Observations on the cure of William Taylor, the blind boy of Ightham, in Kent; who being born with cataracts in both eyes, was at eight years of age, brought to sight, on the 8th of October, 1751, by Mr. John Taylor, jun. oculist, ... Also some address to the publick, for a contribution towards the foundation of an Hospital for the blind, already begun by some noble personages

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- OBSERVATIONS On the CURE of William Taylor, THE BLIND BOY Of IGHTHAM.

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- A LIST OF THE Noblemen and eminent Persons who have illegible mitted their Names to be mentioned for Encouragement of this Treatise.

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- TO Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, junior, BY Mr. BOYCE.

- A SPECIMEN OF REMARKABLE CURES.

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OBSERVATIONS On the CURE of WILLIAM TAYLOR, THE BLIND BOY of Ightham, in Kent; Who being born with Cataracts in both Eyes, was at Eight Years of Age, brought to Sight, on the 8th of October, 1751, By Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, junr. OCULIST, in Hatton Garden.

CONTAINING His strange Notions of Objects upon the first Enjoyment of his new Sense: Also, some Attestations thereof, in a Letter written by his Father, Mr. WILLIAM TAYLOR, Farmer, in the same Parish. Interspers'd with several curious Examples and Remarks, historical and philosophical thereupon.

DEDICATED TO Dr. MONSEY, Physician to the Royal Hospital at C••lsea.

ALSO Some ADDRESS to the PUBLICK, for a Contribution towards the Foundation of an HOSPITAL for the BLIND, Already begun by some NOBLE PERSONAGES.

Printed by E. OWEN, in Hand-Court, Holborn, 1753.

A LIST OF THE Noblemen and eminent Persons who have •…mitted their Names to be mentioned for Encouragement of this Treatise.

- HIS Grace the Duke of Ancaster.

- The Dutchess of Ancaster.

- The Rev. Gilbert Affleck

- Harbord Astley, Esq

- Mr. Arnaud, Surgeon

- Mr. Adderly

- Mr. Alexander

- Mrs. Alexander

- Tho. Bladen, Esq

- Mr. Briggs

- Mr. Burrow

- The Rev. Mr. Clendon

- — Carter, Esq

- Mr. Robert Cliff

- Mr. Chapman

- Mr. Dingley

- Mr. Drissield

- Mr. Dickens

- Sir John Evelyn

- Col. Elleson

- Mr. De Ellens, a Swiss •••¦tleman, blind of 〈◊〉 Eyes, was lately co•••… and restored to Sig•• 〈◊〉 Mr. Taylor, Oculi•• 〈◊〉 Hatton-Garden, 〈…〉 Presence of Mr. 〈◊〉 Fontaine, an emine•• •••¦geon, in Meard's 〈◊〉 Dean-Street, Soho; 〈◊〉 what is very remar•••… had not the least I••••¦mation during his 〈◊〉

- Simon Fanshaw, Esq

- Wm. Fauquier, Esq

- Mrs. Fauquier

- Mr. De la Fontaine, S•…

- 〈◊〉 Farran, French Teacher

- 〈◊〉 Foot, Apothecary

- 〈◊〉 Froling Hogmagog

- 〈◊〉 Grace the Duke of •rafton

- 〈◊〉 Right Honourable the••rl of Godolphin

- 〈◊〉 •d Garrick, Esq

- 〈◊〉 de Grey, Esq

- 〈◊〉 Honourable William •arvey, Esq

- 〈◊〉 •am Harvey, Esq of •…igwell

- 〈◊〉 Hall

- 〈◊〉 Johnson of Eltham

- 〈◊〉 Johnson

- 〈◊〉 T. Johnson of Norwich

- 〈◊〉 Grace the Duke of ••…ds

- 〈◊〉 Grace the Dutchess of ••…ds

- 〈◊〉 Honourable James ••…nley, Esq

- 〈◊〉 Rev. Mr. Love

- 〈◊〉 Thomas Life, Surgeon, •••…market

- 〈◊〉 •atham, Apothecary, ••…itham

- 〈◊〉 Right Honourable ••…d John Murray

- •••…m Mellish, Esq

- 〈◊〉 Mellish, Esq

- Mr. Mantineau, Watchmaker

- Miss Mautineau

- Francis Naylor, Esq

- Piercy Windham Obryen, Esq

- T. Salter, Esq

- Miss Oldfield

- Tho. Panton, Esq

- Mrs. Panton

- Mr. Francis Pit, Newmarket

- Mr. Palmer

- Wm. Robinson, Esq

- Joseph Richardson, Esq

- Sleigh Soame, Esq

- Mr. Shillingfleet

- Mr. Surman

- The Rev. Dr. James Taylor

- Philip Ryley Taylor, Esq

- Mrs. Taylor

- — Tilson, Esq

- Oliver Tilson, Esq Hil-Street

- James Trimmer, Esq

- The Right Honourable the Earl of Waldgrave

- William Windham, Esq of Fellrig

- John Windham, Esq

- Mr. Thomas Worlige, Painter

- Mr. Wilton

TO Dr. MONSEY.

SIR,

UNderstanding that you have been a singular Friend to Mr. Taylor, junr. in recommending him to several Patients; and in particular, that you are acquainted with his having had the Honour to attend his Grace the Duke of Ancaster; and also of his having performed a remarkable Cure on one of his Grace's Family, I am induced to take the Freedom of begging your Confirmation thereof. I have been also informed, that you saw the Boy of Ightham, of whom there will be a short Treatise speedily publish'd; and if you made any Remarks upon him, which you think may be serviceable to the Publick, I should be very proud of such Communication thereof, as may illustrate, and also confirm the same; which will be look'd upon as a great Honour conferr'd upon

SIR,
Your obedient humble Servant, WM. OLDYS.
Sept. 20, 1720.

TO Mr. OLDYS.

