THE CURE 0F BLIND‘NESS.

~(From the London Literary Gazette.)

u been the province of tliisjournal, during more I rter of a century of its existence, and during a r of unparalleled cultivation and progress of almost .Jeience, to lend its best influence toward the know- _ ' ,. ,. '1nglgnecess ol'discoveries which romised to remote

” ~ V ,th figmaiikind. Among ot ier efforts 0 this de-

' 3d?

. “options to for stammering, by Mr. Hunt, obtained its ' ,ndatious; and the result has at length arri We

, , er a few years’ striggle, amid all the con- flictl ‘ chime to mastery over this a iction, the simple atid ofthiit gentlemin has been called itito full

practice; and his pupils from every part of the kingdom _

can bear viva vocc testimony to the entire efficacy of'his in- struetions in removing the impediments to perfect speech. , To have a faculty improved or restored is of inappreciable value to ,man, and especially in all the principal prolesstons and pursuits ol'civilized life: but even throughout all the grades 0! society the most important events may binge upon . the possession or non-possession of some coman human power. Thus, the other day, the very preservation of our young and interesting Queen did, to a certain extent, depend on the want of ready utterance in the boy Pearson, .wlien agitated by the threatened act of the assassin!” And this has

afforded a remarkable illustration of the nature ofthe afl'ec-.

.tion itself, and of the excellence of Nlr. Hunt’s practice.

I Young Pearson has attended his lessons since the event pl- luded to: and with such effect, that when producetl to give evidence on the trial ofFrancis, we have no doubt in saying - will be able to utter his testimony without the slightest “Ration ofany kind, or remaining disorder in the organs of: h. f _ .

A fact like this is preferable to volumes of testimonials, however high, and of arguments, however Well supported; but we have only adduced it here for the sake of_iutroducing tomtioe another momentous discovery, touching another

’e'nse, with experiments in which we last week felt it to he our duty to make ourselves acquainted. . _

Three weeks ago, (Literary Gazette, 1322,) in a notice to correspondents, we mentioned that We had “heard of M'r. (Dc) Turnbull's cure of blindness, by the fiimes ol prossu; acid, but bad no personal knowledge of the process ;” which

.3- itotioe immediately procured us an invrtatiou lrom Dr. l‘iirn-

)‘ rbull'to examine the cases ofseveral patients, from five or six

‘ to show twenty years of age, who were under his treatment

( for this sad calamity. We accordingly attended, and it is

not easy to express our astonishment and gratification at

what we saw. The various stages ol'cure, advanced in our

presence, by the simple application, for about halfu minute,

or until a little warmth was felt by the patient, ofthe vapour

ofbydrocyanic acid, in a small ptiial, held up to the eye,

with an aperture fitting the form of that organ; the various

nature of the diseases so assuiled—opacities ofthc cornea,

' ‘ 7,..énflammation, cataract, amaurosisi, irritis, &c. &c.; the vari-

' foul stages ofrelief which the patients had reached, With

"J etitnes one eye opened to sight and pleasurable to look

upon, and the other left nearly blind and in its pristine de-

fitrtnity, to show what had been achieved ; the various ap-

pearances offilms removing, cataracts breaking up, and be-

tngr gradually re-nbsorbed, pupils being re-developed. and

other altogether extraordinary symptoms of remedy and re- generation, filled iis, we repeat, with wonder and delight.

One child had been totally blind from six days old ; had

.- been taught to read on the raiscd letters by the humane sys- { tern taught in the blind school; but it could now see these V letters, and it was a curious phenomenon to behold—could equally read them by touch and by sight! The only differ- : once was a singular alteration in the tone ofvoice and pro- ) nunciation when reading in the two ways—that by the eye being far more natural, and like the iisunl reading to which we are accustomed, than the other, which was monotonous, and with an air ofdifficulty, even amid the singular readiness acquired by this method. ‘ . Other cases there were of the wetylerful production ofthe . power of vision to those born blind; but we select the case 7-, ’ ofa girl twenty—two years ofagc. and therefore fully capable to comprehend and to answer any question put to her. In I utter darkness for thirteen years previous to her cotning under Dr. Tut‘ubull’s treatment, she now can see her way, and can distinguish countenances and colours.

