DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0405
MISS MCAVOY.
361
had not been present to vouch for the truth. I had fur-
nished myself with a set of stained landscape glasses, usually
termed Claude Lorrain glasses. They were seven in num-
ber, contained in a frame. She ascertained the precise
shade of each correctly ; one glass, however, appeared to
embarrass her, and after considerable scrutiny, she said it
was not black, nor dark blue, nor dark brown ; but she
thought it very deep crimson. We did not know whether
her conjecture was correct or not, as we could not ourselves
ascertain the shade. By reflected light it appeared to us
perfectly black ; nor was the flame of the tire, which was
stirred for the occasion, visible through it in the faintest
degree. We had abandoned all expectation of determining
this point, when the sun suddenly emerged from behind the
clouds ; and by that test, and that alone, were we enabled
to discover that she was correct, as we could just discern the
solar image of a very deep crimson. It has been said, and
with some plausibility, that this must have been a bold
guess upon her part; if not, it will puzzle our physiologists
to explain, how a person reputed to be blind, with an opaque
bandage also over her eyes, could declare the colour of a
glass, which persons in full enjoyment of their eyesight, and
without any such obstacles, could not discern by any other
light than that of the meridian sun.
“ At this meeting we were informed, that Miss MfAvoy
had recently found out that this extraordinary faculty was
not confined to her fingers; that she could also distinguish
the colour of an object which was brought into contact
with the back of the hands. This was immediately made
the subject of experiment by Mr. Nichol, who successively
applied several objects which he had with him, to that part
of the hand ; in placing which, he used so much precaution,
that I could not see them myself, although my eyes were
fixed upon his hands. She was completely successful also
upon this occasion. I have now given a faithful narrative
of what I have actually witnessed, and what has been the
361
had not been present to vouch for the truth. I had fur-
nished myself with a set of stained landscape glasses, usually
termed Claude Lorrain glasses. They were seven in num-
ber, contained in a frame. She ascertained the precise
shade of each correctly ; one glass, however, appeared to
embarrass her, and after considerable scrutiny, she said it
was not black, nor dark blue, nor dark brown ; but she
thought it very deep crimson. We did not know whether
her conjecture was correct or not, as we could not ourselves
ascertain the shade. By reflected light it appeared to us
perfectly black ; nor was the flame of the tire, which was
stirred for the occasion, visible through it in the faintest
degree. We had abandoned all expectation of determining
this point, when the sun suddenly emerged from behind the
clouds ; and by that test, and that alone, were we enabled
to discover that she was correct, as we could just discern the
solar image of a very deep crimson. It has been said, and
with some plausibility, that this must have been a bold
guess upon her part; if not, it will puzzle our physiologists
to explain, how a person reputed to be blind, with an opaque
bandage also over her eyes, could declare the colour of a
glass, which persons in full enjoyment of their eyesight, and
without any such obstacles, could not discern by any other
light than that of the meridian sun.
“ At this meeting we were informed, that Miss MfAvoy
had recently found out that this extraordinary faculty was
not confined to her fingers; that she could also distinguish
the colour of an object which was brought into contact
with the back of the hands. This was immediately made
the subject of experiment by Mr. Nichol, who successively
applied several objects which he had with him, to that part
of the hand ; in placing which, he used so much precaution,
that I could not see them myself, although my eyes were
fixed upon his hands. She was completely successful also
upon this occasion. I have now given a faithful narrative
of what I have actually witnessed, and what has been the