SIR,

THAT I have been a Friend to Mr. TAYLOR, jun. I am very ready to own, and wish my Friendship could have been of more Service than I fear it has been, because I think he deserves it; and I shall be glad to give him all the Assistance in my Power for the Future.

I CAN attest the Truth not only of his having performed a very remarkable Cure on one of his Grace the Duke of Ancaster's Family; but that he also had the Honour of being twice sent for, from Town, by the Duke himself, to his Grace's Seat at Grimesthorpe, in Lincolnshire,; where he attended his Grace under a violent Inflammation in his Eyes; which Mr. Taylor treated with all due Care and Judgment, 'till he effected a complete Recovery.

THE principal Observation I made upon the Ightham Boy, was, his confirming the Phoenomenon in Vision, of Objects being painted, inverted upon the Retina; for when a Pin was held upright before him, he constantly directed his Finger to the Head, instead of the Point, and so, vice versâ: How the Mind turns it afterwards, is a Question of another Kind, and very hard to be resolv'd.

I have been a Witness to several other very deplorable Cases, in which, he has given surprizing Relief; and if it were proper, I could name some other Persons of the highest Rank and Quality, to whom he has given the fullest Satisfaction.

I have but one Thing more to add; which is, That my worthy Friend Mr. Chiselden, in his Life-time, gave this Man all the Encouragement in his Power; and for this good Reason; because as he told me, he very well deserv'd it; which I think too, or else I had sav'd you, and myself the Trouble of this Answer.

I am, SIR,
Your oblig'd, tho' unknown humble Servant, M. MONSEY.
Chelsea Hospital, Sept. 20, 1752.

TO Dr. MONSEY, Physician to the ROYAL HOSPITAL at Chelsea.

SIR,

AS great Weights may hang upon small Lines, we know not to what extensive Benefit, the within proposed Foundation of an HOSPITAL for the BLIND, may arrive; since the Constitution of such a necessary and desirable Charity, has already been so generously patroniz'd by his Grace the Duke of ANCASTER, and the Right Honourable the Earl of GODOLPHIN, besides other noble and publick-spirited Persons of Rank and Distinction, who have also signified their favourable Disposition, as well to establish and maintain the same, as to appropriate some reasonable Salary for the Encouragement of his Deserts, who first offer'd this laudable Scheme thereof, and his Attendance upon the Patients to be admitted therein.

Indeed, Merit is a Plant, not always of such a hardy and independant Nature, as will rise to any eminent Head of its own Strength, and spread itself forth, or flourish to the Notice, and fructify to the Advantage of Mankind, without some Assistance: On the contrary, we see Virtue often like the Vine, apt to droop with the Weight of its own vigorous Fertility, and even to trail, or creep only along the Ground, till it withers and consumes away, or is trampled on, and crush'd under Foot, without some friendly and fostering Hand to rear, conduct, and display it, to the cherishing Beams of the Sun: Then will it produce its Fruits to Maturity in Abundance, and adorn its Supporters with many a generous Cluster.

Upon these Considerations, it is with the greatest Satisfaction that I perceive, in your courteous Answer to my Letter annex'd, how cordially you have, by your benevolent Recommendations, promoted the Practice and Interest of Mr. Taylor, who first proposed the Foundation of the Hospital aforesaid, and among the many other Distempers of the Eyes by him relieved, perform'd the remarkable Cure that is the Subject of the following Discourse, which I beg leave to offer the Publick, under the Shelter and Protection of your Name. Had you been in Town, I would have personally intreated the Favour of this Liberty, as a further Proof of your Friendship, to the Performer of that Cure, and of its great Influence, if it should extenuate the Imperfections in this Representation of it. But as the Impression is so nearly finish'd, I hope you will pardon the Presumption of this Address, as also that of publishing my Letter to you, with your Answer; since others may be confirmed thereby, in the Contents of it, no less than,

SIR,
Your oblig'd humble Servant, WM. OLDYS.

OBSERVATIONS On the CURE of William Taylor, THE BLIND BOY Of IGHTHAM.

SINCE our merciful Creator has condescended to render himself more visible in his Operations, than his Essence, what an invaluable Blessing ought we to esteem it, that he has assisted our Reason, with such an admirable Sense, as that of Sight, thro' such curious Organs as the Eyes! Whereby we may every Moment confirm ourselves in the Omnipotence and Eternity of his Being, by the continual Wonders of his Works; whereby, all those, who rationally behold the Miracles of his Creation, must be illuminated in their Souls, with those Attributes of their Creator, tho' these Luminaries of the Body.

AND as it is a Satisfaction unexpressible, in Minds divinely exalted, to enjoy those ocular Confirmations, what miserable Darkness must it be, to be deprived of them? But to what Strait, what narrow Limits must their Knowledge and Ideas be contracted, who have been led about, in this State of Obscurity, from the Time of their Birth, for the whole Night of their Lives? What a comfortless Condition, to think, that all Places and Things, are to them alike dismal, and the whole Universe itself but a Dungeon! But on the other hand, to consider, what a Feast of Felicities must be spread before them, in having such Loss repair'd; such Want supply'd, and that inestimable Benefit of Sight, from which the Eyes of the Blind, had been, by natural Defects, Diseases, or Accidents, so long debarr'd, suddenly, by the skilful Hand of their Fellow-Creature, bestow'd upon them! When he draws the Curtain of Darkness from before them, and opens at once, as it were a new Creation of Images and Objects, in moving and still Life; at once, a most spacious and opulent Prospect, of all Varieties, on every Side, in this lower World, and innumerable Worlds themselves, glittering in the vast Expance above! For all which serviceable, delightful, glorious and marvellous Scenes, to be made Partaker, what Reward, what Recompence can be adequate? And yet of so much Happiness, how long will some remain unpossess'd? because their penurious and enthralled Souls cannot give them Liberty to make any reasonable Return of Gratitude, but will rather constrain them to continue moping on, in perpetual Pain or Darkness, than let them bestow any thing for the Enjoyment of their Sight. Some again are deterr'd from seeking any Redress, thro' a Prejudice raised by Ignorance against it, under the distasteful Notion of trying Practices, and dabbling or tampering with their Eyes: So thro' their diffident, obstinate, or indolent Delay, in admitting timely and proper Applications to disperse, or asswage their Disorder, at the Beginning of its first and unsettled Invasion, or Encroachment upon them, submit to, as what could not be prevented, the daily Depravation of their Sight; or perhaps at last, permit themselves to be quite blinded, even by those very ignorant People, who dissuaded them from attempting to be restor'd, by such as have the greatest Skill, and are best qualified to relieve them. And lastly, how long will others refrain from applying for such Relief, thro' the fear of some little short, or sudden Smart, which the diseased Organ may endure in the Recovery; so let their Maladies grow stronger and more stubborn, as the Organ itself, its Spirits, Humours, or Muscles grow weaker, and more decayed or corrupted, till by Inflamations, and other dangerous Consequencies, they become incureable; when the lightest Brushing over the Eye, with the Corner of an Handkerchief, a little Dust, a Pinch of Snuff blown into it, or the bare washing it with any strong Liquor, no less than the more violent Wounds, Blows, and Distempers, which blind it, shall often be more painful than the Operations by which the gentle and careful Hand of an experienc'd Oculist restores it to Sight.