lfpos‘sible, a more marked instance ofthe efficacy of the curative process was exhibited in a young man, who had worked for many years at bookbindin'r. inflammation, and subsequent eminent treatment, lanciiig, &c., had rendered him so totally blind, that for some time before, and during the first two or three attendances for the application ofthe priissic acid vapour, he was obliged to be led. But he told us that now he could safely dispense with such aid, and readily discern objects. Soon, we have little doubt, he will be restored to his calling and to independence.

Another most interesting example ofthe value ofthis dis- covery was that of a gentleman fi'om Canada. He had been aflitcted in one eye with cataract and blindness for ten years. His remark to us was, that when he first came to England he could not, with the diseased eye, distinguish it cow from ahorse. He now with it could mark and recognize coun- tenances, and could appreciate the visible distinctions ofa sovereign and a shilling. This he did in our presence, but much more readily after the vapour ofthe highly concen- trated acid had dilated the pupil, and, to a certain degree, Mn iu the short space of time occupied by the action of the vapour, attenuated or dispersed the cloudy coats ofthe cataract.

Having assured ourselves ofthe reality ofzbese things, we sought the rationale, the source ofthe discovery, and the cause ofthe effects. Dr. 'l‘urubull’s answer was, that what an gested the first experiments to him was the evidence a orded in all cases of death from poisoning with pl'llssic acid; it was recorded, in every instance, that the eye ofthe corpse was observed for days as clear and lucid as if still in life. This led lnm to conceive that the acid exerted a spe- cific action on the eye. He argued that any medicament which produced such a symptom after decease, must [)OSSe'SS eertayn powers over the living subject; and he ventured up- on his course of investigation accordingly. The principle was speedily developed. The eye and all round i; soon dilated and reddencd. It was evident that the red arterial blood rushed into'tlie ininutcst fibres ofthe veins, and ex- cited a strong action throughout the whole ol the capillary processes. Not the slightest pain arose; a sedative influ- eeee appeared to be exercised on the nerves ol’sensation, and even If inflammation existed, it was rapidly removed. The eye, however, presented all the symptoms of violent in- flammation, which is the truly natural curative process, yet

‘ without the suffering of the struggle between nature and heme I‘he humours became quickly and singularly ac- tive; by degrees, the seat of the disease was assaulted, and a healthful tendency created, either to supply deficiencies or to remove obstructions. By repeating the application, the cures were completed.

The first thought that suggested itself to us, having no near or dear relative so heavily afliicted, was the restoration to the blessuigs ol the faculty of vision of an amiable and much beloved Prince. Painful operations have been tried with little or no success. Here was, then, a treatment iii- volving no suffering, entailing no distressing consequence, endangering no other faculty ; but, to our conviction, ensur-

, i‘n reliefand restoration. “Why not at once make known this disc0very to the Prince of Hanover?” we exclaimed. In answer, we were pleased to he informed that on that very morning four gentlemen had been, equally with us, delight- ed with the wonders ofthe liydrocyanic vapour, and with the hope ot'ciire for the illustrious scion of our royal family,

' Had it not been for the information conveyed lrom this boy,

Pearson, to Sir Peter Laurie, and by him promptly communicated to the Court, it is a fearful probability that the Queen \Vuuld have perished. To the appointment of equerries (Cols. \Vyldc and Arbutlinot,) to ride on each side ofthe carriage,so as tocover her Majesty‘s person._on the Mundiiv, we firmly believe it is, under ProVidcnce, owmg that the naiinn have to bless lleoven for the failure of the assassin‘s lilow.-—-Ed. L. G. I

l When he endeavoured to tell Sir Peter Laurie what had happened, he could not utter ii word: and now, alier a few les- sons, we have heard him repeat Mrs. Norton’s touching lines on ihe former attempt ol‘Oxford, without stumbling at a single syl-

ilblG.—-Ed- L. G.

cutouts: were.

one of them, personally intimate with the-King, had expres- sed his intention forthwith to communicate what bghad ob‘

served to Prince George of Hanover.

