The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-19
SEES THINGS UPSIDE DOWN.
A Puzzle to Doctors, But Bright for an
Imbecile.

From the New York World
Vineland, Nov. 14.-The scientists Of
the University of Pennsylvania and of the
Neurological Society, Of Philadelphia, are
greatly interested in the case of Willie
Riley, l3-year old boy, who is an inmate
of the Home for Feeble Minded Children
at this place, The boy is one of the rare
class known as ''mirrOr-writers.n While
writing he unwittiugly reverses his let
tiers so that they appear upon the paper
as ordinary penmanshIp would be re-
Elected by mirror. He begins writing
words or sentences in the upper right
hand corner of the paper and writes from
right to left.
The singular fact about his perform
ance is that he cannot realize the oddity
of his work He does not understand
that his writing differs from that of
others.
The wan, drawn features of the little
fellow and the ecCCntricity of his accom-
plishments have created a furore among
students. Long-drawn scientific terms
have been used TO characterize his case.
To laymen generally the case is pointed
out as the result of sunstrOke in infancy
The boys faculties have been twisted so
that, although his eyes are apparently
normal, he sees things upside down and
wrong end foremost
The boy was admitted to the training
school few months ago. He was then
unable to write When placed in the
writing class and a copy was set before
him he seemed TO understand what was
expected and started to work. His
teacher was surprised when she saw the
letters he had formed upon his slate.
They resembled nothing to her at first.
Again and again she tried TO teach him to
begin at the proper point, but he invaria-
bly, went astraY
His teacher thought his work was SIM
ply the result of awizwardness and feeble
mindedness. 10 was not until the boy had
learned to form his letters fairly well, al
though reversed, that the situation
dawned upon the teacher She took some
of the boys work to Supt. 5. 0. Garri-
son, who found il TO be genuine mirror
writing. Ever since that day Willie Riley
has been the subject of interesting study
So important is his case considered that
DR., Charles X. Mills, chief Of the staff OF
consulting physicians, devotes considera-
bic space to it III the annual report of the
institution.
This boy ranks high mentally as COM
pared with other children in the institu-
ton" says DR. Mills, land would be
classed among the higher grade of imbe-
Giles. He fairly understands all ordinary
matters, as telling the time Of day, the
use of common appliances, the value of
CONS and notes. lie can repeat the al
phabet, can read and spell words of one
syllable He is docile, sensitive and "a
somewhat emotional child. He was ex-
amined as to touch, pain, temperature,
weight, resistance etc, and no trace Of
disorder of sensibility was found. His
hearing smell and taste are good"
DR.. Mills goes on to say that the boys
vision is the same with both eyes'and
that he is not color blind He has right
side partial paralysis with atrophy. As
a result of this partial paralysis the boys
right forearm, hand and fingers are ar
rested in development The right thumb
is depressed and drawn under the index
and middle fingers His right leg is
nicely formed, but it is somewhat shorter
than the other. The cause of his condi-
ton is said to have been a sunstroke fol-
lowed by cerebro-meningitis when IS
months old
Willie Riley appears to enjoy life. He
is active in the gymnasium classes and
has joined the band of the institution. He
is retiring, shy boy, however, and pre-
fers to study whenever he has the chance.
DR.. Mills thinks the left half of the
boys brain has been arrested in develop
ment and that Willie is guided in his
writing by the reversed images formed in
the right hemisphere Of his brain. The
effect of the tuition and care bestowed
upon him at the training school will be
closely watched