received Sight by the formation of' an artificial Pupil. 21" 



violent inflammation, and a collapse of the eye-ball, thus caus- 

 ing a complete destruction of the organ of vision. The ope- 

 ration on the left eye, though equally unsuccessful in attain- 

 ing its object, was not followed by any alteration in the form 

 or size of the globe. 



From the above early period she had continued totally blind, 

 being able merely to distinguish a very light from a very dark 

 room, but without having the power to perceive even the si- 

 tuation of the window through which the light entered ; though 

 in sunshine or in bright moonlight, she knew the direction 

 from whence the light emanated. With regard therefore to 

 the degree of sight, this lady was more completely blind than 

 the boy in the celebrated case related by Mr Cheselden, in 

 the 35th volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society ; 

 for in that instance the boy knew black, white, and scarlet 

 apart from one another ; and when in a good light he had that 

 degree of sight, which generally continues in an eye affected 

 with cataract ; whereas in this lady, the pupil being complete- 

 ly shut up, no light could reach the retina, except such rays 

 as could pass through the substance of the iris. 



When she was placed under my care she had reached her for- 

 ty-sixth year. The right eye-ball was collapsed, but the left re- 

 tained its natural globular form. The cornea of this eye was 

 transparent, except at one point near its circumference, where 

 there was a linear opacity, which had probably been the cica- 

 trix of the wound made during the operation in her infancy^ 

 The anterior chamber of the eye was of its natural capacity, 

 but I could not distinguish any vestige of a pupil, some streaks 

 of yellow lymph being deposited in an irregular manner over 

 the central part of the iris. There was every reason to be- 

 lieve that the retina was sound ; for though she could not 

 perceive objects, nor had any notion of colours, yet the cir- 

 cumstance already mentioned of her being able to distinguish 

 between a very light and a very dark chamber, and between 

 a gloomy day and sunshine, rendered it probable that the 

 nerve was in a sound and natural state. Under this impres- 

 sion, I thought that the restoration of her sight by making an 

 artificial pupil was practicable, and certainly well worthy of a 

 trial. Accordingly, on the £6th of January, I introduced a 



