The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10

This Ia exactly what my invention ac-
complshes.
The image is gathered on screen in !
stead of on the retlna of the eyes. and
Is conveyed directly by an electrical cur
rent to the brain. Such a use of the
electrical current has already been fore
Swallowed in the process we'll known to
science as cataphoresis, By this 1t Is
possible to convey medicines, anesthetlcS
and other substances into the interior OF
n mans body without his being aware of
it. By its aid cocaine can be sent through
the solid bone conveying insensihility to
nerve or marrow
''My invention may be compared in GER
| tain respects to the telephone, which re
ceives an impression OF the human voice
aud reproduces 1t artihcially somewhere
else.
''rhe full development of this invention
and the principles upon which 1t is basel
will lead | hope. to many wonderful re-
suits. The invention VIII not only pc
valuable in enabling the blind to see but
away. just as the telephone conveys the
voice. In slightly varied form 1t Will
enable the deaf to hear.
II may point out that the mere fact
that We can see images In our dreams, IN
the dark and with our eyes closed Is proof
OF the possibility of seeing without eyes
as we at present understand them.
| In order to fully understand the nature
of the difficulties that must be overcome
by the inventor Of such an instrument II
is necessary to know something oil inc
construction OF the eye. To use crude
illustration the human eye may pc com
pared to u camera, camera In Its SIM
nIasf form. IL has an outer transparent
mart which lis called the cornea. The col
cred portion is the iris. The black spol
in the middle OF the eye Is me pupil ant
this Is the hole through wnich the lsn'
passes to reach the lens. me Vilreou'
humor, the substance Win whlcn tne w
hall is hlled plays little part in this stud.
aitho,,eh n is of the utmost Importance II
the proper distension of the globe OF IN
ave Rack OF the eyeball is the retina OF
which the image presented before the "
Is reoivd and IL is tn retina tnat conhuht
Gates directly with the brain py means
tha ontic nerve. In comparing the human
ave 10 n camera it may be said that IN
! eyeball takes the place OF the DARK poS
Thai the convex lens OF the camera is rep
resented by the lens that lies lnst back q
the iris While the retina taxes the plac
of the ground glass screen
1t is a we'll known fact that me oral
plays a most important part ~ 'ne WI,
sents its images to the retina upside dow
and il Ia The duty of the brain to deyelo
thsm in such n way that they VIII appea
right side up. 1t may also be proved I'M
pictures may be seen py the eye ana ~ =,
nor be aeysiop absolutely useless as The
p nshs no a impression upon n olh'
words It is an undesirable "a fact . thai hi i
the brain that really does the seeing W whi
the eye merely acts as an INSTRUMENT
sac,,itata The process, Under these eli
' cnmstances il is reasonable to believe tn
Dr. stems may have dise0y ,oTsa,o one an % n
nt mai Will act as substitute 4
/" he simple camera that enables us TO So
~ our so-called knowledge OF the relato
between the brain and the eye y not g
,irely at fault such tnins y Ut least
- possibility.
OF In regard to the actual value Of !
+. stiens' invention il is Impossible 70 spe
with 50 much assurance At - me ne p Pre-,
~ time. We have seen no .est .. we 'ns,s
~ ~ ment and what we have IS heafsay e'
Ne dence in regard TO tests the conditions
nd which we know l!ltle, From the repol
ii. mat have come 70 W. however u wor