A MARVELLOUS RECORD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 171, 6 December 1912, Page 2

A MARVELLOUS RECORD.

AFTER 25 YEARS. IN MELBOURNE HOSPITAL. A special message from Greymouth to the Christchurch Press says that 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 deprived of his 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 Kyncton Hospital, and was then removed to the Austin Hospital, at Heidelberg, near Melbourne, where he remained twenty-five years. He was able to (move his arms, and being passionately fond of roses, when a bunch oi flowers was within his reach he would feel amongst them till he got a rose, ana this he would lift to his face.

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 the talking came from "Old Charley'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 caught hold of in his hand. Other articles were taken in a similar manner, and his relatives were at oneo. summoned, but, strange to say, he was unable to speak to them. He made enquiries, by means of writing as to where the various members of the family were, and when he found that, 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. Hton, was at the bedside, and was recognised after a time. After a little while he 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 seventy years of age.