WHEN we read among the many Volumes which have been written upon the Eyes, that there are above Two hundred and forty Diseases, with their Complications, to which they, and their relative Parts are incident, we cannot but perceive, there are room and Business enough, for several ingenious Men to make this beautiful Orb, minute as it is, with the Preservation, or Restoration of its most precious Sense, their sole Study and Practice: And as it may be Employment enough, to devote their whole Time to it, so there ought to be Encouragement enough in these, as in France and other Countries, to engage them assiduously in the Attainment of a successful Proficiency therein. If many, from the meanest Excrescences, by keeping our Hair, our Corns, and Nails in due and convenient Retrenchment, have establish'd very comfortable Ocupations, and cut themselves out very decent Livelyhoods, independent of Physic, Surgery, Anatomy, or Pharmacy, for the Ease chiefly of our Feet; how much more deserve they, who, besides the Merit of being acquainted with the nobler, more considerable and important Objects of their Practice, can by the Knowledge and Aid also of those Sciences, join'd with their own Experience, preserve or recover our Sight, by which those very Feet are guided, and we are assisted to exercise them? If many Hospitals and Infirmaries have been charitably erected, and endow'd, for the Lame, why none for the Blind? Since the Blind may be as well Lame as they, uncapable as they are, of using their Arms or Legs to any Effect; or as unable to walk without a Leader, as a Cripple without a Crutch; and since, the Cure of the Blind requires longer Experience, deeper Penetration into the Nature of its Object, and more delicate Operations than the Lame.

IT is less difficult to attain a superficial Knowledge of the Disorders that affect the Body of Man in general, than a profound Knowledge of those which distress some Parts in particular, whereof the Eye is the Chief; complicated as it is, of such fine solid, as well as subtil and spiritous Matter; consisting of such various Compositions, such different Substances, Teguments, Films, Fluids, Muscles, Nerves, Veins, and Fibres; such an elementary Labyrinth of concordant Parts, mutually reflecting all Images to the Organ of Sight, and all in such close Compact and circular Confines: Yet is it also, of such a refined Frame and Texture, of such a tender and sensible Nature, that it is subject to numerous Defects, Distempers and Disasters, which often lie so intricately involved, or internally conceal'd, as to be even undiscernable to ordinary Inspection, and sometimes almost inaccessible to proper Applications for its Relief, without creating Disorders, greater than are attempted to be cur'd. Upon the mature Consideration hereof, we may well agree with that learned and ingenious Gentleman, who has observ'd that, "Those Defects and Diseases, so numerous, are more than sufficient to employ the whole Study and Attention of any one Person, be his Abilities ever so great, or his Knowledge ever so extensive. Hence it is, That Patients commonly meet with such bad Success, from their Application to Gentlemen whose Judgment and Skill, in other Parts of the human Body, may indeed be unexceptionable, but whose Practice is too general, to permit them to make any considerable Improvement in the Knowledge of this one Organ, the Structure of which is so delicate, and its Parts so exquisitely fine and minute, that it will hardly bear any Mistakes in the Treatment of its Diseases, since the first false Step in these Cases, is always of dangerous, and very often of fatal Consequence."

BUT there are other Difficulties and Disadvantages, which are apt to divert, or deter a Student from practising with Success, upon this most necessary, comprehensive, and elegant Organ: For, besides that the Transition of Studies and Experiments, from one ailing Part of the Body to another, external and internal, as well for healing as restoring of Health, is more engaging to the Curiosity of a Practitioner, thro' the Diversity of Objects and Operations, than a constant and confined Attachment to any one Organ of Sense, that contains a greater Variety, in a more contracted Compass, and requires Methods of Treatment more nice and curious, dexterous and difficult; there is this further Discouragement, attending the said more particular Attachment to the Relief of this, or any other Sense, that, as there are fewer Patients, and more indigent Objects, there is less Prospect of Profit from professing to restore only one little Part, how useful or important soever, of the human Frame, than those usually meet with, who promise, and undertake to cure all Diseases, in every Part of every Body.

