[ no ] 



the cryftallinc is invcftcd hy a fine membrane from which it 

 readily efcapes by the leaft aperture, yet attempts to determine 

 as an operator^ whether there be an adhefion of the cataraft 

 to the iris or not*, nor can his method of performing the 

 operation of depreffion be approved of, feeing that he direds the 

 needle to pierce the fclerotica at a very fmall difiance from the 

 cornea, by which means the iris muft unavoidably be wounded. 

 In a word, the adherence of catarads has been the language 

 of antiquity, and continues to be that of modern times ; but it 

 certainly is not the language of anatomy or refledion, ^or // is 

 not the language of common fe?ife : But before we proceed to 

 explain what has given rife to this imaginary adhefion, the 

 following pradtical remarks on the different humours appear very 

 feafonable. 



And firft, as to the aqueous humour, it is a fad long efta- 

 blifhed, that if, by a wound of the cornea, it efcapes, it becomes 

 in a very Ihort time repleniflied, and the procefs of cxtrading 

 the cryftallinc proves that this regenerated liquor is as well adapted 

 to all the purpofes of vifion as the former. The vitreous 

 humour, if partly or totally loft, never can be reftored ; but a 

 wound of this body does not deftroy its tranfparency, nor even 

 injure it, as is demonftrable by the procefs of couching, which 

 cannot be effeded without not only wounding but feparating 

 parts of it, and forcing the cryftallinc through them. A wound 



* Defcription of the eye and its disorders, p. 8i, &c. 



of 



