The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-11-27
THE BLTNDSHALLSEE
SC SAYS EDISON, THE WIZARD OF
MENlO PARK.


Within Three Years He Hopes to Have
Completed His Experiments.
Thomas y. Edison, the wizard of
electricity, makes startling announce
ment as the result of some remarkable
experiments mace III his West Orange
IN. j. laboratory. He asserts that
within three years the blind shall see
that even men without eyes shall be
able to see. The only prerequisite is
that the optic nerve shall be intact, and
with this the case he pledges himself
that the blind shall see, shall distin-
guish objects, shall know the difference
between sunlight, moonlight and the
dark, shall be able to distinguish the
difference between colors and shall rec.
ognize their friends.
For the purpose Of trying the expert
ments as to the effect of the Roentgen
rays on the sightless two men were Sc
lected and taken to the laboratory
Both were absolutely blind and had
been so for years. One was Jacob Mahr-
bacher, a boiler maker. 35 years old,
who lost the sight of one eye through
the formation of al abscess as a result
OF "a chip of iron lodging in the eye in
1892, while the other eye became affect
cd by sympathy, and the sight of that
also was soon totally lost. The other
subject was Otto kallensee, who has
been blind for over IL years. One of
his eyes troubled him from babyhood.
An abscess developed, and this caused
the loss of the sight of both eyes in 1885.
Mr.. Edison and his assistants were all
ready and waiting for the patients. The
wizard greeted the men heartily and
shook their hands warmly, assuring
them that he would not promise that they
should see, but that he hoped at least
that they would be able to distinguish
light from darkness. Both of the sub
jects said that they would welcome
even this brief respite from the dark
ness into which they had been plunged
and from which no human relief SEEM
ed possible.
Little time was lost in prelimina-ies.
The men were taken to the small room
on the second floor where the X ray ex.
periments are conducted, and there
Mahrbacher was the first one tried lie
took seat in q chair directly in front
| Of and close to one of the Roentgen
tubes In obedience to the directions Of
Mr.. Edison the current was flashed on
and off at intervals of few seconds.
Each time when the current was turned
on the room was flooded with the ghost
ly effiorescence of the Roentgen rays.
Mr.. Edison then said:
'Do you see anything yet?'
And the answer came in sorrowful
accents:
mo; lean see nothing. All is dark. 1"
Never mind" replied Mr.. Edison,
'we'll try another and stronger tube. 1"
| placed in connection, and the current
again turned on. Again came the ques-
ton:
''Do you see anything yet?'
A moment of suspense and silence
and then Mahrbacher exclaimed:
II see millions Of little points before
my eyes like sparks.
| Still other tubes were tried, but no
| better results were obtained.
Then kallensee was placed in the
chair and the current turned on the first
tube. The patient did not SEQ anything
| The second more powerful tube was
connected, and the instant that the cur.
rent was turned on Kallensee fairly
screamed in his excitement:
Il can see il light!
The light was turned on and off by a
| o4 sl> 4.
time there WAS quick response from
Kallensee:
Now it's burning. Now tits not ~
This plainly showed that he saw
something, but there was no distin-
guishment of objects-only of the sense
Of light Various other tubes and the
lights were tried, and, strange to say,
the best results were obtained from or
binary incandescent lamps in red bulbs.
These were described by Kallensee as
showing more uniformly clear light ir>
pressions although softer.
This suggested q new idea to the
wizard. and he spent some time in
thought Finally he said that he felt
sure that he had caught the right idea.
Then fash of intelligence spread over
his face, and he said what will brine
hope to thousands of afflicted men all
over the world:
THE blind. that class of men who
possess intact nerves but deficient eyes,
will be made to see, and that within
three years. shall now devote myself
to specially prepared X rays that will
feel sure answer the purpose. Oi
course 10 not claim that those blind
will be enabled TO read. but they viii
be able 10 distinguish persons anG
things. Constant research is being mace
in this field, and doubt not that won
derful results will be attained.
II will rig up tuEe TO be run in ice
cold water that will be especially adapt
cd to the needs CT these men, ard fee
confident Of success Do not be GiscCur
aged. men | krow it Is hard TO LC
blind, but Wen find cure for you
yet -
i Physicians do not indorza Mr.. Edi