The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-26

to see better and clearer than the majority OF
A sur reporter saw her at her home in Brook
lyn at night. She took a child's story book and
tried to read 1t with the aid OF the shaded rays
"iknow It's a book" She said. but I can't
see it. can tell it's a book by feeling It."
Tn" light was turned low, so that the room
Now" she said. opening the book, Il can
read IT easily" Then, she proceeded to read. \
newspaper was handed to her. and she read
from 1t, although no other person In the room
could see the print. Her father and her aunt,
who were present. then requested the news
paper man to turn the gas on in full. and hold
objects up so that the girls sight might he
feet away. but the girl declared she could not
see II. Lowering the light SO that the room was
IN partial darkness the piece of metal was again
That's a watch" said the girl.
The light was turned still lower, and. looking
Why. no. its a piece Of tin" The light was
turned SIN lower: and she said; Il ses a pin
None OF the others in the room conld see the
piece OF metal. but the girl declared that she
could see IT plainly and 'he even read the in
The sunlight hurts nv eyes awfully." she
said. and when ! go out In the daytime | have
to hold my hand over my eyes"
Can you see anything in daylight Z" she was
III I cover up my eyes with my hands," she
said. IL can see a man or woman passing. but |
can't tell just what It is. can only see the
form Of the person. just q dark object, and to
NV 'tiht IiHN" ~ NV - - 80 ny
hands. | never cross the street unless some
one takes me by the hand, and never 20 away
from my own door, for fear OF being run over
The history of the case is reserved for tho
guidance of medical men, but the child was
born shortly after the mother had undergone a
fright.
One OF the doctors when spoken to about the
lit would be useless to venture an opinion at
this time. but when Il test has been made OF the
girls eyes, am satisfied that the result will be
highly interesting to men in general, and to eye
specialists IN particular. In the frst place
tue fact that she Is known TO be suffering
from day bIindnsss !. in itself interes; est.
kind that have been thoroughly investi-
gated. Hemeralopia, which Is tie medical
termed nyctalopia. Sometimes it Is IA symptom
OF diseases OF The retina and Of the optic nerves;
In some cases 1t is found In certain cong"nital
faults of the eye, Among nocturnal animals,
such as owls and bats. 1t is the norma! condition.
case makes it Of unusual interest to science.
have u book here said the doctor.
which, perhaps: will explain eyesight and it's
read this to you: The similitude of the eye TO
the camera OF the photographer isquite familiar.
1t is well known that the rays of light proceed
ing from external objects enter the eye through
the cOrnea, or projecting horny substance in
liz. int" The dark ch"mb er of The eytehsnli' and
are there brought together by means of a lens,
SO as TO form an inverted picture OF the
spread fbres OF the nerve that comes IN from
TIC uTdln. Ihht, INV lHtTI ~ 7 d Hlrlllil
analogy between the eye and the camera oh
scura. there are differences which are curious
msnt the rays are brought together on q
fiat surface, and no combinAtion OF Lenses
has yet teen ,contrived to overcome COM
pletely the disadvantage of sharply de
fined details in the centre. shading OF Into
indistinctness about the edges of the picture,
Tho maximum angle subtended by the field
within which a t~olerahly clear Image can he
obtained IL Az, while in the eye, owing 10 the
concave surface on which the rays are received,
a field ~ lb0' Is obtained, IN vision Is not
sharp over all this area, owing to the Constitu-
tion and distribution OF tho nrrve fbres of tho
retina. |. fact the area OF Clearest sight is
very restricted, but the relatively large sur
rounding surface OF inferior sensitiveness serves
the purpose OF giving notice ~ the presence OF
objects In q wide Held of vision and guiding the
eye ~ n closer scrutiny OF them by means OF its
wonderful facility OF movement
so" continued the doctor, we know that
the clearest sight Ia very restricted, hut In the
case of this girl in darkness the ~clesrest sight Is
that which covers the large field, the vision be-
ing sharper over this area than Il Is In ordinary
individuals, But there are half a dozen lnpor-
tant points to be considered in this case, points
which will prove Of great value, when fully ex-
planned, to the medical world. and points which
cannot be discussed at present"