Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-03
SEEING AFTER SIXTY YEARS.
Awoman Born Blind Obtains Sight by
aSureicaI Operation.


asurgical Operation.
PHILADELPHIA, May AN old col.
ored woman was sewing by the light of
an Oil lamp in the front room of a small
house on Centre street, near Ely, Ger
mantown, last evening. There was
something decidedly wonderful in this
fact, commonplace as it might at first
appear. The woman, Mrs. Harriet
Holmes, who is so years old, was blind
from her birth until three weeks ago.
Mrs. Holmes was born near Cambridge,
on the "East'n Sho" of Maryland, and
and came to Philadelphia about three
years ago to live with some relatives in
Germantown. She was several times
taken to the Germantown Hospital, on
Penn street, and became known in that
institution as
"BIind Aunt Harriet"
DR.. l.. w. Fox, one of the surgeons
at the hospital, was attracted by the
popularity in the formation Of her eyes,
and made an examination, which con-
WINGED him that her sight might be re-
stored. The old woman's consent to
an operation was not obtained without
difficulty, as she said that she was
'dreadfully afeared of dem cutten doc
tors"
DIR. Fox was delighted at the success
of the operation, which consisted III
the removal of a cataract from the left
eye by what is known as "GrarbrS
method" and awaited with great inter-
est the arrival of the time when his
suiect could be taken into the light. AT
last she was removed 10 one OF the
wards of the hospital which looked
upon the street, and the bandage was
removed.
The Patient Started Violently,
and cried out as if with fear, and for a
moment was quite nervous from the
effects of the shock. For the first time
in her life she looked upon the earth.
The first thing she noticed was little
flock of sparrows. In relating her ex-
perience to a reporter last night, she
said she thought they were teapcups,
although, strange to say, few mo-
ments afterward she readily distin-
guished a watch which was shown her.
1t is supposed that this recognition was
owing to the fact that she heard its
ticking, and at once associated the two
together.
at seemed kinder queer" she said
to the reporter, "but knowed things
putty quick" 1t appears that she was
soon able to distinguish those objects
which she had been accustomed to
handle, such as q chair, door or
table. She said that everything seemed
pretty, and although at first all objects
appeared to her
Bright and Shining Like Gold,
she soon became accustomed to colors
and now can distinguish them very
well. For long time distant objects
appeared so near that she thought that
she could touch them. she begins TO
Distinguish distances if, not too great.
Owing to her first impression of dis
tanceS she was for some time afraid to
walk with her eyes open, the ground or
floor appearing a ''fur way OIL"
in strange contrast with her I'M
preston of distant objects. The popu-
lar impression that person born blind
who is restored to sight imagines that
men and women are walking on their
heads and trees look like elephants,
was not verified in her case, although
she now even makes mistakes quite as
ludicrous as in the case of the mistake
ofthe
Birds for Teacups.
The blaze from a lamp excited the
mos lively surprise in her mind. She
had no idea what it was, and when 1t
was brought near her, wanted to pick
it up. When night approached upon