[ ^36 ] 



Having, I think, efFeflually exploded the erroneous doflrine of 

 e}Jhere?tt cataraBs, and given a more exa£t defcription of the 

 parts interefted in the operation, the true caufes of the difficul- 

 ties that occur in it, and the means of overcoming them, than 

 has hitherto appeared ; 1 fliall now proceed to treat of the extrac- 

 tion of the cryftalline, and propofc an operation much more 

 fimplc than that now in ufe, and attended with infinitely greater 

 advantages to the patient. 



Of extraEling the Cry/Ialline. 



Wounds of the cornea have been long known to be attended 

 with, no danger or inconveniency, except from the cicatrice ob- 

 ftruding the rays of light; for the aqueous humour is foon 

 reftored. Pieces of the cryftalline have been often known to 

 pafs into this chamber, and to be fometimes extracted by 

 incifing the cornea ; inftances of which are given by Mery, Pete! 

 and St. Yves ; and, encouraged by this fuccefs, Mery propofed 

 to the academy the extradmg the cataradl by an incifion of 

 the cornea, as a certain cure *. It docs not however appear 

 that he ever reduced it to practice ; and whatever applaufc 

 is due to this method, M. Daviel is certainly entitled to it. 

 He pierced the cornea nearly in a line with the pupilla, at the 

 external canthus, with a catarad needle, and continued it in this 



* Memoires de rAcademie des Sciences, 1707. 



diredion 





