€6 v CASE OF A YOUNG GENTLEMAN 



fiefs, be abforbed ; and, if there be not an opacity in the cap- 

 fule, as well as in the cryftalline, the pupil will become clear, 

 and the patient will acquire a very ufeful light. If, in addi- 

 tion to the opacity of the cryftalline, the capfule be alfo 

 opaque, and, in confequence of this, the operation do not 

 prove fuccefsful, the eye will neverthelefs be perfectly unin- 

 jured, and it will be as lit, at a fubfequent period, to have the 

 capfule extracted, as it would have been if no attempt of the 

 above kind had been previoufly made. 



From the foregoing obfervations, I flatter myfelf I fhall be 

 juftified in deducing the following inferences. 

 Thofe born blind Firft, When children are born blind, in confequence of hav- 

 diftin-uiA 3 ^- in 8 catarafts in their eyes, they are never fo totally deprived 

 lours, and ap- of fight as not to be able to diftinguifh colours ; and, though 

 tn°? C h 0r,:e " rSi tnev cannot * ee tne % ure °f an object, nor even its colour, im- 

 perfectly j lefs it be placed within a very fliort diftance, they neverthelefs 

 can tell whether, when within this diftance, it be brought 

 nearer to, or carried farther from them, 

 which greatly Secondly, In confequence of this power, whilfl in a ftate of 

 helps their judg- comparative blindneis, children who have their cataracts re- 



ment on acquir- , . r . . r 



ing the power of moved, are enabled, immediately on the acquifition of fight, to 

 vifion. f orm f ome judgment of the diftance, and even of the outline, of 



thofe ftrongly defined objects with the colour of which they 



were previoufly acquainted. 

 Such children Thirdly, When children have been. born with cataracts, the 



may m general cry ft a i[i ne h um our has generally, if not always, been found 

 be cured in the J . , . , « r r> \ r • i 



wayofdepref- either in a loft or fluid ftate. If, therefore, it be not accom- 



flon » panied with an opacity, either in the anterior drpofterior por- 



tion of the capfule, and this eapfule be largely punctured 

 with the couching needle, introduced in the way in which 

 this inftrument is ufually employed to deprefs the cataract, 

 there is realbn to expect that the opaque matter will, fooner 

 or later, be abforbed, the pupil become clear, and the fight be 

 reftored. 



This procefs does Fourthly, If, in addition to the opacity of the cryftalline 



not prevent fub- numour its capfule be alfo opaque, either in its anterior or po- 

 fequent extrac- ' . . r , ., , ,. i • n / i 



tion. ftenor portion, or in both, (which circumitance cannot be 



afcertained before the operation,) and, in confequence of this, 



the operation above mentioned fhould not prove fuccefsful, it 



will not preclude the performance of extraction afterwards, if 



this be thought advifeable. 



Fifthly, 



