1919. No. 1. GRECO-ROMAN AND ABABIC BRONZE INSTRUMENTS. 17 
principle of the best operation: the removal of the cataracted lens. The 
depression of cataract was performed by puncturing the membranes out- 
side the cornea with the triangular sharp point of a strong bronze needle 
fitted with a handle; the point of the needle was brought up to the upper 
edge of the lens, which was then forced down to the bottom of the eye; 
the first step the puncture of the membranes outside the cornea was often 
made with the point of a lancet. 
How can I make it likely that the broken instrument 23 has been a 
depression needle? It cannot be proved, as the sharp part of the instru- 
ment is wanting; but | have the following facts to support my opinion: 
1) The diameter of the square handle 4 mm is about the same as in 
the ophtalmic instruments of the present day; 1 do not however lay grea 
stress upon this point. 
2) The proportion between handle and shaft (Fig. 5) corresponds with 
some Arabian diagram pictures (Fig. 4) of depression needles in Abulqasim's 
textbook of surgery (11th century); in spite of the prohibition of the Koran 
against images, the work is illustrated.in the oldest manuscripts perhaps by 
Christian copyists who have seen the Arabian instruments. 
In the Latin translations of Abulqasim (vounger manuscripts and in- 
cunabel prints) the illustrations become more and more fantastic, while they 
are arbitrarily simplified in Leclerc's French translation, whose drawings 
were lent by Gurlt. 
pu, 
m oe 
LAAAAN AL A A a EAN x 
aes Se 
Vv VV NV VVVVV VV VV 
Fig. 4. 
The picture of the Channing Abuljàsim edition (1778) ot three Arabic couching needles 
for cataract from MS. Huntingdoniensis, number :56, Bodleian Library in Oxford (after 
Karl Sudhoff . 
The instrument Pl. II, 23 photographed in such a position that one of the four edges is 
seen along the middle axis while the-sawtoothed outlines-of the upper and lover edge are 
seen in profile, 
Vid.-Selsk. Skrifter. I. M.-N. Kl. 1919. No. r. 2 
