§ Mr. Bennet moved for an account of the number of soldiers pensioned on account of blindness. He felt it his duty to state, that since he had before mentioned the subject of the Ophthalmic institution in the House, he had visited it in company with an hon. friend of his. He had gone there without any notice, and he never saw any thing of the kind better managed.
§ Sir T. Aclandsaid, he could bear testimony to the merits of sir W. Adams. It was worthy of attention, that many persons who had received pensions for life on account of blindness, had been since cured by sir W. Adams.
§ Lord Palmerstonsaid, he had felt confident when the subject was before under discussion, that Mr. Bennet would do as he had done, state simply and plainly what he had seen. The question as to the manner of granting the pensions was before the Chelsea board.
§ Mr. Barhamobserved, that sir William Adams had failed only in those cases in which the subjects had been pronounced incurable by other oculists; but even in such cases that eminent oculist had afforded relief.
Mr. Hutchinsonsaid, he had felt it his duty from what he knew of the melancholy disease which gave rise to this institution, as well as from what he had heard of the distinguished individual under whose superintendence it was placed, to visit that institution, and he was at once astonished and gratified by the result of his observation; for he found that several gallant men who had bled in the service of their country, and who had, in the opinion of other surgeons, been totally bereaved of sight, were quite recovered, while the worst cases were considerably ameliorated. Having witnessed such cases, he could not forbear from making the statements which upon a former occa- 322 sion he thought it proper to submit to the House. The fact was that sir W. Adams had, by a long course of study and experiments, succeeded in discovering the means of curing one of the most dreadful maladies that ever afflicted mankind; and the army having been the principal sufferers from this malady, he was requested by government to make known his discovery to the army surgeons. With this request sir William complied without hesitation or reward, and the consequences were universally and gratefully felt, especially by those members of the government who had the best opportunity of judging. When, then, it was determined to erect an hospital for the purpose of relieving those soldiers and seamen who were still afflicted with ophthalmia, sir W. Adams was very naturally selected to preside over that institution; and the selection was equally creditable to the judgment and liberality of the secretary at war. The noble lord had, he understood, incurred considerable obloquy for this selection, especially among these army surgeons who allowed their feeling of envy to supersede their sense of duty. But the noble lord firmly withstood every clamour, arising from professional prejudice or private pique that would dissuade him from patronising merit and removing disease. Hence the Ophthalmic Hospital was established, and continued in despite of opposition, and for the benefit of humanity.
§ The motion was agreed to.