These, among other Reasons, render our Obligations the greater, to those few who have so circumscribed their Experience, and so confined themselves to this distinct and more unbeaten Path, as to acquire the most acurate Skill and Expertness, in the said more difficult, and less advantageous Branch of the Practice; which therefore, so much more deserves the Encouragement of the Publick, as the Patients are more unfrequent, and dispersed, less acquainted, where they may repair for Assistance, and less able to recompence in any Proportion, of their own single Substance, or Abilities, the whole Application, Time and Attendance, of an expert Oculist, in his more private Situation. That this is a very seasonable and promising Juncture, to solicit such a needful Benefaction, may be presum'd, in that there have been so many others of late Years establish'd, which flourish with Success, and however laudable, are not more necessary. Therefore it is to be hoped, that Charity will remain no longer liable to the Suspicion of being any ways defective in her own Eyes, by overlooking the most effectual Means of Relief to those which are blind: Those, whose most wretched Lives are lingering on, in the most helpless, destitute and deplorable Condition, of Darkness, Beggary and Want: But that she will also stretch her Hands, no less extensively forth, as to many others, so to these most unhappy Objects of Compassion, who have hitherto so much escaped the bountiful and unanimous Contributions of her gracious and generous Votaries. "The Imperfections however, of whose good Designs, in the Foundations they have encouraged, are not," as a judicious Author has lately observ'd, "more glaring in any Instance, than in that great Number we continually meet with, of poor People, who are either totally blind, or else labour under such Diseases in the Eyes, as for want of proper Assistance, from such, whose whole Study and Practice are confined to this one Organ, do, notwithstanding general Application, still continue in a State of Misery, and must ever remain, unless relieved by Those who are willing to encourage and promote their Recovery, by commending them to such particular Practitioners, who are most likely to effect it". Wherefore we are assured, as the same Author continues, "It is with this Consideration, that several Persons of Quality and Distinction, have agreed to contribute to the Relief of such unhappy Sufferers, by a generous SUBSCRIPTION: whereby they who labour under any ocular Disorder, may without the least Expence, have the Assistance of Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, jun. Oculist, in Hatton Garden, and be supply'd with every Thing needful to their Cure, though their Cases require ever so much Time and Attendance, and their Circumstances are too narrow to support the Expence that would otherwise necessarily attend Cures of this Nature".

UNDER this Gentleman then, and such other Co-operators, as shall be appointed with competent Salaries, we may hence hope to see the beneficent Foundation here proposed, effectually pursued, and brought to an honourable Conclusion, by a Number of such noble and generous Subscribers, as, in Consequence of the worthy Examples begun, will procure a Patent for the same, and elect such Governors to form the Plan, proportion the Expence, and provide such commodious Habitation, or settled Place of Abode, that, besides even those of better Rank, a Number of neglected and forlorn Patients also, who are now led about half naked, and starving, as Vagabonds, may know where to apply themselves, and meet with the soundest Advice, most sovereign Medicines, and other Administrations; or such further humane Provision, Tendance and Assistance, as may be found requisite, for their being admitted either within Doors, or supply'd with all proper Means of Redress without, as the Nature of their Conditions, Circumstances, and Cases, or the Extent of the Charity will admit. Under such Patronage, we hope to see such a Benefaction established, which has been so hopefully proposed by Mr. Taylor, who has already, towards bringing the same to Perfection, met with the Encouragement of some noble Persons, for his Knowledge and Success in ocular Diseases; as having had five Years Education in France, been regularly trained under the great Practice of his Father, and also had Experience of his own, for nine Years successively in London. Among his many extraordinary Cures, that which he perform'd the last Year upon William Taylor, the blind Boy of Ightham in Kent, being not the least memorable, or worthy of Observation, I shall here, so far as good Vouchers will authorize, be somewhat particular thereon.

As there was no Prospect of procuring this Boy any Relief that might restore him to his Sight, in the Country, where he lived, he was recommended to the Care of the said Mr. John Taylor, the Younger, at London; who soon found him so lively and active, that he would not suffer his Eyes to be even examined, without much struggling: But after some serious and affecting Expostulations with him; after the strongest Assurances given him, that if he did not patiently comply with the only Means that were to be used for his Cure, he would be deprived of all Ways to get his Livelihood; must be a Beggarboy, in want of Cloaths and Victuals, and be led about, to seek his Bread, from Door to Door, like such a one, of whom he had heard, and have nothing to depend upon, but the cold, scanty, and precarious Relief of an hard-hearted World; he thereupon consented to undergo any Trial that should be made upon him, at his Father's House in the Country. Accordingly the Oculist went thither; but being apprehensive that his Patient would not lie so still on the Table, as such a tender and steady Operation of his Hand required, he told him that he must be tied fast down, from stirring or winching: But he, as he could see no Danger, felt no Fear; therefore absolutely promis'd, he would, without any Constraint, lie unmov'd; which he did, with his Hands in his Pockets, till the Obstruction in his right Eye, was, in little more than a Minute, entirely remov'd, without the least starting or Complaint. As soon as the inside of his Eye was clear'd of its little thick, white, cloudy Spot, by that delicate Depression of it, with the Needle, which is called Couching, so that it quite subsided, and did no longer intercept the Light, or Admission of Objects to the Organs of Vision, he, being ask'd by some of the Company, for there were sixteen of his Neighbours present. What he saw? Answer'd, with a Kind of wild Transport, and Wonder, at the strange Shapes, Forms, and Colours of many Things, so incomprehensible about him, that He beheld the Room full of Lights, and Moons. For, as I understand, his Eyes were not so totally dark'ned by the Cataracts, but that he had some faint Discernment, or glimmering Sensation of luminous Bodies, admitted round the Pupil; as in the most ordinary Eclipses of the Sun, the Moon's Disk does not so entirely over-shadow and obscure it, but that some Edgings of its Light will irradiate, or break out at its Sides, or Circumference; the like of which, might help the Boy to describe some shining Utensils he now saw, by those Names: For next Time, upon the Dressing of his Eye, he declared, as it is attested in a Letter of his Father's, That he saw the Pewter on the Shelf, with the Clock, and its Case; that all these Things the Boy knew before by Feeling, and, I dare say, adds he, that now he can see the above-mention'd Things.

