Poor Newton! I used to induce those same circles as an insomniac child - no need for needles or bodkins - just gentle pressure on the inner corner of a closed eyelid will do  the trick.

Carolyn Kunin

p.s. I will admit that mine were very dully colored - grays and yellow grays mostly. The occasional olive. But I got boxes too.

From: "Fet, Victor" <fet@MARSHALL.EDU>
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Wed, February 13, 2013 7:14:05 PM
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Newton's bodkin

An interesting early (1665) meaning of ‘bodkin’ (not discussed previously as far as I recall) leads to Newton and color perception self-mutilation...   

 

“Scientists occasionally conduct experiments on themselves. Among the most famous was Isaac Newton's extraordinary method for probing the nature of colour. He stuck a bodkin, a long sewing needle with a blunt point, into his eye socket, between eye and bone, and recorded seeing coloured circles and other visual phenomena…”

 

See attached! Those in New York city may want to attend.

 

Victor Fet

 

 

Google Search the archive Contact the Editors Visit "Nabokov Online Journal" Visit Zembla View Nabokv-L Policies Manage subscription options Visit AdaOnline View NSJ Ada Annotations Temporary L-Soft Search the archive

All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.

Google Search the archive Contact the Editors Visit "Nabokov Online Journal" Visit Zembla View Nabokv-L Policies Manage subscription options Visit AdaOnline View NSJ Ada Annotations Temporary L-Soft Search the archive

All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.