Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-20
A MEDICAL WONDER.
AN IDIoTIc BOY, BORN BLIND
Is MADE TO SEE.
With the Dawn of Sight Came a
Glimmer of Reason he Senses
Began to Operate Together and
the Faculties Were Aroused.

There was a case presented at the last
meeting of the New York Medical So
ciety that is highly interesting, both
from surgical and metaphysical stand
point. The patient, Charles Forbes,
was present, and gave a practical illus
tration of the benefit which had been
derived from the surgeons art. He is a
muscular lad of about fifteen years of
age.
The boys parents are unknown, so
that no history of hereditary influence
could be obtained. A policeman found
the boy when he was about three days
old, in a basket lying in an area OF one
of the Fifth avenue mansions. The child
was turned over to the tender care of
| Matron Webb. The clothing worn by
the babe was of unusually fine texture
for an abandoned child, and pinned to
q little lace handkerchief was the name
Charles Forbes, the one by which tile
bow was afterward known.
After it had been kept the period re-
uuired by law, by Matron Webb, the
infant was sent to Randall's Island, the
home provided by the city for fatherless
and motherless children. The records
show that the babe was small, poorly
nourished and sickly, and was marked
doubtful meaning that 1t would
probably die in few days or months.
The resident physician mt the island
discovered, while treating the youngster,
that the e-ball, as it appeared between
the lids, was perfectly white. There
was no iris or crystalline lens visible,
and consequently there could be no
sight in the ewes. A case of this kind
had never been met before, and another
instance was given of the peculiar freaks
sometimes Played by nature. Charles
did not die, as had been expected, but
grew to be a fine healthy boy, as far as
his physical appearance was concerned.
When he reached the proper age lie
was sent to the school on the island,
where special instruction is given to the
blind to make the poor unfortunates
self-supporting if possible. Children
born blind possess, as rule, low de-
gree of mental activity, and they develop
slowly, and when Charles did not mani
fest any interest in study or knowledge
it was not thought anything Of, and the
teachers struggled patiently with linn.
The other senses in the lad were per-
fectly normal as far as could be judged,
and as his brain was OF good size there
was no apparent reason why he could
not become as we'll educated AS the aver.
age blind person. A long time was
spent without making any improvement
in his condition. A careful study was
made of his mental traits, and the con-
clusion was reached that while the con
nection between the brain and the senses
III -. total oh
of that unnamed power which turns both
things, material and immaterial, into
ideas. The machinery was present, but
the motive power was lacking. The boy
was simply an idiot, his mind being
perfect blank, and, rs far as couli be
determined, lie had no conception OF the
world around him. His language was
confined to simple sounds, and, like an
animal, were principally the natural ex-
preston Of pleasure, pain and anger.
He was disposed TO become violent upon
slight provocation, and when mad made
an unearthly noise. From some I'M
known cause there was q severe lntiam
nation set up in the conjunctiya or ex-
ternal coating of the cyeball. 1t was
very painful and troublesome, and re-
sisted treatment. The lids we're swollen,
and in separating them TO apply heal
ing fluid, remarkable condition was
found. 1t had been supposed that the
eyeball was white all over, but on
stretching the lid upward aud outward
on both ewes il was seen that the eyeball
was not imperfect, it being simply
turned round so that the point Of en-
trance for light to reach the retina aud
L.. IL l.,l1... g.,
and was located about one-halt inch in
side of the outer angle of the temple on
each side Of the head. Would the boy
be able to see if the eyeballs We're turned
round TO nearly or exactly their normal
position2 After the inflammation had
been reduced test was made to deter
mine this. A minute glass bulb, which .
had been specially made for the puT- .
pose, similar to the incandescent electric +
light burner, was forced under the lid .
until the fire point was dire fly in front I
of the pupil The electric a id was ah- +
mitted into the glass, and brilliant
light was the result. At the first flash +
the boy jumped with surprise, and rs
the current was turned off and on quick
" q number of times in succession, with i
the same result every time, it was evil
dent that the retina was influenced by
light, and the lens and passage o the
optic nerve were free from blemi; h and
in fair working order. 1t was believed
that the experiment established snfli-
cient facts to warrant surgical opera
ton for the purpose Of Strengthening the
eyes, and DIR. Petrie, the French expert,
was chosen to do the work. 1t was a
dangerous and difficult task to set be
fore any one, and the surgeon expressed
grave doubts as to its success, but he
had no doubt as to the attempt being
iustifiable. The boy was anasthetized
in the operating room at the New York
Eye Infirmary in the presence of large
number of distinguished medical men,
who had been attracted by the novelty.
The right eye was alta ked first, and the
sye-vise was applied to It to hold it firm
" while the cutting was done.
The eyeball is grasped by four recti
and two oblique muscles, and the eye
ls1u xwora ~, a tho n41tar oo,-,,. IN. -, r;..,