The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-23
An Experiment
BY r. PEMBERToN sLADE
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

When 1 was surgeon on board the
Allemania. making trips between
Bremen and Philadelphia. as was
taking my constitutional one after
noon on the upper deck a lady sitting
in a steamer chair accosted me.
Il believe you are the ships medical
man," she said.
Il am" responded. raising my cap
III you win kindly SIC By me | will
tell you Of IN operation am thinking
Of having performed
dropped in the vacant chair be.
side her. and she began.
MY eyes are natural freak she
said. you will perceive that my
right eye IS black and my left is steel
color. 7, being woman, am very SEN
sitive 10 my personal appearance. Now
] wish to talk with you OF the feast
bility OF making my eyes the same
color"
"That is impossible" l said decid
eddy.
"Whys"
"why--why. because It Is impos-
sible."
Il have thought much Of the mat
ter and have conceived a plan By
which think II can be done"
"You? DO You know anything about
surgery OF the eyer
"Not professionally"
"Thcn why do you aspire TO sug-
gest n process that an educated oc-
ulist would not even consider
Because believe 1t is possible"
Thinking the woman might be In
sane, looked her in both eyes-for
the eye Is telltale on insanity-but
could see no indications as to what |
suspected.
"yery well" / said. what is your
proccssY
Il propose to tattoo my gray eye
with India Ink"
was at first disposed to smile at the
idea. but 1t soon occurred 20 me TINT
If the India ink could be placed be-
meath the surface Of the cornea. as
it may be tattooed under the skin
Nonsense. Does not the pupil contract
and dilate? when much contracted It
would leave a ring Of the original col.
or.
MY dear young lady" said, your
scheme is preposterous"
Nevertheless | shall try IT,"
aAnd lose your eye"
"That is my only fear. But have
decided to take the risk"
Finding Il impossible to dissuade her
or induce her even to walt till she
reached port. where she could be
knocked out Of her crazy idea BIZ an
ocullst. In order to save her from the
probable consequences Of her expert
nIent said:
ssThe cornea Of the eye is not sensl-
tive. Indeed, 1t is really casing TO
the eye. something like an onion
Now. | would suggest. since you will
not listen to reason, that tattoo some
harmless fluid OF the proper color on
the eye as near ms possible TO the pu-
nil True. it will soon be absorbed,
but 1t will be test TO guide as as 20
whether it will be safe to repeat the
operation with durable filing"
How long will this experimental
nuid remain?'' asked the lady.
several days perhaps, possibly
longer
.sThe very thing! VIII you perform
the operation
"Not unless you refuse to promise
that you win not do It yourself.
Il certainly shall do It myself unless
you consent to do it for me-
"Wen, then. whenever you are ready
come to my Office"
The lady did not come to me TIL the
day before we were due IN port, IL
seemed absurd to attend to a matter
about which there was not the slight
est necessity for haste. and ! made q
strenuous attempt to persuade her TO
defer the operation till after she had
landed But she resolutely persisted
in her intention to perform It herself
before glass IL l declined, and know
ing that this. especially on rolling
ship, might result in the loss OF the
eye, finally gave In.
Taking lot Of needles, ] tied them
into a bundle. dipped them into a
harmless vegetable preparation ana
sanned fhe eve with their points ever