CHILDREN BORN BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 103 



der Wcu re, with cataracts in both eyes, which according to 

 llte&iccotH ts of his relations had existed from his birth. 



After he was received into the hospital, the following cir- Distinguished; 

 cumstanees were ascertained respecting his vision. The pu- u » ht & colours 

 pils contracted considerably when a lighted candle was 

 placet! before him, and dilated as socn as it was withdrawn. 

 He was capable of distinguishing colours with tolerable ac- 

 curacy, particularly the more bright aud vivid ones. 



On the fith of October the left eye was couched. This One eye 

 operation was preferred to extraction, from a belief, that the "^ ol(J a 

 cataracts were not solid, and as the injury done to the- cap- 

 sule by the operation would be less, there was not the same 

 cha ace or' inflammation, the disposition for which had been 

 so strong in the former case. As the -eye was not irritable, 

 and was likely to be but little disturbed by this operation, 

 every thing was previously got ready for ascertaining his 

 knowledge of objects, as soon as the operation was over, 

 should the circumstances prove favourable. The operation Effects of the 

 was attended with success, and gave very little pain. The operation. 

 eye was allowed ten minutes to recover itself: a round piece 

 of card of a yellow colour, one inch in diameter, was then 

 placed about six inches from it. He said immediately, that 

 it w * yeilow, and on being asked its shape said, ■'.« Let me 

 touch it, and 1 will tell you*" Being told that he must 

 not touch it, after looking for some time, he said it was 

 round. A square blue card, nearly the same size, beiug put 

 before him, he said it was blue and round. A triangular 

 jjieee he also called round* The different colours of the 

 objects placed before him he instantly decided on with 

 great correctness, but had no idea of their form. He moved 

 his eye to different distances, and seemed to see best at G or 

 7 inches. His focal distance has been since ascertained to 

 be 7 inches. He was asked whether the object seemed to 

 touch his eye, he said " No ;" but when desired to say at 

 what distance it was, he could not tell. These experiments 

 were made in the theatre of the hospital, in which the opera- 

 tion was performed* before the surgeons and all the students. 

 He was highly delighted with the pleasure of seeing, and 

 said it was " so pretty," even when no object was before 

 Jiim, only the light upon his eye. The eye was covered, 



and 



