508 
POPD*LAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
to him it appeared so like ink that he once found himself 
endeavouring to write with it. He saw no red in it. 
At this time, unfortunately, my attention was not so much 
drawn to ophthalmic disease as it has been since, and I omitted 
to make such an investigation of this remarkable affection 
which in one so fully capable of affording accurate informa- 
tion as to the phenomena observed would have been so valuable. 
Very soon after he was attacked with the first symptoms of 
softening of the brain, which gradually progressed during the 
two years his life was prolonged. 
It has since several times occurred to me that the defective 
condition of sight might have been connected with the early 
development of the disease in the brain. The extreme con- 
dition of colour-blindness in which I found Mr. Reach's eyes 
must have been a progressive aggravation, for otherwise it is 
most probable more notice would have been taken of it than 
seems to have been the case. Indeed it might have been 
induced as the first symptom of an overworked brain, as I 
have had opportunities since of observing instances of colour- 
blindness arising from general disturbance of the system, and 
disappearing as this was corrected and relieved. 
In another case, the fundus of the eyes upon examination 
were seen to be very pale ; the defect gradually yielded to 
proper treatment. The gentleman, Mr. Raith, first noticed 
many peculiar appearances when looking at green leaves, 
chiefly so if growing with grass ; then all appeared elongated 
and serrated. Even the leaves of trees — a willow-tree in 
particular — were not only indistinctly seen, but were very 
much serrated. Red flowers of most kinds could only be 
distinguished by their form from leaves ; the exception 
to this was when they were globular in their form, as the 
dahlia. 
Mr. W. Butcher was early put to the carpet trade, and after 
a short time he discovered some defect of sight which ultimately 
proved to be colour-blindness. By close observation he made 
himself well acquainted with the proper names of colours, and 
so kept his defect from those about him. By educating the 
eye to the peculiar warmth imparted when all the colours in 
carpets were said to harmonize, he was enabled to raise himself 
to the position of a salesman in a large house of business, and 
ultimately became travelling salesman. He has four brothers 
living, all of whom are colour-blind. Taking* up the prismatic 
colours, he could distinctly see the line of demarcation between 
them, but confounded purple and crimson, pink and blue, red 
and green ; and on placing before him a series of reds, scarlets, 
greens, and browns, he said, “ They are all a mass of confusion, 
and it is totally impossible for me to distinguish one from the- 
