[ '35 ] 



our endeavours the capfula will heal, and all will be to do over 

 again. To efFed this the catarad ftiould be gradually difengaged 

 by gentle and nearly rotatory motions, and infenfibly withdraw- 

 ing it from before the pupilla, which the breadth of the needle 

 feems well calculated for. When you behold it retiring from it, 

 you Hiould gently prefs it (but with the fides of the inftrument) 

 to the bottom of the eye, and there detain it for two or three 

 feconds, or 'till the vitreous humour fills up the deferted place. 

 Though a catarad thus deprefi~ed may rife a little, yet as it is 

 cfFedually removed from its original place, it will infenfibly fall 

 again, and melt away ; for I am to repeat it, that the fuccefs of 

 the operation depends on a fufficient opening of the membrane, 

 and puOiing the opaque body from its natural refting place. If 

 the catarad be in a difliblved ftate, the firft perforation will give 

 ifiTue to it ; and though it may appear to difturb the other hu- 

 mours, yet in a few days all will infenfibly fubfide, and the eye 

 clear up. There are other inftances where the cryftalline will be 

 removed with very little trouble to the operator ; but this only 

 proves that its membrane is very thin, and the vitreous humour 

 not fo vifcid as ufual. But notwithftanding the diredions given 

 to remove the cryftalline, if it fhould ftill refift our endeavours, 

 and if, by accidentally wounding the iris, blood fhould follow ; 

 in this cafe, when the operator is fatisfied that the capfula is 

 fufficiently dilated, he fhould immediately withdraw the needle, 

 and prefs with his finger on the fide of the globe oppofite the 

 perforation, and this -will effe6iually di/lodge the cataraB, without any 

 injury -whatever to the eye^ provided the prejfure is not too violent^ 

 which the forcing out the cryftalline does not fccm to demand. 



Having, 



