The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-06
A Baltimore Investigator Makes Some Inter-
estng Experiments Upon the Eyes.
VERY GRATIFYING RESULTS OBTAINED
In Ono Instance, II Case OF Cataract
~ ana the other ofnn Opaque Cornea.
Both We're Enabled TO Count Fin.
gers-Thc Experiments, However.
We're Not Wholly Satisfactory.


to make millionaire of the man who
would restore his failing eyesiyht, has
greatly stimulated research and eXpe-
rlments on the part of oculists and in
vestigators. Edison has thought it worth
MS while 10 attempt to discover what he
could accomplish towards resorting the
human sight and scientific physicians
IN various parts of the country have
been engaged in trying TO discover If 1t
were possible to restore to the blind the
most nearly Indispensable of the senses
Anon all these experiments none have
attracted more attention that Dr. Henry
chandler. of Baltimore. He has proba-
Diy as complete an N-ray apparatus as
there is in the United States, and has
obtained some good results i'm his gene
raj experiments. AS to restoring sight.
however. he has not been able to say 1t
could be done, but has secured interest
ing results.
COULD COUNT FIGURES.
He experimental on two cases One
was that OF an opaque cornea and the
other that of Il cataract. In neither
case could the person read. Neither
could see more than n shadow at tw"
teet distance when the hand was held
up. Neither could tell how many fin
gers were held up. In the light of
the N-ray both could count the fingers
held up before them and they said they
before. Il
nent. however, Wafier the %-ray was
light was as dim as before
DIR. REULING'S OPINION.
DR.. George Reuling, of the Baltimore
Medical College, has expressed his on
inion of the use OF the N-ray in restoi-
ing sight as follows:
In my opinion, this wonderful light
Will only serve to stimulate the ontici
nerve, and probably cause an absorb
tlon or eXudations within the interior
membranes. The eye being trans
parent organ, the rays will penetrate
10 such degree as TO reveal the skull
bones without giving an insight to the
eye proper. 1t is almost beyond con-
occurring powers to imagine the con-
struction Of an instrument that Will do
the work of the ophthalmoscopc With
ms instrument every known disease or
aiiectlon OF the eye can readily be dag
nOScd."
EDISON'S EXPERIMENT.
Edison. the famous inventor. reports
the following case on which he cxperi-
mented:
"A 12-year-old girl. who had been to-
tally blind for Two years came from
Newark. and tried her sight with the
cathode ray. Sh" was the third blind
subject upon whom | tried the cxperi-
ment, and was more intelligent than the
other two. She had not seen ANYTHING
for two years.
AS soon as the light was turned on
in the tube she knew ii. She told mo
she saw the light. turned it on and
off in order 10 test her power of dis
cernmcnt ana her ;ruthfulness. She
knew ii every time the light WAS turned
oil. Inc tube was moved about her
head and she followed ii with her eyes.
She could not only see it, but she knew
h fFsla IL -
also detected the shadow Of an object
placed between herScl! and the tube"
MUST NOT USE y FLUOROSCOpE.
The little sirl seemed to be truthful
and honest, and the experiment was per
formed in the presence of number Of
people. ! do not understand he opera
ton of the eye. bur I do know some
thing about light. / believe the eye may
not see by one liGht. but may see by
another. 1t is useless Tor blind people to
try 10 see with the cathode rays, using
Ia fuoroscope. fnr the Horoscope
changes the rays 10 ordinary light. The
experiment; should hc tried withou. the
microscope. as ] tried it on the little
Newark girl Her eyes may be sensitive
to one light and rot 10 another.
fhc RoentEen ray may give Just the
vibration which vii. aiicc; her eyes.
while that OF ordinary light may NOT
in!iuS:ce them. y lot of work must be
done before the full possibilities OF The
Rocntgen ray in affecting the eyes OF
those who have been blind will bo
Known. The thing is yet in its cr,idcst
stage. but therc is no doubt that the
itoentgcn ray makes an impression an
people WHO nave been blind ana thu,
under certain circumstances it enables
them to soc.
HOW THE N-RAY WORKS.
1T is said tina; the use of the X-ray
proves whether the rctian and m.
optic nerve are healthy. When they
are destroyed not even the N-ray can
be seen. In most cases of blindness
how ever, II Is said that the part Of the
cyc affected is one Of the front cover
ings through which the light has to
pass to get TO the opt nerve
"Cf course. no matter now badly these
are diseased the N-ray can pierce them
as easily as II can wood.
CAN SEE ONLY SHADOWS.
THE discovery seems hardly to be of
great value. however. as even If tho
sight could be uu!ckcncd TO the extent
oi seeing things in the N-lny. IL Womb
ne Nujuelcss TO aivc the Blind 2 sight Of
thc area world about them in ord.rl,v
sunlight. They could never see any
thing but shadows, for the N-ray give.
only si!A0u;tcs Of objects. 'Hhey woui
have 80 carry eli N-ray b1'to"y around
even f.i' this rUvi C:,. e.9 ~ p-oetes
would bc both iRconycnle.. and exptn-