BORN BLIND AND DEAF. 9 



I shall not follow Mr Wardrop through the details of the 

 surgical operation ; in performing which, he was forced, by the 

 peculiar circumstances of his patient, to employ a mechani- 

 cal apparatus, for fixing his body and head in an immoveable 

 posture. I flatter myself that he will soon communicate to the 

 public a history of the whole case ; and I should be sorry to 

 deprive his memoir of any part of its interest. The general 

 results alone are connected with the objects which I have at 

 present in view ; and these I shall take the liberty to state in 

 Mr Wardrop's words. 



" When the operation was finished, he expressed great sa- 

 tisfaction ; gazed around him, and appeared to distinguish ob- 

 jects. This, however, could not be ascertained in a manner 

 quite satisfactory, as it would have been prejudicial to his re- 

 covery to make any experiments ; but it could be perceived 

 from the change in the expression of his countenance. His 

 eye, accordingly, being covered up, he was carried home, and 

 put to bed in a dark room ; after which he was bled in the 



arm 



" On the fourth day I examined the eye accurately, and ob- 

 served the state of his vision. I found that the crystalline 

 lens (which had been pushed upwards and backwards) had 

 altered its situation since the operation, and could be again di- 

 stinguished, covering about one-fourth of the upper edge of 

 the pupil. The other part of the pupil was quite transparent, 

 and all the blood which was effused into the anterior chamber 

 during the operation was now absorbed. On making trial if 

 he could distinguish any object, he readily discovered a book, 

 or any similar thing, placed on the coverlet of the bed ; and in 

 many of his attempts, he seemed to judge pretty accurately of 

 their distance. 



Vol. VII. B « On 



