RESTORED TO SIGHT AND SPEECH.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14525, 29 November 1912, Page 3

RESTORED TO SIGHT AND SPEECH.

AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

(special to "the press.") GREYMOUTH, November 23. Charles Ilton who, according to a cable from Melbourne, had a recovery of sight after being deaf, dumb, and blind for twenty-seven years, has a brother at Kokiri, Mr I. Ilton, and another brother, is Mr James Ilton, of Maori Creek. Mr I. Ilton says his brother was not deprived of hearing, sight, and speech as the result of being struck by lightning, as stated. It was the sequel to two paralytic strokes. For two years he was in Kyneton Hospital, and was then removed to the Austin Hospital at Heidelberg, near Melbourne, where ho remained for twenty-five years. He was able to move his arms, and being passionately fond of roses, when a bunt-h of ilowcrs were pbcwl within his reach he would feel them till he got a rose, and tlTis he would lift to his face.

The story of his recovery is marvellous.

One niglit one of the wardsmen hearing loud talking in the ward reproved several of the patients, and they informed him that the talking "came from "Old Charley's" bed. When tho attendant went np to the bod the patient had ceased speaking, but his eyes were wide open. In order to find out whether he could see or not, the attendant held out a brush, which Mr Ilton at onco caught hold of in his hand. Other articles were taken in a similar manner and his relatives were at once summoned, but, strange to say, he was unable to to tnom. He made enquiries by means of writing as to where the various members of the family were, and when he found thafc, while he had been cut off from the world, his father, two brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law had died tears ran down his cheeks. One brother, Mr A. Ilton, was at the bedside, • and was recognised after a time. After a little he wrote on the slate "I want to sleep," and they left him. Ihe doctors , theory is that a clot of blood on the brain was the cause of tho seizure, and this in tho course of years had become absorbed Mr U* oll seventy years of age.