PARALYTIC’S RECOVERY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 83, 3 December 1912, Page 3

PARALYTIC’S RECOVERY.

INTERESTING PARTICULARS. Greymouth, November 27. In reference to the cablegram from Melbourne recently which gave details of a wonderful recovery of a man who had been deaf, dumb and blind lor 2/ years, and had suddenly recovered the use of his eyesight and hear nig, it may be of interest to know that a brother of the man, whose name was Charles Ilton, is Mr I. Ilton, of Kokiri, and another brother is Mr James. Ilton, of Maori Creek. Mr I. Ilton gave some interesting details of the case.

His brother was not, Mr llton informed the correspondent of the Otago •Daily Times, deprived of nearing, sight and speech as the result of being struck by lightning. It was t r e sequel of two paralytic strokes. For two years the unfortunate man was in the Kyneton Hospital, and was then removed to the Aust.n Hospital at Heidelberg, near Melbourne,' where he remained for 25 years. He was able to move his arms, and, being passionately fond of roses, when a hunch of dowers was placed w.itin’n his reach h© would feel amongst it till he got a rose, and tins he would lift to hitface. >

The story of his recovery is marvellous. One night one of the wardsmen, hearing loud talking in the ward, reproved several of the patients, and they informed him that it was not them, and that the talking came from “Old Charlie’s” bed. When the attendant went up to the bed, 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 once put out his hand and caught hold of. Other articles were taken in a similar manner. His relations were at once summoned, but, strange to say, he was unable to speak to them. Ho made inquiries by means of writing as to where .various members of the family were. He found that while ho had been cut off from tlio world his father, two brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law had crossed the Great Divide.' The news affected him visibly, and tears ran down his checks. The one brother, Mr A. Ilton, who was at the bedside, he recognised after a time. After a little ho wrote on the slate, “I want to sleep,” and they left him. The doctors’ theory is that a clot of blood on the brain was the cause of the seizure, and this, in the course of years, had become absorbed. Mr ; Ilton is 70 years of age, and his rej covory is one of the most marvellous on record.