Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-26
BORN BLIND.
Remarkable Achievements Of an
Afflicted Resident Of Mississippi

lGemafkaDie AcnAeFemenNs OF an
Afflicted Resident Of Mississippi
blindness is not such bad thing when
a fellow gets used to it, said an oculist,
and, after all, in cases where a man is
born blind there are certain compensating
affects which seem to offset to some ex-
tent at least, the affection of living in utter
darkness. Sam Jones is the author of a
rather homely story to the effect that man
who lost his right foot in an accident con-
soled himself with the reflection that it was
the foot that had the corns on it, The law
of compensation is great and cousoling
factor in life, and Emerson's splendid
tribute to the principle did not reach 100
high. But speaking of blindness, 1 recall
a rather remarkable case which came under
the observation of a celebrated Tennessee
oculst, DR.. J. l.. Minor, now living in Mem
phis. 1t was the case of a Mississippian.
He was born blind and was forty years old
when the attention Of a 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, and re-
ported it to the national association of
which he was a member, as one of the most
remarkable cases in the history of the pro-
fession
Tie 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 accurately about distances and di-
rections and in the fact that he had been
able to make living for himself aud family
and had acquired small competency. He
was farmer. He had bought and paid for
a farm He was able to do any kind of
agricultural work, exceptto use the hoe and
plow cotton in the earlier stages of its
growth He was able TO ave hi, home
without guide and to go to the home of
his neighbor on a social or business mis-
sion, 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 a coon hunt or a fox chase, and
he never experienced any trouble in getting
back home. While he could not tell where
the moss was on the tree, he knew intui
lively north from south and always got
home, even when lie made the trip by him
self. The fact is that he experienced abso.
lutely no trouble in ordinary affairs of life
and was looked upon by his neighbors and
friends as a good and useful member Of So
ciety 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 look at the case, was in the expert
ments made by DR. Minor after the blind
man came under his observation. These
experiments had particular reference to the
mans method of reasoning He concluded
that he would have his eyes operated on,
and he sought the specialist for that pur-
pose Just before going to the operating
room he weakened. I believe I'D rather
not see anything he said appealingly to
the specialist, and when pressed for the
reason he explained that he was married.
that he loved his wife and believed she was
the prettiest and sweetest thing in the
world aud that he had drawn a mental pic
ture OF her, and he was fearful that really
seeing her might in some way mar the pic
ture.
cat any rate the specialist persuaded 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 before him after the operation
When the specialist asked him TO name the
shape OF certain arlicie ne Woulu reach
for II from the force of habit, but, Of course
the physician would not let him touch it.
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 a room containing a hundred
ormore before the operation, which removed
I 4f "a The seufr
he failed to recognize was a poodle dog
which was covered with long white hair,
and with evident curiosity he asked his
benefactor what kind of an animal il was
| He had been used to hounds, and dog
/ which did not have long ears, short hair
and long, slim legs, was something he had
never Known while he was seeing with his
] hand