THESE are his Father's Words; and they have been construed to signify, that the Boy distinctly named those several Pieces of Furniture, upon his first beholding them, from the Knowledge he before had by Feeling them, without having felt them again, after the Use of his Sight. But such a familiar Acquaintance instantly with Objects never before seen, how frequently so ever before felt, has been much disputed by some Oculists and Opticians, who have deeply considered the Properties and Powers of Sight, so long kept an utter Stranger to those Objects. Indeed the Clock might be discoverable to him, by the Help of his Hearing; as from the Vibrations of its Pendulum, striking, and other Sounds; but the Dishes, Plates, Shelves, and other Things, tho' perhaps often handled, could as it is thought, scarcely be named, upon the first Sight only of them; at least, without Feeling again, and a better Knowledge of those Parts and Places in the Room, where he might before feel them, than he could receive in his State of Blindness, or retain, and refer to, at first Sight.

HOWEVER, there is an ingenious Author, the Reverend Mr. Edward Synge, the same I take it, who was the late Archbishop of Tuam, in Ireland, who has argued that, the Images of Things shall be so well known to the Sense of Seeing, how newly soever brought to use, only by the Ideas conceived of them, thro' the Sense of Feeling, that the Patient shall be able instantly to know, and name them, without feeling them any more, to inform or confirm his Sight. His Arguments are drawn from a Problem, that was sent by Mr. William Molyneux, to Mr. Locke, who has honour'd it with a Place in his Essay on Human Understanding [*]: The Case stands thus, in the said Mr. Synge's Letter to Dr. Quayl [‡]. "A Man born perfectly Blind, has a Globe and a Cube given into his Hands, and instructed, as much as he is capable of, in the Notion of each of these Figures, and the Difference between them. Let us now suppose, this Man to be suddenly endowed with the Sense of Seeing, and the Question is, Whether the Globe and the Cube, being placed before his Eyes, he would be able, by his Sight alone, and without touching them, to tell which was the Globe, and which the Cube?" Then, one of his Arguments is,—"If immediately, upon the Sight of the Globe and the Cube, there be Grounds enough for such a Person clearly to perceive the Agreement and the Difference, between his pre-concived Ideas, and newly conceived Images of those Figures; then may he be able to know, which is the Globe, and which the Cube, without touching them again, after he has seen them. For the Agreement which he may find between his Idea, and his Image of a Globe, and the Difference of the Idea of a Globe, from the Image of a Cube, et sic vice versâ, will be a sufficient Direction: If," as he repeats again, "there be a sufficient Ground, immediately to perceive the said Agreement and Difference". So, without clearing this Doubt, which he has twice suggested, he concludes, such Distinction may be made by Sight alone, and the Patient be thereby rendered able to know, and name one Object from the other. But Mr. Molyneux, in a Letter of his to Mr. Locke, wherein he incloses that of Mr. Synge, tells him; "You will find thereby, that what I say, of its puzling some ingenious Men, is true; and you will easily discover, by what false Steps this Gentleman is led into his Error"[*]. And in another "Letter before, to Mr. Locke, wherein Mr. Molyneux first states this Problem", he assures him that, "He had propos'd it to divers ingenious Men, and could hardly ever meet with one that, at first Dash, would give me the Answer to it, which I think true, till by hearing my Reasons, they were convinced." Then having deliver'd the Problem, to the Sense above repeated, with the Question, "Whether by his Sight, before he touch'd them, he could now distinguish, and tell which is the Globe, which the Cube?" He answers himself, in the Negative, and gives his own Reason in these Words: "For, tho' he has obtain'd the Experience, how a Globe, how a Cube affects his Touch; yet, he has not yet attain'd the Experience, that what affects my Touch, so or so, must affect my Sight, so or so; or, that a protuberant Angle in the Cube, that press'd his Hand unequally, shall appear to his Eye, as it does in the Cube"[‡].

IT may be consider'd, whether this Opinion upon that Problem, might not receive some further Confirmation, from the Mistake of a certain blind Man, who, as it is reported, upon his being first brought to Sight, could not distinguish, by that Sense, a plain Superficies, from a prominent Body; or the Figures of Men painted in Colours, all even, upon a Canvas, or Wainscot Picture, from those of living Persons; but was greatly surpriz'd at his Disappointment, that he could not find those Figures, as Men, by feeling, no less than he though he had found them such, by his Sight: And being told they were only the artificial Imitations of Men, in their Size, Shapes and Proportions, by the well-disposed Lights, and Shades of Colours, he asked, Why then, which of the Two is the lying Sense? He meant, the deceived Sense, not yet having had the Experience of knowing the Proverb, That Seeing is believing, but Feeling, the Truth. And it may still be further consider'd, whether external Objects, when render'd visible, by the Cure of a blind Person, may not contradict, or at least confound the internal Conceptions he had of them, before he could see; and whether they may not, to the Eye, which is first brought to the Sight of them, become thereby rather less known; more incomprehensible and confusing, thro' the vast Variety of their new, and strange Forms, Dimensions, and Complexions, without any Assistance from any other Sense; and consequently, less able to be nam'd, than some of them might have been, by the Intelligence of some other Sense, during the former Privation of Sight? Therefore the Boy of Ightham, as he discovered much Consternation upon the first Sight of the various Objects about him, might, if he felt not the Things mentioned in his Father's Letter, above-cited, before he named them, have them inadvertently named to him, in the very Questions that were put to him, Whether he saw them? As thus,—What do you see? Can you see the Pewter Dishes here, on this Shelf? The Plates on that? The Clock there, its Case, Glass? &c. The Enquirer pointing to the Places where they stood; and the Boy might answer yes, name those several Things, as he heard them named, and saw them; and also point out the Places where they stood, as he had been led the Way. Which may be a truer Interpretation of his Father's Words, That he declared he saw the Pewter on the Shelf, &c. than that he first named the Pewter, and other Things himself, as soon as he first saw them.

