The Continental Monthly, Vol. 6, No 4, August, 1864, page 28 by Various Authors
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e blue deep, the veins in good order, the muscles strong.
To George.
You may laugh at all this, George. You will be perfectly well; as well as I am.
To the Man (aside).
There is no hope. Look at the pupils yourself, count; there is not the least susceptibility to the light; there is a paralysis of the optic nerve.
GEORGE. Everything looks to me as if covered with black clouds.
THE MAN. Yes, they are open, blue, lifeless, dead!
GEORGE. When I shut my eyelids I can see more than when my eyes are open.
PHYSICIAN. His mind is precocious; it is rapidly consuming his body. We must guard him against an attack of catalepsy.
THE MAN (leading the doctor aside). Save him, doctor, and the half of my estate is yours!
PHYSICIAN. A disorganization cannot be reorganized.
He takes up his hat and cane.
Pardon me, count, but I can remain here no longer; I am forced now to visit a patient whom I am to couch for cataract.
THE MAN. For God's sake, do not desert us!
PHYSICIAN. Perhaps you have some curiosity to know the name of this malady?...
THE MAN. Speak! is there no hope?
PHYSICIAN. It is called, from the Greek, amaurosis.
Exit Physician.
THE MAN (pressing his son to his heart). But you can still see a little, George?
GEORGE. I can hear your voice, father!
THE MAN. Try if you can see. Look out of the window; the sun is shining brightly, the sky is clear.
GEORGE. I see crowds of forms circling between the pupils of my eyes and my eyelids--faces I have often seen before, the leaves of books I have read before....
THE MAN. Then you really do still see?
GEORGE. Yes, with the eyes of my spirit--but the eyes of my body have gone out forever.
THE MAN (falls on his knees as if to pray; pauses, and exclaims bitterly:) Before whom shall I kneel--to whom pray--to whom complain of th