The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-18

NAL zone Of retinal macular or CEN
trail fxation of the sound left eye
would exactly cover and complete the
pattern and act for that space de-
stroyed by disease in the right eye.
The right eye could not fix on and see
could only be. held on this unseen point
by the left eye. could only stare at it,
re n may SO speak. The central vi
sual center thus received the entire
photograph Of the object seen, made
complete by the complementing inter-
action and unitizing. function Of the
two eyes.
That the visual axis Of the.left eye
acted on@ healthy macula and liked"
the usual extent Of the picture there.
supplementing the coexten3inve blind
ness Of the right eye. is thus explain
ed. and one understands how, with
bot heyes. there was no failure or i'm
perfection Of the photograph. There
remains the lesser mystery of a large
extension Of the sensitive and reacting
retina of the right eye toward its bor-
ders or periphery.
This is more readily explained. In
the common eye Of mankind the ac-
curacy and perfection Of imaging in
the more outlying retinal regions les
sens with every degree travelled to-
ward the periphery. But some rela-
tive accuracy is retained in all parts.
and this. beyond doubt. is capable Of
increased education. It is a we'll
known fact that the creation, func-
tionally,' Of a new macula frequently
takes place at some distance away,
when the original macula has been
destroyed. Some birds have two nor.
NAL maculas. In the present peculiar
case the striving after a new macula
would be. and certainly was, replaced
by exceptional sensitizing. charging
and educating Of the greater zone
surrounding the lost macula. This
fact that. being originally right.eyed,
this mans right eye, after the loss Of
its central vision. held, in part. to it's
natural right and habit Of dominancy;
and thus. while its axis. of vision re-
manned immobile, there came an in
creased and widened power Of synch.
ronous response to the pictured slim
illus In the more outlying zones. Neu-
rology readily understands and ex.
plains how the cerebral centers Of
vision united the two fields, unmarried,
extremely sensitive and highly en-.
dowed brain thus seized on the dis
advantages Of disease and turned them
into q. superbly valuable excellence.
This anomalous requirement Of synch-
ronous 1arge-space reading was q
great aid to the man as student ana
master Of literature.
1t may be added that a normal pair
Of eyes. without any lateral motion. is
able to read printed lines at fifteen
Inches distance, only when such lines
are from about one-half to one inch
long. To extent this length Of line to
three or four inches. as in the present
case, and synchronously to visualize
intelltgently thirty or forty lines, is be.
You'd question impossible for the nor.
NAL visual mechanism. But to such
eyes as those of Mr.. C. It would not
only be possible. but. we'll considered.
natural. That the extramacular zones
OF the eyes are capable Of increased
heightened susceptibility and edu-
cation 10 well illustrated by the fact
that a child learning to read can Ak
on only one letter at q time: and by
and by he acquires the ability to take
In a word: then, later. several words.
and In adult life. perhaps a sentence.
But there Is then more than q sus.
picion OF some unperceived lateral mo.
ton Of the axis Of vision. Narrow
columns. and white instead Of black
letters. would surely add to this larg-
or oversight. But all such acquire.
ment differs, in fundamental mechan-
ics-or neurology-from that Of Mr..
IC.
1t appears clear to me that 20 Ions
as the two eyes retain the habitual
functions of the two normal macular
regions there al never be such q
marvellous extension Of synchronous
and perfect peripheral vision as was
illustrated in Mr.. C.is case. That is
possible only when ono macula 10 de-.
stroyed. with retention Of the perfect
peripheral portions. We have thus
the strange paradox that q man may
gain by a physical injury.