THIS being presumed the Case, it may render his Nomination of those Things accountable, and clear him from the Objection that was made to the Beggar of St. Albans; who pretending to have been miraculously endow'd with perfect Sight, tho' blind from his Birth, upon offering up his Prayers at the Shrine of that Saint, was brought before the sagacious Duke Humphrey, and asked by him, of what Colours the Gowns of several Persons present, and other Things were, that were pointed out to him; which, he naming truly, was justly, as an Impostor, sent to the Stocks; for he could no more know the Names of all Colours, by barely once seeing them, than he could those, of all the Men present, only at first Sight; as Sir Thomas More has very judiciously observed[*]. Indeed had that Beggar, while he was blind, if he was ever so, been taught to name the Colours of Things, with the Things themselves, he might, after he was brought to Sight, upon having those Things produc'd, and named to him, name, by the Help of his Memory, the Colours also, whose Names had been combined with, or annexed to them; and from thence likewise, the same Colours in different Things. For Example, had he heard, in the State of Blindness, some Things called Blood-red, others Sky-blue, or Grass-green; some Coal-black, and others Milk-white; he probably, when he was brought to the Sense of seeing, upon being shewed some Milk, and told its Name, and asked what else it was called, would answer, it was White; tho' the Meaning of the Word, he could not explain; but being told it was its Colour, which distinguish'd it from others to the Eye, and from thence being referr'd to a Piece of clean Linnen, or some white Paper, he would say it was of the same Colour; and so of the rest: Otherwise, for a Man to name all Colours, which he had never before seen, is a greater Miracle, than that of being brought to the Sight of them, only by the Intercession, here, in that Cure, at the Shrine of St. Alban pretended. But to return:

At the next opening of the Boy's Eye, the Persons attending to dress it, said it appear'd very clear; and then, besides the Things within Doors, he took Notice of the Barn, and other Out-houses; and, in the Letter of his Father's aforesaid, I find it attested that, He had never felt any Pain, since the first Operation. A few Days after, he was set before a Looking-glass, and was greatly delighted with the little Man he saw in it, whom he would have to be his own Man, because he so obediently imitated, or repeated all the Motions and Gestures, which he made, with his Head, Mouth, and Hands; but said, He would not close his Eyes, till he himself did first; and whenever he went abroad, he wanted, and ask'd for his little Man, to go along with him. 'Tis in this View or Prospect, of that surprising and agreeable Figure, that his Sculpture was prefer'd to be represented, with an oval Glass in his Hand, by that ingenious Artist, Mr. Thomas Worlige, who lately publish'd a Print of him, which he has etch'd upon Copper, in a small Octavo Size. But to many other Images he could not so soon reconcile himself: For, when he saw any large Utensil, Piece of Furniture, or Apparel, that stood, or lay near him, he discover'd himself so perplex'd to go forward, that he would not stir, till he was told what it was, how far off, and how to avoid, or pass by it; herein agreeing exactly with the Behaviour of the blind Youth of Newington, when he was first brought to Sight by Mr. Grant, in the latter Part of Queen Anne's Reign, as the ingenious Author of the Tatler, among other curious Circumstances, has remark'd[*]; where we are inform'd that, "When he offer'd to move, he seem'd afraid of every Thing around him". Yet, one Evening, this young Patient of Ightham, then residing, for some time at Mr. Taylor's, in Hatton Garden, stole up to the Top of the House, and clamber'd out at Window, along the leaden Gutter, without any Apprehension of Danger; but being discover'd, brought down, and asked, what induc'd him to hazard his Life, if by a Slip of his Foot, he had tumbled to the Ground? He reply'd that, He only went thither to catch the Moon. When I saw him, some Weeks after he had received this new Sense, I observed, the Eye which was brought to Light, was, in all due Motion and Symetry, very clear, lively, and brisk; but it seemed more infantine, or as if it belonged to a Body, younger than one even of his Years; not looking methought, so strong, bold, and ample in the Pupil, as if it had been longer exercis'd in the Reception of various Objects. He is a Lad of a pleasant Aspect, fair Complexion, with Features soft, and agreeable; also of a sprightly and chearful Temper; and has a quick or ready Ear for Music; insomuch that, to several Tunes play'd before him, on the German Flute, he would join in Concert with his Hands, by drumming them over, at the same Time, upon the Table.

WHETHER he was, as yet, but short-sighted, thro' the Want of some transparent Humour, in the room of that which was depress'd, or he only appear'd so, thro' his Ignorance of the proper Space, at which he might distinguish his Objects, I will not decide; but it was remark'd that, when some Money was laid on the Table; Gold, Silver, and Copper; and he was bid to take up a Guinea, or a Shilling, he would look, as it were, first for the Table; then, upon several Parts of it, before he found where the Money lay; and when he perceiv'd it, by holding his Head down very near it, he would offer to snatch at the Piece he aim'd at, two or three Times before he could reach it, because he could have no Notion of Distances; which made him before so little afraid of being at the Top of the House, and think, from thence, of catching the Moon.

