She said
"a great pain had been rig from her head %
The process was continued daily, and in the
course oil little time, during of her sittings
she said she saw something bright and colored
pass before her. 1t was her mesmeriser's ring
and from this Circumstance hope was aroused
that not only might her pains be cured but her
sight res ored The attendance upon her was
therefore steadily continued, and mesmersed wa
ter was also used to wash her eyes. In six months
she could see colors in the shop widows and walk
into town unassisted. Herseep became less like
natural sleep at this time. She saw vivid colors
In the dark, when her mesmeriser passed her hands
before her eyes, and ght seemed to stream from
them. The improvement went steadily ON. Al.
though subsequently she was not mesmerised
more than twice week, and she can now see as
well as other women OF her age. She can work
in the common way, make articles ofdress wake
tour miles into town alone, and performs all the
ordinary occupations of life. These things are
the more remarkable in her., it is observed s.be
cause she was extremely awkward IN every thing
and had never performed for herself any OF those
little offices which blind people usually taught
to accomplish" During the progress OF her re-
covery, the signs were, first that she had never
since her blindness been able to close the lids
over them; secondly, that water frequently pour.
ed from them after mesmerlsing, whereas thew
useu 70 oe perfectly dry; and, thirdly, that the
Opaque substance which covered them FIRST. he.
came thinner over the upper part Of the eve and
thicker beneath, and gradually small portion Of
the pupil became visible. The present state of
The eyes is-the opacity OF the cornea in one eve
mas disappeared, leaving only slight clondiness
In one spot; in the other eye the opacity is verv
much contracted and occupies only small space
In the bottom part When in the mesmeric seen
she Is insensible to pain, and in her normal state
she never remembers what has passed. She has
always seen and continues to see, when in ner.
feet darkness, the most brilliant colors stream from
her mesmeriser's hand.