The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-04
BLIND IN A MOMENT.
Mr.. A. B. POND LOSES HIS SIGHT
VERY SUDDENLY
He VA, sitting at the Dinn.r Table in APP
parsntIy Good Be.lth-A tiot oil
Boot ON the Brain.

One OF the strangest cases of affection
which has attracted the attention OF
the ordinary observer for some time, ana
one which to the physicians themselves
is rare and exceedingly delicate STUDY
for scientific men. fell beneath the OBJ
seryation OF DR.. r. I. k1lis on Church
Hill Thursday afternoon, as a result OF
which Mr.. A. B. Pond Is confined to his
bed at his residence. No. yt0 north i"eh-
ty-fifth street. and is in somewhat Sc
rious condition.
Mr. Pond is an Cnipioye OF the stahud'u
OIL Company, and Is quite popular among
many friends. ON Wednesday after
noon at 3 O'Clock, he was seated at the
dlnner-table. as serene as a May morn
ing. No one noticed anything peculiar
his manner. and UP 70 a lie" moments
before the time he was afflicted, ne chat-
ted away good-humorediy. and appeared
to be in the best OF spirits and heath.
ALL OF ,UDDEN.
Suddenly. much TO the surprise OF
his wife and others. who were seated al
the table. he was seen 70 lean back III
his chair. whereupon Mrs. Pona was
struck with mis- unusual look. she ask
ed him what was the matter. MI
Pond appeared TO he dazed, as one VINO Is
suddenly attacked with vertigo re
asked for a glass OF water and moment
later appeared to be choking. MIS-. ron"
was afraid her husband had gotten some
thing I'm his windpipe. she got the water
q, once and Mr.. Pond dashed the liquid
into his face. and started TO go out Of
the room. He staggered listlessly, as
though having no particular OBJECT III
view but before he reached the door, ne
exclaimed
Il can't see anything at all; you Will
have 10 lead me out
The unfortunate man had been stricken
blind. He was conducted 10 mis- room
and an urgent summons for Or X J.;
Ellis made. In the meantime, Mrs roma
did everything in her power 10 put .he
sufferer at ease. DR.. Ellis leSpo''1.'
nromntiv 10 the summons. and after eN-
nmining the patient, ascertained that me
case was a serious one He dld an ne
could for the unfortunate man, who ue-
splte the efforts Of the physician, spent
restless night. and slept but httle'
PRACTICALLY BLIND.
Yesterday morning the patient was
very little. II any. better. He mas prac-
ticany lost his eye-sight, and when
ligl,ted lamp was held within a kew
irches of his ewes. he said; II can see
only a faint glimmer which appears 10
be about four squares away.
AR Pond is also suffering rom pans
In different parts OF the BODY lie mas
suffered considerably. and his spirits
have droDpod TO such a point as 10 be
an addincral obstacle for the physicians
10 fight against His condition. "hiie
serious. is regarded by the physician III
charge as not necessarily dangerous In-
less some nav complications set IN.
II is a stubborn case 10 deal WIN
and ono which is interesting from
scientific voint Of view. The patient mas
a large number Of friends, who rendered
their synipathies for the unfortunate man
and his wife Yesterday. He is member
of Damon Lodge Knights OF Pythias' ana
Of Roane Lodge. Odd-feiio"s
He was resting somewhat easier at
late hour last night and IS expected to
improve gradually to-day Ia the event
that no new complications set IN.
n. cArsr or rHE TROUBLE.
When I saw DR. Ellis last night I'm
regard TO the case. he said: ~ think Mr..
Pond is slightly better tonight, though
his condition is still quite serious. Or.
Shields and | had a consultation over
the case to-day. and made a careful
DIAGNOSIS We reached the conclusion
that the patient was suffering from
pressure Of blood upon the BRAIN IL IS
more than likely that the blood has form
ed into a clot. which is pressing upon
the optic nerve and hence the blindness.
Whether this blindness will be temporary
or permanent | cannot say at present
more probably the former. | think IL
likely that the patient will improve slow
Is. Whether an operation will have 10 be
performed / cannot say az this time.
"The case is an interesting one added
DR.. Ellis. "and while it is not unique
such cases are OF rare occurrence