DR. TOMAS BARRAQUER IS AN EYE SURGEON WHO HAS BEEN WORKING FOR MANY YEARS TO RESTORE THE SIGHT OF THOSE WHOSE EYES ARE DISEASED OR INJURED. HIS WORK HAS INEVITABLY BROUGHT HIM IN CONTACT WITH THOSE WHOSE SIGHT CANNOT BE RESTORED BY EVEN THE MOST ADVANCED SURGERY.

FOR SUCH PATIENTS, DR. BARRAQUER HAS DEVISED A CHEAP BUT EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT FOR DETECTING THE LIGHT INTENSITY. A PHOTO ELECTRIC CELL ACTIVATES AN ELECTRODE PLACED BELOW THE EYE: ONE TO FIVE VOLT IMPULSES FROM THIS ELECTRODE PASS TO ANOTHER PLACED BELOW THE EAR BETWEEN 15 AND 30 TIMES A SECOND. AS THEY DO, THEY STIMULATE THE OPTIC NERVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE PATIENT "SEES" A WHITE FLICKER OF VARYING INTENSITY.

COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED, THIS DEVICE WOULD COST PERHAPS FIVE POUNDS STERLING (12 DOLLARS). DR. BARRAQUER HAS PLANS FOR A MORE ELABORATE SYSTEM THAT WOULD ENABLE THE PATIENT TO "SEE" FORMS TRACED IN WHITE DOTS SOMEWHAT LIKE A TELEVISION PICTURE. BUT DR. BARRAQUER HAS NO MONEY OR TIME FOR RESEARCH. HE CANNOT TRAVEL ABROAD IN SEARCH OF FUNDS BECAUSE HE CANNOT ABANDON THE QUEUES OF PEOPLE, MANY NOT WELL OFF, WHO COME TO HIS CLINIC EVERY DAY SEEKING TREATMENT.