Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-27
THE SHAFTS BLIND WIFE.
If an Operation is Not Successful the
Court Physicians VIII be Beheaded.

Vienna Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.
There Is vast contrast between the travels
of the shah and those of his wife--or one Of his
wives. When he came to Europe there were
elaborate advance notices for months, as
though prima donna a circus were on its
way hither. When his actual advent was
&C hieved it was in the very focused center of
the sunlight of publicity" and he could
| scarcely sneeze or yarn without the momentous
episode being chronicled throughout the
world. But when one of his wives-one of the
favorites. tOO-came hitler it was in silence
and by stealth. No one knew she was coming
and only very few knew that she had come
until she had been here for some time The
public sees her not nor knows aught of her
doings. and when she returns to Iran the Jour
ney will be made privately and without the
knowledge of the world. When she reached
this city she remained i'll her railway carriage
until every one else had left the train and the
station had been cleared Then she was led
or rather carried. by her negro attendants tn a
waiting room. where she was received by the
ladies of the Persian embassy and conducted
by them to the legation. With the exception of
these ladies and Prof. Fuchs. the great ocuIist
and Prof Mauthner she has come in contact
with no one here.
1t would not be correct to say that these are
the only persons she has seen for she has not
yet seen them. She was entirely blind when
she arrived here save that with one eve she
could perceive the faiEtest glimmer of light
and 1t was in the hope of having her sight at
least partially restored that she came to Vienna.
Col. Sellers quite right. The teeming
millions of Asia are suffering with sore ewes This
imperial patient began such sufferings some four
or tive years ago At that time her right eve was
attac kcd by primary glaucoma. This disease
which consists of or is caused by certain de-
n 10 NJ,
eye, Is generally confined TO old people, Tho
sultana, however, Is now only about forty-two
years old. The Persian doctors could do
nothing for her and she became totally blind
IN that eye. Then the malady spread to the
left eye and destroyed its sight. As she is his
tavorite wife the shah was terribly distressed
and finally determined to pursue the unprece-
dented course of sending her to Europe to be
treated by the most skilful oculists she could
find.
Prof Fuchs was the surgeon chosen. and ne
assisted by Prot. Mauthner, operated upon her
She was put under the influence of an
anasthetic and iridectOmy was performed
This consisted OF nothing less than cutting out
portion OF the eyeball, very delicate and
dangerous operation. as any one can see. 1t
appears, however. to have been entirely suc-
cessful, ana the doctors are confident that she
will be able to see fairly well with that eve
The other eye, which was first affected is hone
iessiy blind. 1t will, however. be some weeks
before the bandages are removed and she ia
allowed to test the results of the operation
! and she will remain at FranZenbad where she
has taken a villa, for amonth or more before re-
turning to the harem of the king of kings.
Prof Fuchs is said to have received IS 600 for
performing the operation and Prof Mauthner
c3.o0O. The court physicians at Ieherau who
advised the visit to Vienna, were closely locked
up at the time of her departure, and will no. be
liberated until she returns safely. II she dies
from any untoward results Of the operation or
through any disaster of travel they will
promptly be put to death.