The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-03-17
SCIENCE MAY PROVIDE
new EYES FOR BLIND
LONG STRIDE MADE TOWARD
SOLVING THE PROBLEM
CLEVER DEVICE MADE.

turn suffering from serious defects,
but fortunately clever devices are be-
ing perfected to render their lot
easier. Hitherto we have looked
upon blindness as an appalling afflic-
ton, but already discoveries have
been made which will do much to inn
prove the condition of those who do
not possess natural sight
There is every hope for believing
that science shortly will provide new
eyes, or rather new means for seeing.
Much progress has been made with
this object in view.
The retina, marvellous as 1t is, is
merely highly nervous, special kind
of skin. There are creatures whose
sense Of sight consists In their whole
body. Hence there is nothing i'm
probable in the view that eventually
the human skin may be trained to
receive impressions Of light and so to
act as the organ of sight.
There is being perfected a marve-
lous instrument which enables the
blind to detect light by means of
the ear. BY its aid blind person
not only can recognize light, but can
locate 1t and even measure its inten-
sity.
The instrument is doubtless the
beginning of an important series of
inventions. So far it merely places
a blind person in the position of one
who is partially blind; that it, who
is able to detect the presence of light.
Before long it is hoped that the exist
ing instrument will be greatly i'm
proved, although in any form it will
merely be the starting point on the
road to great victory.
There is a special substance, selen-
ium, which has its electrical resis-
lance altered by light; it is due to
this substance that 1t is possible to
send photographs from one place to
another by means of an electrical
wire. In the new instrument the
selenium operates kind of tele-
scopes.
A pair Of these telescopes are
placed on the head and are attached
to a little camera containing the
selenium. Assuming this is adjusted
for darkness, no sound will be heard
when the individual is in darkness.
AS soon as any light falls upon the
camera a noise is heard which varies
in loudness according to the intensity
of the light. Thus moonlight makes
a distinct noise, while considerable
roaring sound is heard as the effect
of sunlight.
In practice 1t has been found best
to arrange the apparatus SO that the
: brightest light produces silence, but
9 the less intense light the greater the
: noise. Thus blind person fitted
with this apparatus can easily tell
. when he passes into a shadow. If in
room. he can tell when he is pass
g ing a window or doorway. Moreover
: the passage of anybody between the
light and the blind person will great
ly affect the instrument.
: Many wonderful effects have been
{ obtained. At present all the instru-
: ment does is to inform the blind per-
$ son whether he is in light or darkness
and the degree of either. This. how
3 ever, is long stride towards the So
luton Of the problem of seeing with
out eyes.
Fortunately 1t is possible to afford
aid more easily in the case of those
who are deafened as result of ex-
plosions and SO on. 1t Is far easier
. to cope with deafness than with
: blindness, particularly as Impressions
of sounds may be received through
, other parts of the body than the ear.
Science has already done much to
cope with deafness, by providing ar
, tificial ear drums. Very delicate
. microphopes can be obtained which
, greatly magnify sounds, rendering
them within the capacity of persons
who normally hear with difficulty.
! There are instruments in use to con-
: vey sounds by way of mouth instead
) of through the ears.
Hearing Is merely the result Of
vibrations of sound beating upon the
: drum of the ear, this being communi-
. Gated to the brain by series of ner-
7 yes. Deafness is a defect in this
, means Of communication. Now.
: person can hear distinctly by means
7 of his teeth; this can easily be proved
/ by placing one end Of pocket knife
, in the mouth and the other end on a
; piano.
: In similar way, one may COM
, municate sound to the brain through
: any other bony substance. even the
> skull itself. Starting from. these
: facts an apparatus has been devised
: which when attached to the head
: will act as an artificial ear. That is.