Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-05-31
AN ASTONISHING CASE.
Sees With His Ears and Hears Will,
His Eyes,

Sees With His Ears and Hears With
His Eyes.
Wilhelm Braun recently described
in the New York Stats Zeitung a
man who literally heard with his eyes
and saw with his ears.
Recently a celebrated Berlin sur
geon performed in his private saui.
tarium an operation on a man for
brain tumOr. The opening of the
skull disclosed the fact that the tum-
or was of great size, and that it's re-
moval would necessitale the section
OF many brain nerves. There was
nothing else to do, however, as it was
question of life or death. After the
main operation had been successfully
completed the cut portions of the
brain were brought together, but here
a mistake was made Ga fact disclosed
only after the patient had been con-
sclous for some time), and the upper
portion of the sight nerve was con-
nected with the under portion of the
auditory nerve, while the upper Dor.
ton OF the auditory nerve was con.
nected with the under portion of the
visual nerve.
The story which Herr Braun now
tells is worthy of Poe or a Rider
Haggard. During the first period Of
convalescence the patient was not
conscious of either light or sound i'm.
presslons, and since that time the
man has had no sense of sight or
hearing in the real meaning of the
word. The seventh day after the op-
GRAFTON he awOke in the morning and
CROPPED. as was his custom, for an
electric button near his bed in order
to summon an attendant. The mo-
ment, however, he touched the but.
ton there appeared. to his boundless
establishment, a wide expanse of blue
light. Herr Baum here explains that
the blue and violent rays of the spec
trum have the shortest period of vi
bration and the smallest wave length,
and, therefore, correspond to high
tones, while, on the other hand, red
corresponds to deep tones and yellow
and green to tones between these two
extremes. Thus is explained the fact
that the sound of the electric bell,
caught by the auditory nerves and
transmitted to the connected visual
nerves and then to the visual brain
tract. produced the impression of blue
light
:.
ed three days later At this time the
sight nerve suture had healed, and
the second phase of the phenomenon
appeared. The patient was now sleep
ing badly. He was frequently awak-
ened during the night by sensations
Z of light which were produced by the
=. slightest noise. On this day he was
awake long before daybreak AS
dawn approached he heard a gentle
!, sound in which he was able to dis
tinguish various allied tones. The
sounds, however dismayed him, es-
pecially as they increased in intensity
q Suddenly-this at the time of the
!. suns appearance-the noises became
. deafening and the man. Mortified.
! sprang out of bed and rushed in the
:, direction of the window. However.
his trouble was only increased by this
move. for while he had up to that
time heard only one sound, now from
every side noises crowded upon him.
, If he looked at the red curtain at the
window (Which, of course. he could
> not see either as curtain or window
/ a deep bass crashed upon him: if he
, glanced at the carpet delicate bells
:, rang in his ears: if he looked at the
4 white door very bedlam burst
.. | around MIN.
\. The above facts. Herr Braun says
;. were disclosed after manifold expert
ments. since at first no communica
4 ton whatever was possible with the
+ patient. Words were translated into
light sensations. optical signs into
"a aural impressions. At last. after many
D months hard work and constant use
of the Helen Keller alphabet. it be
r, came possible for the medical men
II to get at the true state OF the facts
Since then a wide series of expert
ments have been made by the mos
prominent scientists in Europe. The
= patient has been able to accuston
e. himself in a way to his changed or
u gans Of sense In general objects o
.. only one color are easier to recognize
" by their sound than others with sew
,e eral colors. but even in the case o
IN parti colored objects the subject i
ID now able to tell from their sound
CT what their color is. II he looks a
IN the heavens he is able to tell whett
err the day Is clear or cloudy: dee
blue produces a loud, high and tolel
12 ably clear note. gray blue deepe
10 sound mingled with other noises. gra
is represented by the simultaneou
es humming of gentle notes. He is abb
" to recognize room at once, simpl
O. by the sounds.
~; Interesting experiments have bee
=" performed with flowers of many co
ors which have been given the pat
ent to arrange in boquets. In thi
. case certain color combinations ar
I. recognized by him as in accord. otf
W. ers as inharmonious, ana 1t is remark
able that the grouping OF flower
which he arranges by sounds is i
N every way beautiful to the eve G
the spectator. With pictures the e,
ct. periments are no less interesting
Is. Naturally the objects are not reco'
IN nized but it IS more than extraord
is. nary that Menzel's "Walzwork' (Rol
30 ing MilD produces a deafening III
ed roar. while Bochlin's "Pieta" create
soft, gentle chords. and II the eye I
10 the subject be allowed to pass owe
the entire canvas a gentle melody
tie heard by him. Sounds produce enua
lst ly remarkable effects. A shrill loo
he motive whistle is violet the sour
OF, OF gong is translated by orange. tt
an dropping of rain is green. Most
re. the persons surrounding the man a.
he recognized bv their voices. The G
Of feet of music is particularly agre
able to the Datient. and he saws tn
the colors which are now contured
20 40