An Essay on Blindness (Letter on the Blind)

ing him, that there are ſome of thoſe machines which magnify objects, others which, without duplicating them, put them out of their place, bring them nearer, remove them farther, cauſe them to be perceived, and lay open the moſt minute parts to the eyes of the naturaliſts; that ſome again multiply them by thouſands, and that ſome appear totally to change the figure of objects? Concerning theſe phenomena, he aſked vs abundance of ſtrange queſtions; as, Whether none, but thoſercalled na- * turaliſts, ſaw with the microſcope ; and „whether aſtronomers alone ſaw with the «teleſcope ? Whether the machine which „ magnifies objects be larger than that which leſſens them? Whether that « which brings them nearer was ſhorter than that which removes them farther off?“ And not conceiving how that o- 1: 6nd ther "HE BLEND” 7» ther ſelf, which, according to him, the looking-glaſs repreſents in relief, ſhould not be raCtile, ** So,” ſaid he, © there's two « of our ſenſes ſet at variance by a little % machine: a more perfect machine might « poſſibly reconcile them, without the ob- « ject's being ever the more real for that; „“ and perhaps a third, ſtill more com- « pleat, and leſs illuſory, would make « them vanith, and ſhew us our miſtake.” And what do you take eyes to be? ſaid M. D. They are,” ſays the blind man, * an organ, on which the air has the ef- « fect which my ſtick has on my hand.” This anſwer amazed us, and whilſt we were looking at one another, wrapped 1n admiration, © So true is this,” continued he, © that on my putring my hand be- « tween your eyes and an object, my hand is preſent to you, but the object “ abſent. It is the ſame with me when I « am ſeeking one thing with my ſtick, and « meet another.…