Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-04-13
Helena, Montana, Thursday, April 1:3, 1876.
WONDERFUL VISION.
The Maryels Deheld by Boy with
Telescope Eye.

WONDERFUL VISION.
The Maryels Beheld by Boy with u
Telescope Eye.
from the New York Mercuryj
Prof. Gib5ins, the President of the San
Francisco College of Sciences, has been in
vestigating a most remarkable phenomenon
that OF a boy who possesses what may be
termed a telescope eye. A Mercury CORES.
pOndent sends the report OF the Professor on
the case, which is confirmed by the signatures
Of Drs. Bryant, Gadbury and Goldson, and
approved by Prof. Smyth, the oculist. So
far, therefore as authenticity and scientific
accuracy are concerned, upon the faith of
these gentlemen, readers may rely implicitly
upon the absolute correctness OF every fact
stated and conclusion reached. The report,
in substance sets forth the following startling
statements: The name OF this remarkable
child is John Palmer, age nine years, and
place Of residence, South San Francisco, Cup
Hill, near the Catholic Orphan Asylum. l,
appears that the period through which the in
vestigation ran was only fifteen days; but it
seems to have been so thorough by the use OF
the opthalmoscope and other modern ap-
pliances and tests, that no regrets ought to be
indulgcd in experiments. The committee
Of independent Witnesses, as to the facts,
soon set about scientific investigation of the
true causes OF the phenomenon. The first
step, of course, was to examine the lads eye,
with the modern opthalmoscope, by means
Of which the depth of this organ can be eX-
pl0red. and the smallest variations from a
healthy or normal condition instaEtaneOusly
detected.
On applying tie instrument, the committee
ascertained III /. moment that the boys eye
abnormally shaped. A natural, perfect eye
is perfectly round. But the eve examined
was exceedingly flat, very thin, with large
iris, flat lens, immense petra, and wonder
fully Glated pupil. The effect of the shape
was at once apparent. 1t was utterly inn
possible to see any object with dstinctness
at any distance short OF many thousands Of
miles. Had the eye been elongated inward
Or shaped like al egg-tO as great an ex-
tent, the boy would have been effectually
blind, for no combination of lens powder
could have placed the image Of the object
beyond the coat of the retlna. In other
words, there are two common imperfections
of the human organ of sight; one called my
opia; or ''nearsightedness' y the other pres
byopia, "farsightedness.'
"The axis being too long, says the report,
''myoplc eyes, parallel rays, such as proceed
from objects, are brought to focus at a
point so tar in front of the retina that only
confused images are formed upon 1t. Such
a maltormatiOn, constituting an excess OF re-
tractive power, can only be neutraliZed by
glasses, which give such direction
to rays entering the eye as will allow of their
for distant perception Presbyopia is the
reverse Of all this The anteroposterior axis
of such eyes being too short, owing to the flat
plate-like shape of the ball, their refractive
power is not sufficient to bring even parallel
rays to Il focus upon the retina, but is adopt
adsfor convergent rays only. Convex glass
IS, in Il great measure, compensate for this
quality by rendering parallel rays conyergent
md such glasses, in ordinary cases, bring the
'ays to a focus at a convenient distance from
he glass, corresponding to degree of cur
7ature. But in the case under examination,
10 glass or combination Of glasses could be
inverted sufficiently concaye to remedy the
By a mathematical problem
# easy solution, it was computed that the
learest distance from the unaiGed eye of the
patient at which 4 distinct image could be
ormcd upon the retin;; Was 30, 600 nitcs--a
raction short Of the mean distance Of the |
noon from the earth; and hence it became |
perfectly clear that the boy could see with |
minute distinctness whatever was
on TIE SURFACE OF THE MOON.
1t was on the night Of January 8, 1876, that
be first satisfactory experiment was tried,
eSting beyond all cayil or doubt the powers
f the subjects eye. 1t was full moon, and
hat luminary rose clear and dazzlngly bright.
he committee were on hand at an early
our, and the boy was in fine condition and
spirits. The interview was secret,
nd none but the members Of the committee
nd the parents OF the child were present.
# course the first proposition to be settled
as the individuality of the sphere. This
le boy frequently declared was the case,
nd had on several previous occasions des-
ribed minutely the form, size and means of
of the Lunarians. On this oc-
aston he repeated in almost the same lam
lage what he had before related to his par
It's and friends, but was more minute, owing
the greater transparency of the atmosphere
I'd the experience III expression already {
,quired. ..
THE PEOPLE IN THE MOON.
The Lunarans are not formed at all like r
lrselves. They are less in height. and alto 8
ther of different appearance When full
own, they resemble somewhat chariot
heel with four spokes, converting at the a
nter or axle. They have four eyes in the f
'ad, which is theaxle, soto speak, and all the c
nbs branch out directly from the center v
,e some sea forms known as ':Radates." s
hey move by turning rapidly, like q Wheel f
d travel as fast AS bird through the air. c
le children are undeyeloped in form, and o
e perfectly round, like pumpkin or A
ange. AS they grow older they seem to s.
op or absorb the rotundity Of the whole b
dy, and finally assume the appearance of a ii
ariOt-Wheel. 81
They are OF different colors, or nation 81
red, orange and blue being the if
edOminant lueS. The reds q are in a large | L,