IT is credibly attested that, the ingenious Mr. King, who reads Lectures upon Optics, and other Parts of Philosophy, has asserted that, all Objects, to a Person who is first brought from Blindness to Sight, do appear inverted; and that, he confirm'd himself in the same Opinion, by some Experiments which he made upon this Boy; who having a Pin held up before him, of which he had been taught to distinguish the Point from the Head, and being bid to touch the Head, he laid his Finger upon the Point of it. The same Mistake he committed in three several Attempts; upon which, the Gentleman who made the Experiments smil'd, and said, He knew it would be so. Those who have seem'd unwilling this Mistake should be ascrib'd to the Objects appearing to the Boy inverted, are not satisfied belike in some Doubts; as First, Whether the Boy's Mistake was not owing, in this Trial, no less to his Ignorance of Situations, as to higher and lower, or right and left, than it was in others before, to his Ignorance in the Distances of Things, further or nearer? And Secondly, they thought it very extraordinary, that the Eye, fram'd, and intended by Nature, most exactly and constantly, to reflect and report, the true unperverted, Positions of Objects, should, as in Submission to one of her most capricious Operations, be at first, so unnaturally dispos'd, as to behold those Objects in the most false, unfaithful, and preposterous Positions; and yet, so change to the utmost Extream, as to reverse, rather than ratify the Habit, by further Practice of the same Organs, in the same Manner, upon the same Objects; so that those Things which appear'd to the same Eye, one while upside down, shall appear at other Times, or at all Times after, upright, and on their proper Basis! Whether such Appearances of Objects in the Reverse, might be owing to any Insufficiency in one of the Humours, upon the Vacancy made by the Removal of the opaque and phlegmatic Obstruction; whether to some Irregularity, some Indisposition in the Retina, or in any other Mediums to the Sensory in the Brain, which were not yet settled in their due Place or Proportion, by Exercise, and Experience in proper Distances, for a true Reflection of Objects, we need not here so much consider, as whether some Light into the Cause, might not be reflected from the usual Experiments, with an ordinary Convex Glass; which being held to any Characters or Images near at hand, shall only magnify, but not reverse them; and yet the same Glass, held almost at Arms Length, towards those Objects, at a further Distance, shall both diminish, and turn them all topsy-turvy.

So that to see Things first in this Manner, how much soever it may have of Truth or Fact in it, and therefore may be less rare and uncommon; yet is it no less remarkable, in this Boy, and all in his Case, to have been endow'd with that Faculty really, which was long since observ'd apparently, in another Boy, mention'd by old Dr. William Bulleyn [*], who tells us, He had two Sights in one Eye. And if such the Property be, or Objects do after that Manner, appear inverted, at their first Admission to the so long obstructed Organ of Sight, it may possibly illustrate the blind Man's Similitude in the Gospel; who being brought to the Use of that Sense, and asked, if he could see any Thing, answered that, He saw Men like Trees, walking. [†] For, however he knew the Trees at first Sight, enough to name them, Men revers'd, or standing upon their Heads, with their Arms and Legs, as it were, branching uppermost, are more like Trees, and in that supposed Posture have oftner of old been compared to them, than when they stand upon their Feet. And what makes it more credible, that this Man was at first confus'd with the Sight of those Men in such perverted Attitudes, is, that in the very next Verse, it is said, after he had been touch'd again, by the same all-healing Hand, that He was restor'd, and saw every Man clearly: That is, distinctly and perfectly, in his real, and proper Posture.

OTHER, and more remarkable Observations might perhaps have been made, had any Thoughts of preserving and recommending them to public Application or Intelligence, been design'd at the first bringing of this Boy to Sight; and several philosophical Elucidations in the Doctrine of Vision, might also perhaps be further made, from the Particulars above, were it necessary or convenient to be more extensive and circumstantial in this Place thereon.

TO Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, junior, BY Mr. BOYCE.

WHILE modest Merit does its Rays conceal,

Let the just Muse draw the injurious Veil;

'Tis her's, fair Truth, distinguish'd to display,

And place by Vertue, in its native Day.

Then take rare Oculist, these artless Lays,

As the free Tribute of unpurchas'd Praise.

No longer timid, in Retirement pine,

But claim the Notice that is justly Thine.

SAY, of the Blessings to Mankind decreed,

From great Hippocrates, to greater Mead,

The sov'reign Secrets of their Godlike Art,

Which oft have warded Fate's approaching Dart;

Can any with thy noble Science vie?

Which guards that guiding Lamp of Life, the Eye;

Gives us the heavenly Joys of Light to know,

For what is Darkness, but infernal Woe!

And clear from Clouds, redeems the visual Ray,

To bless the Blind, who wish in vain for Day.

RARE Oculist! could'st thou restore aright

But intellectual, as Organic Sight;

Cou'd thy enlightning Needle but advance,

The Cataracts to remove, of Ignorance;

Unveil the Films, couch the distorted Eyes

Of squinting Envy, scoulding Prejudice;

Art would, with Praise, and Wealth embroider'd be,

And Worth, no more dwell with Obscurity;

Thy Cures, with Fame's best Quills, she should record

Thy Lights, thro' Men, should glorify their Lord,

Thy Skill, all Eyes, from deepest Darkness free;

Tho' none so blind, as those who will not see.

Notes

*
Page 67.
↵

‡
Vide The Familliar Letters between Mr. Locke, and several of his Friends. 8vo. 1708, p. 135.
↵

*
Idem. p. 133.
↵

‡
Ibid. p. 37, 38.
↵

*
In his Dialogue on the Worship of Images and Reliques, praying to Saints, &c. From whence Shakespear has brought the Story of the said Impostor, under the Name of Simcox, upon the Stage, in one Part of his Play of King Henry VI.
↵

*
Vol. 2d. Edit. 1712. P. 31.
↵

*
In his Dialogue of the Pestilence. 80. 1569. Fol. 55. b.
↵

†
Mark viii. 24.
↵

A SPECIMEN OF SOME Of the MANY Remarkable CURES, OF Various Diseases in the EYES and EYE-LIDS; PERFORM'D BY Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, jun. OCULIST, IN HATTON GARDEN, since the Year, 1743. Containing a List of the Patients Names, and their respective Places of Abode.

LONDON: Printed by E. OWEN, in Hand-Court, Holborn, 1752.

A SPECIMEN OF REMARKABLE CURES.

PATIENTS.

WIlliam Taylor, Son of Mr. William Taylor, Farmer, at Ightham, in Kent, a Boy Eight Years old, born blind, with Cataracts in both Eyes, and brought to Sight in October, 1751,

Mr. Austine, Master of the Breakfasting-house, opposite Sadlers-Wells, Islington; upwards of 65 Years of Age.

DISEASES.

An Abscess in the Left Eye, occasioned by a long and violent Inflammation, and attended with a total Loss of Sight.

N. B. This Patient had been under the Care of an eminent Surgeon, and an Apothecary; by both of whom his Case was deem'd incurable.