On inquiring what the results might be on old or short

sights, Dr. Turnbtill laughineg replied, that bydrocyanis ofthe family,

acid would soon supersede spectacles; it so altered all helped the visou in either case, that no doubt could exist 0

its applicability to their reliefaud restoration. Be this as it

may, We hesitate not strongly to recommend the wonderfu discovery of the cure for blindness.

THE LIGHTNING OF THE ‘VATERS. (From Graham's Magazine, for July.)

dili'ering essentially in cause from that which ornament

leaves, or filling the air with mimic meteors.

within the lower latitudes; and many, for this reason, hav

occasional fermentation of the oceuu,—a rouse which the

decaying wood.

But even now, the few who have witnessed it in full exten

are mere results ofliving action.

dinous character of those tribes ofsiinple and truiisparet beings, which swarm abouttbe surface ofthe ocean, an may be found continually changing in race and habits, wit almost every degree ol'latitude we traverse.

If you will take the trouble, on some suitable occasio during the month of November or December, to descen

few fortunate favorites. Take up the shovel that leans against the wall, order tli

to disturb the shells. lfthey have been taken from tli

growing in its neighbourhood. .K mm «a. nu.

r.‘

tapers, and without removing it from the shell,

dowed with power to outsliine, with inborn lustre, the rich est gem in Europe’s proudest diadem !

imposing in dimensions.

disturbs some large being of similar ejects a train of luminous fluid, which, twining,

the infinity oflifc is furnished by those inconceivably mi

merous bands of shining auiinalculcs,

grandest part in beautifying the night scene on the ocean. I he crest of every wave emits it

increases the mysterious brightness. On a star the nortce may find it very

by their whitened summits, while everv thrown into the deepest shade.

the moon has found some transient o canopy through which descends a thin thrown back from the edges of the waves.

. ROMANTIC STORY. The Boston Times says,

ear,and that so shocking a circumstance Was never heard 0

occurred some years ago in Virginia. all parties intimately. Col. F. respectability, a representative oftliis his wile, some sons, and a very fifteen years ofage. The widow, opened aboarding house at the her boarders was Mr. W meridiull of life, and a very fine looking man. man was the prop atid stay of the family, to the sons, furnished means to educate tl most fashionable manner, and conceived for her a most vio lent passion. On her return from school,

but she resisted alike his appeals and th her mother and friends. She hndindee

This gentle gave employmen

Tunas are few phenomena observable on the ocean, more striking than the phosphorescence of the water, when seen in high perfection. It has forcibly attracted the attention of poets and philosophers in all ages, and many and curious have been the speculations of those who have endeavored to explain the brilliant apparition. In later times, however, the progress of natural science has disstpated the mystery to a considerable extent, destroying a portion ol’its roman— tic interest, without, thereby, diminishing its exquisite beauty.

We are well informed, at present, that all the brilliant py- rotechny of Neptune is the effect ofanimal secretion, not

our groves and meadows, when the glow—worms of Europe, the fire flies of North America, or the fiilgoure ofthe liidies are lighting their fairy love lanterns beneath the cool, green

To those who are not liamilinr with microscopic research- es, it may seem almost impossible that animal life can be mul- tiplied to such success in the transparent waters, where not a mole was visible by daylight, as to give rise to the broad and bright illumination of the sea, so li’eqiicutly observed

attributed these night fires of the deep to the impurity and

esteem more nearly commensurate with the magnificence of the result. Such theorists regard the phosphorescence as Sl- inilar to that so constantly produced by piitrilying fish and

These ideas, as I have stated, are no longer tenable, and the real origin of the phenomenon is better understood.

variety and grandeur—a privilege rarely enjoyed, except by those who have made long voyages, and have become liuni- liar with many seas—arc lost in wonder; and unless profes- stonally devoted to the study ofnaturul history, they find it diflicultto credit the assertion, that all these vast displays

