I 



and Carcinoma of the Er/e. 347 



in ihe substances of the sclerotica, on one side of the cor- 

 nea, many years, without giving pain or occasioning' any 

 sort of trouble; and, on the contrary, it has at other times 

 increased rapidiv, and the enlarged organ in a few months 

 has completely filled the orbit*. It does not appear that 

 medicines or applications have the power of checking or 

 controlling this malignant disorder ; and whenever its na- 

 ture can be clearly a-ceriained, the only question is, whe- 

 ther it be possible to extirpate completely every part that 

 partakes of the poison. - AUhoiigh it be a melancholy truth 

 tliat the operation has too oficr. failed, this does not lead to 

 the conclusion that its performance is always improper, 

 since it certainly has not unfreqnentiv succeeded ; and I 

 have the satisfaction to say,, though I have sonsetimes failed, 

 1 have several times performed it with complete success. 



With regard to the mode of performing the operation, I 

 would advise it to be done in the following manner. 



The patient should he seated in a clear light, on a chair of 

 a suitable height to bring his eye on a level with the breast 

 of the operator; and the operator should either sit or stand 

 before him, as is most easy to himself. The patient's head 

 should rest against the breast of an assistant, whose left 

 hand should support the upper eyelid by means of a double 

 blunt-pointed hook, the points of which are seven-eighths 

 of an inch distant from each other, and his right hand 

 should be at liberty to do any thing that may he desired by 

 the operator. The hands of the patient should be held b\r 

 two assistants that sit one on each side, and an assistant 

 should be ready to give the operator instruments, sponges, 

 SiC. A crocked needle armed with a strong thread, and 

 well waxed, should then be passed through the whole of 



* since these papers were put tofjether, 1 have extirpated an enlarged eve 

 ffuni a j^cjillcman, thirty years of age, who had lost the sight of it many 

 years; hut it occ;isione<J uo pain or inconvenience until about six months 

 ago, when it lieean to eiilarge, and an increase in i(s size had afterward- hcvn 

 perceived almost every v/eelc. 'Die enlargement of the eye u. is universal; 

 the blood-vc--.scls had a purpjiih red appearance; there were three hluci.-h 

 spots on the sclerotica, one of ivhich was as large as a sixpence; and the 

 pressure of the eye against thv eyelid kept up a constant uneasiness In a 

 consnitation with Mr. (?line, it was jiidgtd advi.sal)le. as the increase of ihg 

 turr.our was rapid, to recommend the extirpation i.f it withont delay, and, 

 the patient givijig his consent, I performed the operation, in pre-sence of 

 Mr. (Jlinc, a few days after the coiisnllation. Nothing unusual occurred at 

 the time; and on examining the tumour ;iftervvards, the humours of the eye 

 >vere found to lie no otherwise afFeclcd than hy their enlaigement, the blue 

 .-ippearauces being occasioned soltiv by an atl'tction of the sclerotica. iUt 

 accident happened alter the operation, and in le'S than a month the wound 

 ■vvib healed, and the jaiient returntd, pwfcttly well, to Lis htine in Kent 



the 



