lorn ic'ith Cataracts in iheir Eiies. 20/ 



placed before him, and dilated as soon as it was withdrawn. 

 He was capable oi distinguishing colours with tolerable ac- 

 curacy, particularly the more bright and vivid ones. 

 , On the 6th of October the leR eye was couched. This 

 operation was preferred to extraction, from a belief that the 

 cataracts were not solid, and as the injury done to the cap- 

 sule by the operation would be less, there was not the same ' 

 chance of inflammation, the disposition for which had been 

 so strong ui the former case. As the eye was not irritable, 

 and was likely lo be but little disturbed by this operation, 

 every thing was previously got ready for ascertaining his 

 knowledge of objects, as soon as the operation was over, 

 should the circumstances prove favourable. The operation 

 was attended with success, and gave very little pain. The 

 eye was allowed ten minutes to recover itself : a round piece 

 of card of a yellow colour, one inch in diameter, was then 

 placed about six inches from it. He said immediately that 

 it was yellow, aiid on being asked its shape, said, " Let nif 

 touch it, and I will tell you." Being told that he must not 

 touch it, after looking for some time, he sai'd it was round. 

 A square blue card, nearly the same size, being put before 

 him, he said it was blue and round.. A triansular piece 

 he also called round, 'ilie difi'ercnt colours of the objects 

 placed before him he instantly decided on with great correct- 

 ness, but had no idea of their form. He moved his eye to 

 different distances, and seemed lo see best at 6 or 7 inches. 

 His focal distance has been since ascertained to be 7 inches. 

 He was asked whether the object seemed to touch his eye, 

 he said '• No ;" but when desired to say 'at what distance it 

 v/as, he could not tell. These experiments were made in 

 the theatre of the hospital, in whicli the operation was per- 

 f irined, iK-fnre the surgeons and all the students. He was 

 highly delighted with the pleasure of seeing, and said it was 

 ** so pretty," even \Vhcn no object was before him, only the 

 light upon his eye. The eye was covered, and he was put 

 to bed, and toKl to keep himself quiet ; but upon the house- 

 surgeon going lo him half an hour afterwards, his eye was 

 lound uncovered, and he was looking at his bed curtains, 

 which Vvcre clusc drawn. Th,; bandage was replaced, but so 



delighted 



