The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1902-01-18

=, N@SS WIiCu Cdul6 uuu0T the observation
~ OF celebrated Tennessee oculist, DR.
j. l.. Minor, now living in Memphis. 1t
e. was the case Of a Mississippian. He
n, was born blind, and was 40 years old
when the attention of the specialist
was first called to his case. He had
cataracts on his eyes and had never
= seen the light OF day, and, in fact, had
ID lived in utter darkness during the forty
l. years of his life. The specialist found
!; :; Inc case Of such absorbing interest tAat
- ne made a close study of 1t, and re-
n ported 1t to the national association,
l. OF which he was a member, as one of
- the most remarkable cases in the his
: tory OF the profession. The remarka-
8 Die features OF the case were found
IN the case with which the blind man
mad moved about in the world, in his
ability to reason accurately about dis
tances and directions, and in the fact
That he had been able to make living
for himself and family, and had acquir-
ed small competence. He was far
mer. He had bought and paid for the
farm. He was able to do any kind Of
agricultural work, except to use the
noe and pillow cotton in the earlier
stages Of its growth. He was able to
leave his home without q guide and
to go to the home of his neighbor on
a 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 a fox
chase, and he never experienced any
trouble In getting back home, either.
While he could not tell where the moss
was on the tree, he knew intuitively
north from south, and always got home i
even when he would make the trip by =
himself. The fact is that he expert.
enced absolutely no trouble in ordi. d
nary affairs of life, and was looked I'D q
on by his neighbors and friends as a II
good and useful member of society in ID
every respect. He had wooed, won and "
Wedded a young Mississippi girl, and U q
mad reared an interesting family of :,
children. II
But the most interesting part of CT
the story" the narrator continued, q
from the way l look at the case, was 81
IN the experiments made by DR.. Minor
alter the blind man came under his
observation. These experiments had
particular reference to the mans 81
method OF reasoning. He concluded
nat ne would have his eyes operated
,n' and he sought the specialist for va
nat purpose. Just before going tc mi
ne operating room he weakened. 4 ca
'elleVe Id rather not see anything ra
e SAID appea!ingIy to the specialist fol
nd when pressed for the reason he val
xplained that he was married, that lee
e loved his wife and believed she was vel
le prettlest and sweetest thing in the Dol
'orld, and that he had drawn q mon. r
Il picture of her, and he was fearful err
lat really seeing her might in some the
ay mar the picture. At any rate the mn
'eclalist persuaded him to undergo cor
10 operation. The sudden change cd
- Aoiio"eu was marvellous. Square Vie
ocks, things in circular form, glass in
molers and things of that sort were T
I'd up before him after the operation, sen
hen the specialist would ask him to vor
me the shape OF a certain article he cor
ould reach for it from force of habit n =
T. Oh course, the physician would not tho
MIN touch 1t. He was able, after froo
me hesitation, to tell the shape and On
mes CT things which he had only NOR
own through the sense of touch. ann,
en- the more pronounced colors bo,,
lch ne had been able to distinguish ond
'ough the sense of touch, he was ~
Ie to name when his eyes fell on hnt
IN for the first time. The cot in n,
hospital, upon which he had lain o,,on
which he found without difficulty 60,
room containing a hundred or 49,
find oftor 49, $1,000. $1,000, lo was aole tire,
the cataracts from his eyes. The s .r
thing he failed to recognize was ou"n
oodle dog which was covered with 80 80
v ha aekod hIo ho s'tuon' oull' but i
of an animal y u,or ~ii"' jourr
/ to hornds and 49, LOU Oeen times
nave long ears, short hair and long t pt0ni
legs was something he had never we
"n while ne was seeing things with . .houS
hand. He was cured, and returned 1noSe
is family in Mississippi. He wrote aDout
le specialist as soon as he reached anu
e. He recalled the conversation d d wiz
ad with the doctor respecting his %, y0
Just before he went to the oner. ,oosit
table. He said he knew the peas
lcian was anxious to know what 50 IA
bought of his wife since he could rci! o
Ter as she really was, and he add ATE IN
nat she was really prettier than oow
ad ever thought she was in the Inc
Oh his blindness, and the vision louFS
amply repaid him for all the pain t'ley
expense to which he had been put every
under the specialists treatment ABOUT
W Orleans Times-Democrat. oro-He
Worshipping Fishes.