It riiny prove interesting, than, to those who are fond of such investigations, to offer some remarks on the multitu—

iiito afashi'onable oyster cellar, and ask admission to the pile of freshly opened shells stowed in the usual receptacle, which is in some dark vault or closet about the premises, you may chance to witness, on a diminutive scale, the far- faiiied phosphorescence ofthe sea,withmit enduring the heavy immigration tar levied, with unrelenting severity, by the old tridentbearer upon all novices, except, perhaps, a

light to be removed, and the door closed, and then proceed

water where it is purely snlt,—niid still more certainly if gathered from the beds of blue marine iiitid that are the litvorite resort ofthe finest oysters—the moment you throw a shovel upon the top of the pile, the whole ninss, jarred by the blow, Will become Spangled with hundreds of brilliant stars—not in this case pale and silvery, lint ofthe richest golden green or blue. None of these stars may equal in size the head ofthe finest pin; but so intense is the light emitted by them, that n single, and scarcely‘ visible point, will sometimes illuminate an inch ofthe surrounding stir- face, even casting shadowsfrorn the little spears ot'sen-grass .- . 2" l” Choose one of the most conspicuous ofthose 'dimigutivc‘

c i'ry it towards the gas lamp. As you approach, the brilliancy of the star declines; and when the full flood ol‘ligbt is thrown upon the shell, it nearly, or entirely disappears. Ifyou press your finger rudely upon the spot, you will again perceive the luminous matter diffused, like a fluid, over the 'sur- rounding surfiicc, and shining, for an iiistant,-inore brightly than ever, even under the immediate glare of the gas Then all is over. You have crushed one of the glow-worm , ofthe deep—an animal, once probably as vain of his goldefl flame as you ofaiiy ofyour brilliant endmvnieins—perhaps some sentinel there stationed to alarm his sleepng brethren ofthe approach of danger—perhaps an animalcnlar hero, trimming his solitary lamp to guide his chosen one, through more than Leaniler’s dangers, along the briny path to her rocky bower, beset by all the microscopic monsters ofthe corullines! At all events, despise it as you may, this little being was possessed oflil'e, susceptible ofliappiness, and en-

The sea is filled in many regions, and at various seasons, with incalculable multitudes of living creatures, in structure much resembling this little parasite, but often vastly more

The smallest tribes that ’nre able to call attention to their individual existence generally Wan- der, like erratic stars, beneath the waves. Thev may be seen by thousands shooting past the vessel, ori evenings when the moon is absent or obscured, suddenly liuhtinv their torches when the motion ofthe how producesna ref. curling swells and breakers on either hand, and whirlinv I'roni cddy to eddy, as they Sweep along the side and are lot; in the wake. From time to time the vessel, in her progress powers, who instantly

, and waving about among contending currents, assumes the semblance

ofa silver snake. But the most surprising ofall proofs of

o . I I I too small for human VISION, which Ill their aggregate effect perform, perhaps, the

' pale and milky light, and every ripple that, urged onward too rapidly before the breeze,

expires lll spreading its little patch of foam upon the water,

_ less evening ' . . difl‘icult to account for the dis- tinctness With which even the distant billows' may be traced other object is

‘ . _ The gentle radiation from Within the foam deceives the eye :——it seems a mere reflec-

tion from the surface; and he turns again and again towards the heavens, with the constantly renewed impression, that

pening in the cloudy pencil of rays, to be

. “that some one lately attempted to murder a sleeping woman by pouring hot lead into her

before.” This is a mistake. A more remarkable instancg

We personally knew , a gentleman ofliigh county, died, leaving beautiful daughter, about finding herself destitute, country seat, and among ,a wealthy merchant, in the

to daughter in the

he addressed her, e importunities of

. , ' d formed an attach- ment for a lingcdyoung man ’ in the same town, but he was

not to be put in competition with the 'rich glorchgm the estimation of the family. The young la y, all; of“. thought otherwise. Finally, howeveg after tq‘ofi: siduity and delicate gallantry on the part od .mcmion iid the combined tears, entreaties, threats an ped b me a the fair girl stood before the altar envenetcglem ' ' . The next morning it large party was 'gi , f h‘slv‘qiiethe midst of the dance, Mr. W-—, being attacki’ild an" i was compelled to Wit -

