Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-15

A Boy Born Blind, Made to Sec By q sargi-
cal Operation.

cal Operation.
Ia the course Of casual conversation
with DR. J. L. Hardesty, yesterday, the sub
iect of diseases of the eye was referred tc
by REGlsTER reporter, when the doctor
ssid: THAT reminds me Of somewhat
remarkable case recently coming under my
| observation at the State Institution for the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind, at Romuey which
| NAV be OF sufficient interest to yost to war
rant its recital" The reporter assured the
Doctor that he would be glad to hear the
tale, when the medical gentleman told, in
substance, the following remarkable story:
About three years ago boy named
Henry Mckay, was brought to the asylum
from Poeahonths county and was admitted
to the blind department as q scholar. DE
was then about twelve years of age, and
had been totally blind from birth, his
parents never having the least idea that he
would ever have the use Of his eTes. Nc
Ray, who Was a magniReeRtly buiit young
fellow, at once commenced the study OF
such branches as are taught to the totally
blind at the Institution, and at the
time the doctors attention was
called to him had learned to read.
The doctor is a .memberof the Board Of Rs
gents of the institution, andFon making an
examination of young McIssy cameto the
conclusion that he eyesight could be re-
stored. He communicated his belief to the
pstient and also to his parents, and after
some natural hesitation Notwithstanding
the preafgood whiJhmight be accomplished,
all concerned consented to an operation.
This was performed BY the doctor and was
completely successful, the young man now
having almost as good use OF his eyes as
though these organs had always been In
normal condition.
The disease from which young Aefsy
suffered il what il known as con.
genatve cataract, and the
loss of sight is produced by the
CRYSTALLINE Tense becoming opaspe and thus
shutting off the rays of light from the optic
nerve. The disease generally comes On in
middle or old age, and ia very rare in child
hood. the cure of MCKAY, whowss born
with the defect, thus in itself being very Pc
markable. The operation consists in re.
moving the lens from the eyes, and in aged
persons is a most delicate and difficult one.
In the present case, the tense oftbe eye was
simply milky yelloWish fluid, and on the
retaining sac being punctured with a. needle
It ran out The patients eyes were then
bandaged for a week or so, and on the lapse
of that period pair of strong spectacles,
designed to supply the place Of the lensln
focusing the rays Of light upon the optic
nerve, were procured.
The behavior of the pupil, when the light
was first admitted to his eyes, in rsgardi to
objects with whieh he was perfectly familiar
by touch, was peculiar. 4 pair OF scissors,
for instance, would be he'd up before him
and he would be asked if he knew what they
were. He would answer in the negative
and would be utterly unabls.to tell what
hey were until the instruments were PLACED
in bis hands, when hs would instantly recog-
nize them. Then. he would hold them OF and
cok at them, endeavoring to Fix the shape
in his memory. After experimenting with
other objects, such as knives, forks, spoons,
and pencils, he would retuTu to the scissor
or other objects first given him, and BY sight
alone endeavol to name them, otsn with
lrdicrous results. After the lapse
of a few months, hc%sver Mp. McRsy
gradually grew accustomed to the great and
most welcome change which surgical skill
mad brought him, and is now working al
ordinary outdoor labor. with eyesight as
good as the average.
Several other operations Of a like charac
Ter have been performed BY Or. Hsrdesty
on people in this nsighborhocd, one of the
most remarkable being that upon
My. Horace Holt, of Meigs county, Ohio, a
gentleman 81 years of age, whose eyelght
had almost entirely failed him, but who can
cow see to read and wri te with ease. An-
other case is that of Mrs McGee, of Wells
burg, mother Of Robert McGee, of this city,
who was totally blind for eight years, but
who can now see well.
These instances of restoration to sight,
and particularly the one first above men
toned, seem almost marvellous to the I'M
profes sional reader, and are practical demon
| STATIONS of the height to which medical
| .cience has attained.