The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-03-19
Can Blind Men See?

LitteUs Living Age publishes an article
from the London Spectator, which touches
upon the consideration of the unrecognized
senses.
Whether within house or in the open
air, whether walking or standing still, | can
tell, although qaig blind, when | am op
posite an object, and perceive whether it be
tall or short, slender or bulky. / can also
detect whether it be solitary object or a
continuous fence, wsether it be close fence
or composed of open rails, and often whether
it be wooden fence, brick or a stoneewall,
or quick-set hedge. ] can usually per-
ceive objects if maah lower than my shout
der, but sometimes very low objects can be
detected. This may dep nd upon the nature
of the objects, or on some abnormal state of
the atmosphere. The currents of air have
nothing to do with this power, as the state
Of the wind does not directly affect it; the
sense of hearing has nothing to do with it,
as when snow lies thickly on the ground OBJ
jects are more distinct, although the football
can not be heard seem to perceive objects
through the skin of my face, and to have
the impression Immediately transmitted to
the brain. The only part of my body pos
sessng this power Ia my face; this l have
ascertained by suitable experiment. Stop
ping my ears does not interfere with it, but
covering my face Nth thick veil destroys
it altogether. None Of the five senses have
anything to do with the existence of this
power, and the circumstances above named
induce me to call unrecognzed sense by
the name of 8 IA perception
This power of seeing with the face is
diminished by fog, but not by ordinary
darkness. At one dine Mr.. Levy could tell
when cloud obscured the horizon, but he
has now lost that power, which he has known
several persons to possess who are totally
blind. The service rendered by this facial
perception will be obvious from the follow
ing remarks:
when passing along street | can dis
tingush shops from private houses, and even
point out the windows, etc, and this whether
the doors be shut or open. When window
consists of one entire sheet of glass, it is
more difficult to discover than one composed
of number of small panes From this it
would appear that glass is bad conductor
of sensation, or at any rate of the sensation
especially connected with this sense. When
objects below the face are perceived, the
sensation seems to come in an oblique line
from the object to the upper part of the
face. While walking with friend in Forest
Lane, Stratford, | said, pointing to fence
which separated the road from the field,
. Those rails are not quite SO hig h as my
shoulder" He looked at them and said
they were higher. We, however, measured,
aud found them about three inches lower
han my shoulder. At the time of making
this observation / was about four feet from
the rails. Certainly in this instance facial
perception was more accurate than sight.
When the lower part of the fence is brick
work and the upper part rails, the fact can
be detected, and the line where the two meet
easily perceived. Irregularities of height
and projection, and intentions in walls, Can
also be discovered
A similar sense belongs to some part Of
the animal creation, and especially to bats
who have been known to fly about room
without striking anything after the cruel ex
pertinent has been made of extracting their
eyes.