Natural History, tyc. 191 



disease, and depends on froth in the bronchi, or on the mixture of 

 air with an effused fluid, giving rise to rale, and causing asphyxia 

 or death. 3dly. That the effusion of blood into the trachea from a 

 wound is dangerous, as it is expectorated or absorbed with difficulty, 

 and is disposed to be converted into froth. 4th. If water pass into 

 the lungs during submersion, it is easily poured off by giving a 

 declining position to the superior parts of the body ; but if a person 

 respire on the surface of the water, the water which passes into the 

 trachea will be frothy and not easily removed. It is, therefore, 

 necessary to remove all water before we commence insufflation. 

 5th. We should remember that the fluid effused during the agony 

 (death) may be the sole cause of extinguishing life. Many members 

 presented confirmatory reflections on the opinion of M. Piorry as to 

 the innocuity of insufflation in a great majority of cases*. 



MM. Leroy, Magendie and Dumeril are opposed to M. Piorry's 

 opinionf. 



9. SURGICAL RECOVERY OF AN EYE. 



M. Maunoir, professor of surgery at Geneva, having performed the 

 operation for cataract, by extraction, upon a man eighty-two years of 

 age, weakened by an operation for hernia, which he had endured 

 six weeks before, perceived to his regret that, although the pupil 

 remained beautifully black and perfectly intact, the anterior and 

 posterior chambers of the eye were not replenished, the cornea 

 became sunk and wrinkled, a few bubbles of air penetrated the 

 anterior chamber, and the patient had no vision. Without yielding 

 to the first melancholy impression, the operator, by a happy presence 

 of mind, conceived the hopes of filling the cavity : he sent immedi- 

 ately for some distilled water, warmed it, placed the patient on his 

 back, and filled the external orbit of the eye with the water, opened 

 the eyelid, and raised the flap of the cornea. The water then pene- 

 trated into all the accessible cavities, the folds of the cornea disap- 

 peared, and its convexity was restored. Having kept the eye shut 

 for some minutes, he then directed the patient to open it, and found 

 it in the most satisfactory condition ; the patient distinguished all 

 the objects presented to him as well as after the most successful 

 operation. A slight pain was felt after the introduction of the water, 

 which went off after a short time. From that time the eye healed 

 without difficulty, and when opened a week after the operation it 

 was free from swelling and inflammation ; the cornea was perfectly 

 united, but the pupil was a little obscure, the sight feeble, and the 

 patient complained that he did not see so well as immediately after 

 the operation. But six days after the bandage was removed the 

 shade of the pupil was much diminished, the sight grew stronger 

 from day to day, and no doubt was entertained that the patient 

 would soon be able to read common print}. 



* Archives General. f Med. Jour. v. 73. I Bib. Universelle, Oct. 1829. 