〈◊〉 John Jarrat, Horse-bridle Founder, in Hosier-〈◊〉 West-Smithfield; about 40 Years old.

A thick Opacity (or Speck) on the Cornea, entirely obstructing Sight, attended with the most excruciating Torment, and an Inflamation so violent as to deprive the Patient of Rest for the Space of five Weeks: For the Cure of which, Application was first made to the Surgeons, &c. of St. Bartholomew's, and by them all the Patient's Sight was unanimously judged to be irretrievably lost.

A Daughter of Mr. Gardner, an eminent Butcher, in Hollis-Street, Clare-Market; a Child of about five Years of Age.

Two large Albugines, (or White Films) one on each Eye, attended with no Inflammation nor Pain, but a total Deprivation of Sight.

N. B. This Child had likewise been a considerable Time under the Care of an eminent Surgeon.

A Child about five or six Years old, Daughter to Mr. Roybold, Master of the Bell Inn, in West-Smithfield.

An Albugo, (or White Film) over one Eye, attended with Inflammation and Loss of Sight.

Mrs. Orneau's in Brook-Street, Holborn; a young Lady of about 22 Years of Age.

An Oedema, (or Wenn) on the upper Eye-lid of her left Eye, about the Magnitude of a large Nut, the Weight of which had caused the Eye-lid to fall, so as to cover half of the Pupil. This Cure was performed without the least Hazzard or Loss of the natural Motion of the Eye-lid.

A little Boy about five or six Years old, a Son of Mr. Rook, an eminent Farrier, in Salisbury-Court, Fleet-Street.

An Oedema (or Wenn) on the upper Eye-lid, about half the Bigness of that above-mentioned, and like it in every other Particular, except that this had the additional Disadvantage of being attended with an Inflammation in the Eye.

A Maid Servant at the Queen's Head, in Albermarle-Street.

An Ectropion (or Eversion) of the lower Eye-lid, occasioned by a large Tumour about the Size of a Pidgeon's Egg, attended with an intolerable inflammatory Pain in the Eye.

This Cure was performed with such happy Success, that not only the Excresence was removed; but the Eye-lid was likewise restore to its pristine State.

Mr. Rapson, Watch-maker, near Goldsmith's-Hall.

A terrible Opthalmia (or Inflammation) occasioned by a Blow in the left Eye, so violent, that for some Time it quite deprived the Patient of Vision.

A Child about six Years of Age, Daughter to a Servant belonging to the Earl of Godolphin, in Stable Yard, St. James's.

An Opthalmia (or Inflammation) in each Eye, proceeding from an internal Cause, together with Opacities in both Eyes, greatly obstructing Vision.

James Dowset, Labourer, of Rumford in Essex.

Two Guttae Serenae, one in each Eye; a Disease which has hitherto, by most Practitioners been judged incurable. Nevertheless, this poor Man is so well recovered to Sight, that he is capable not only of guiding himself, but of performing his daily Labour as before.

PATIENTS restored to Sight of different Diseases.

- THE Daughter of Mr. Drowater, Master of the Red Lyon, at Islington.

- Miss White, Niece of Mr. Newton, ••…ing Lime-street Church, Fenchurch-street.

- Mr. Giles, a Coffin-plate Make• 〈◊〉 W••d-street.

- The Son of Mr. Hushing, Watchmaker, in Bishop's-Court, Clerkonwell Greeen.

- The Daughter of Mrs. Summerfield, Mantua-maker, in Charles-street, Covent Garden.

- Mr. Dicken's Wife, Stationer, near Smithfield-bars.

- The Mistress of the Brown Bear Publick-house, in Broad St. Giles's.

- The Wife of Mr. Duplex, Peruke-maker, in Quaker street, Spittlefields.

- Mr. Harvey, Poulterer, in Newgate-Market.

- The Son of Mr. Silby, an eminent Linnen-draper, in Smithfield, the Sign of the Queen's-head.

- WHereas I was greatly afflicted with a terrible Pain in my left Eye, upwards of fifteen Weeks, made Application to several eminent Surgeons without Success, at last happily applied to Mr. Taylor, Oculist, in Hatton Garden, who soon discover'd the Cause of my Disorder was nothing but a little Bit of Stone which accidentally flew into my Eye at my Work, which being extracted, I received immediate Ease, and am now perfectly recover'd. Witness my Hand John Baldry, late Journeyman to Mr. Morris, Gardiner, at Clapham, in Surry.

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Title statement

Observations on the cure of William Taylor, the blind boy of Ightham, in Kent; who being born with cataracts in both eyes, was at eight years of age, brought to sight, on the 8th of October, 1751, by Mr. John Taylor, jun. oculist, ... Also some address to the publick, for a contribution towards the foundation of an Hospital for the blind, already begun by some noble personages

Oldys, William, 1696-1761.

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http://ota.ox.ac.uk/id/4074

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1106010736

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9781106010735

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K041060.000

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CW3307892783

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0412700500

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— Observations on the cure of William Taylor, the blind boy of Ightham, in Kent; who being born with cataracts in both eyes, was at eight years of age, brought to sight, on the 8th of October, 1751, by Mr. John Taylor, jun. oculist, ... Also some address to the publick, for a contribution towards the foundation of an Hospital for the blind, already begun by some noble personages, Oldys, William, 1696-1761.. vii,[1],32p. ; 8⁰. [London] :: Printed by E. Owen, in Hand-Court, Holborn,. 1753.. [Dedication signed: Wm. Oldys.] [Includes 'A specimen of some of the many remarkable cures, .. prform'd by Mr. John Taylor, jun. .. ' with a separate titlepage dated 1752.] [Horizontal chain lines.] [Reproduction of original from the British Library.] [English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT41781.] [Electronic data. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Thomson Gale, 2003. Page image (PNG). Digitized image of the microfilm version produced in Woodbridge, CT by Research Publications, 1982-2002 (later known as Primary Source Microfilm, an imprint of the Gale Group).]

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