.——’

' ' ’ headache l 27:33“ sthcilfe bung ovei' him (in. the silpnt WlétiSlil:;

‘. iarentl' in deep distress, an insistet on :iiiilghpb‘tlildii. Sb: poured out a Wineglass lull oflaudalppoqk and be swallowed it Without knowmg its nature. .d and some cause, it acted as an emetic, but left hlfllll stiipi m la wandering. llis senses reeled. One moment efwipu 8 my motionless and composed, as ifon the borders oI t eI [like world, and then he would sligfgnpél leapdqaqliiizci‘i :ifieayimis-

' n in his a ony. I _ :igiiiiitgori‘li‘e chamber? At length he fell into a gentlti Isllllri'l‘: her. She then stooped for a moment over the :tnoudf rigid]: embers—approached the lied, and, holdinga eatfe nelted in her hand, calmly prepared to pour a stieamdo hr mas,- lead into his car. At that instant he moved; an tI ebm.i" ing liquid, intended to penetrate to and scald oplt t ten hi; and thus cause his death Without a trace, fe upo ” rs check. He shouted in exgruciatiug Palu,'ttlld the geyedtihé mother, brothers and friends, rushed in. llbere Wiit ie still stupid husband, the

S

lend riveted deep in his cheek, and there stood the fiend wife-her bridal fillets yet upon litter brow, the instrument of death in her hand, andriLn tern)” pliial, labelled “ Laudanum,” lying on the floor. _ e earfu renlitv ofthe ruse rushed upon every one, and in the con u- sion of the moment she disappeared, and was htirried forth- with out ofthe commonwealth to a distant State. On search- ing the room, an old French magazme was found, contqin- ing the death-bed confession of a woman who had mutt er- cd nine husbands by pouring load into their ears. The l:ttl(lfllll.lll'l and the lead, it was ascertained, she had procur- ed li‘om the store of Mr. ——-, a fesv days before their mar- riage,nnd the ladle used was part of the. bridal present. The Grand Jury next morning found a billagainst the fu- gitive, and the 'Legislaturc, being in sossmn, immediately decreed a final and absolute divorce. What renders this case the more singular is, that Miss T was proverbial for the blandness of her manner, and the unilorm_ softness ol'lier temper. She Was blonde. The rose leaftinted her lily cheek as a sunbeam glows on snow. Her blue eyes were indescribahly,beautifiillysweet, and her golden hair floated like gossamer around aform more perfect and vo- luptuous than ever Raphael dreamed of, or Peti'arch sung. Often have we gazed, as she stood the cyiiosure of every circle, and wondered if angels could be so fair. _

But the sequel of this romance is more Singular still. Years rolled by, and Mr. W continued a wretched and solitary man; but the spell ofthe enchantress was still upon his soul. He closed his stores—sold his estittesfcol- lectcd his ample means, and followed her to her distant abode, to make her a new offer of his hand! She hadJust imrri'eda man of high standing, aware ofall the circum- stances, but incapable of resisting her charms. Poor W -—-! Then, indeed, did the iron enter his soul. “The deadly arrow qiiivered in his side.” His early love—his fluctuated courtship—his triurnpb, and the tragedy it occa- sioned—the flight—the divorce—his years of misery—the new birth ofliis passion—and now its disappointment, final and forever—came rushing over him, like an avalanche, in the tide ofbitter memories, and he prayed for death! Whe- ther this prayer was answered, we know not. He may yet wander, broken-hearted, over the earth; but one thing we do know—if he be (lead, a more wretched, yet a purer and nobler spirit never winged its flight to heaved—Nb!- chez Free Trader. '