The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-04
Born Blind.

BLINDNESS Is not such bad thing
when man gets used TO it,. said
q Now Orleans Cculist, "and, afterall,
in cases where man is born blind
there is certain compcnsating effects
which seem to Offset. to some extent,
at least, the ailIiction of living in utter
darkness. Sam Jones is the author Of
a rather homey story to the effect
that man who lost his right foot in
an accident consolcd himself with
the reflection that it was the foot that
had the corns on it, The law Of com
pensation is great and consoiing fac
tor in life, and Emerson $ splendid
tribute to the principle did not reach
too high. But speaking Of blindness,
recall rather remarkable case
which came under the observation of
q celebrated Tennessee oculist, DR.. j.
l.. Minor, now living in Memphis. 1t
was the case ofa Mississippian. He
was born blind, and was forty years
old when the attention of specialist
was first called to his case. He had
cataracts on his eyes and had lived in
utter darkness during the forty years
Of his life. The specialist found the
case of such absorbing interest that he
made close study Of it, andrrcportcd
it to the national association Of which
he was a member, as one of the most
remarkable cases in the history Of the
profession.
The remarkable features of the case
were found in the ease with which the
blind man had moved about in the
world, in his ability to reason accu-
rately about distances and directions,
and the fact that he had been able to
make living for himself and family,
and had acquired small competency.
He was a farmer. He had bought and
paid for farm. He was able to do
any kind Of agricultural work except
to use the hoe and plow cotton in the
earlier stages Of its growth. He was
able to leave his home without guide
and to 60 to the home of his neighbor
on social or business mission, and
he often called his dogs around him at
night with the hunters horn and
would plunge into the very heart Of
the forest on coon hunt or fox
chase, and he never experienced any
trouble in getting back home. While
he could not tell where the moss was
on the tree, lie knew intuitlvely north
from south, and always got home, even
when he went by himself. The fact
is that he experienced absolutely no
tl~able in ordinary affairs of life, and
was looked upon by his neighbors and
friends as good and useful member
Of society in every respect. He had
wooed, won and had welded a
young Mississippi girl, and had
reared an interesting family of chill
| dren.
"But the most interesting part Of
the story" the narrator continued,
"from the way I look at the case, was
the experiments made by DR.. Minor
after the blind man came under his
observation. These experiments had
particular reference to the man 8
method of reasoning. He concluded
that he would have his eyes operated
on, and sought the specialist for that
purpose. Just before going to the
operating room he weakened, 4 be-
lieve I'D rather not see anything he
said, appealingly to the specialist, and
when pressed for the reason he ex-
planned that he was married, that he
loved his wife, and believed she was
the prettiest and sweetest thing in
the world, and that he had drawn a
mental picture Of her. and he was fear
full that really seeing her might in
| some way mar the picture.
SAT any rate the specialist persuad-
ed him to undergo the operation. The
| sudden change which followed was
marvellous. Square blocks, things in
circular form, glass tumblers, and
things of that sort were held up be-
fore him after the operation. When
the specialist asked him TO name the
shape Of certain article he would
reach for it from the force Of
habit, but, of course, the ply
would not let him touch il. He was
able, after some hesitation, to tell the
shapes and names Of things which he
had only known through the sense of
touch. The cot in the hospital, upon
which he had lain and which he found
without difficulty in room containing
hundred or more before the opera