The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-10
Young Lad With Great
knowledge of Surgery.
FiveYears Old and Can Weld
a Scalpel Deity.
Clark T. Edwards Must Have Had a
Premopition Of the x Rays.

A very young surgeon has set the pro-
fession In New Orleans and Vicksburg 10
talking and wondering at his unusual
and really remarkable accomplishments.
Less than i've years of age, little Willie
Groin knows the name of every bone in
the human pody, the location of the
various orgsns, while he talks learndely of
the most intricate surgical operations.
He 10 credited with knowing more ana
tony than most medical students snd
with being able to weild the scalpei as
deftly ss some surge ons. II he boys father
,sa physician and the little fellow gsner-
ally accompanies him on surgical cases.
He has frequently seen the human body
dissscted with intense interest. His
athsr. DR.. Howell b. Groin, says: SIN
romping with my boy used TO amuse
him by. calling out some difficult name of
bone and tsunting him with not being
lble to repeat 1t. He very readily caught
the words. and, strangely enough re-
tained them without any effort. He then
began to associate the name of the bone
with its location. Soon ne. know great
deal of anatomy. Not long ago medical
friend of mine asked the boy the name
of piece of human skull separated from
its adjoining parts in manner tho lad
had never before seen. He studied 1t
moment and then told the scientific name
correctly. much to the astonisnment OF
she Doctor"
This rsmar kable youth often visits the
New Orleans Charity Hospital. Once.
while watching Dr. Sonchon operate for
abscess OF the liver, one of the assistants
stepped in front of him. The boy said:
"Papa, ask that gentleman to please
move. / can't see what the doctor 10 do
ing" Again, when an injured man bac
been placed under the influence OF
chloroform. he said: "Papa, does God
make chloroform so that people need not
feel the knife when the doctor uses it?"
Not long since this youngest OF all sur
gsons paid visit to New York and
thoroughly inspected the larger hospitals
paying particular attention to the cases
OF interest in the surgical wards. He
slso took a look at the hospitals OF PDila-
delphis, Washington. Cincinnati, st.
Louis and other cities. The boys ex-
s.aorcinary ability Is doubtless hereditary.
His father, grandfather and greatgrsnd-
elves as surgeons.
We are ell supposed to regard the
Roentgen ray as one OF the marvellous
discoveries OF the present time and yet |
more than q quarter. OF q century ago |
Clark I. Edwards appears to have had a |
premonition OF it. In 1870 a few years
before bis death, he expressed the opinion |
that there might be unknown rays that
could produce in the brain a visual SEN
sation without the Intervention of the |
lensss or even OF the optic nerve. He |
wrote:
''lf we study the organ of vision in the
various classes Of the animal Kingdom
We shall find that II seems to be confined
to no particular region of the body. In
fact. mo trae organ of sight can be said
TO exist. Man himself, In certain condi-
tions OF the nervous system. resem bles
the lower animals In those respects and
acts idependently of his usual organs OF
vision. Since the perception of light
does not always depened on the presence
of eyes, may not the recognition OF objects
be possible without the aid OF organs
capable of forming images of them?
Among the lowest forms every vestige of
IN eye disappears but we are forced to
admit that some of them at least possess
more than q power OF merely discrim in
ating between light and darkness.
"Many years ago the distinguished
philosopher Spalanzani ascertsined that
bats when blinded fly with as much ease
and precision ss when using their eyes.
II is fully Established that somnambulists
20 wherever they please, without hesits-
tion. read and write and give ample evil
dence OF q power OF perception independ-
snt of the usual organ of vision. Csts-
leptic patients frequently show the same
peculikrity. M. Despine, late inspector
OF the mineral waters of AK, In ssxony
mentions a. patient who, nv means of
the-palm OF her hand, could hear, and
could read without the assistance OF her
eyes, using the tips Of her fingers, her
elbows. or the soles OF ner feet. She
could also write letter. and correct IL.
During these proceedings her eyes were
entirely blinded. Harriet Msrtineau tells |
of lady lon blind, who could see while
sleeping and when awak'. accurately de-
scribe colors." Sir. Edwards further
snys. "In these cases either nerves OF |
tue surface have power TO convey impret-
sions OF light 10 ths brain, or some parts
of the body assume the OH CO Of eyes"