That the Man's name was John Vermaaſen, at that time about 33 Years of Age; that when he was but two years Old, he had the Small Pox, which rendred him abſolutely Blind: That at this preſent he is an Organiſt, and ſerves that Office in a publick Quire.
That the Doctor diſcourſing with him over Night, the Blind man affirm'd, that he could diſtinguiſh Colours by the Touch, but that he could not do it, unleſs he were Faſting; Any quantity of Drink taking from him that Exquiſitneſs of Touch, which is requiſite to ſo Nice a Senſation.
That hereupon the Doctor provided againſt the next Morning ſeven pieces of Ribbon, of theſe ſeven Colours, Black, White, Red, Blew, Green, Yellow, and Gray, but as for mingled Colours, this Vermaaſen would not undertake to diſcern them, though if offer'd, he would tell that they were Mix'd.
That to diſcern the Colour of the Ribbon,
he places it betwixt the Thumb and the Fore-finger, but his moſt exquiſite perception was in his Thumb, and much better in the right Thumb than in the left.
That after the Blind man had four or five times told the Doctor the ſeveral Colours, (though Blinded with a Napkin for fear he might have ſome Sight) the Doctor found he was twice miſtaken, for he call'd the White Black, and the Red Blew, but ſtill, he, before his Errour, would lay them by in Pairs, ſaying, that though he could eaſily diſtinguiſh them from all others, yet thoſe two Pairs were not eaſily diſtinguiſh'd amongſt themſelves, whereupon the Doctor deſir'd to be told by him what kind of Diſcrimination he had of Colours by his Touch, to which he gave a reply, for whoſe ſake chiefly I inſert all this Narrative in this place, namely, That all the difference was more or leſs Aſperity, for ſays he, (I give you the Doctor's own words) Black feels as if you were feeling Needles points, or ſome harſh Sand, and Red feels very Smooth.
That the Doctor having deſir'd him to tell in Order the difference of Colours to his Touch, he did as follows;
Black and White are the moſt aſperous
or unequal of all Colours, and ſo like, that 'tis very hard to diſtinguiſh them, but Black is the moſt Rough of the two, Green is next in Aſperity, Gray next to Green in Aſperity, Yellow is the fifth in degree of Aſperity, Red and Blew are ſo like, that they are as hard to diſtinguiſh as Black and White, but Red is ſomewhat more Aſperous than Blew, ſo that Red has the ſixth place, and Blew the ſeventh in Aſperity.
12. To theſe Informations the Obliging Doctor was pleas'd to add the welcome preſent of three of thoſe very pieces of Ribbon, whoſe Colours in his preſence the Blind man had diſtinguiſhed, pronouncing the one Gray, the other Red, and the third Green, which I keep by me as Rarities, and the rather, becauſe he fear'd the reſt were miſcarry'd.