L 49 ] 



XI. Notices respecting Netv Books. 



A Narrative of ike Cane of Miss Margaret MacAvoy; luilh 



an Account of some Optical Experiments connectid with it. 



By Thomas Renwick, M.D. PInjsician to the Liverpool 



Infirmary. 4to. pp. 111. 

 Hints to Credulity ; or, Jn Examination of the Pretensions of 



Miss M. MacAvoy, occasioned by Dr. Renvvick's Narrative 



of her Case. By Joseph Sandars. p. 69. 



i. HE subject of this case is stated by Dr. Renwick to have been 

 born on the 28th .fune 1800, A hooping cou^h with which she 

 was attacked when an infant, was succeeded by an affection of 

 the eyes which severely afflicted her, and was attended with a 

 very considerable and constant discharge of a bloody watery fluid. 

 Her friends despaired of saving the eyes, but no professional means 

 were employed for some time; the disease gradually increased, 

 and the exposure to light caused insupportable pain. When the 

 eyelids were raised up, the eyeballs appeared as one mass of blood. 

 A friend recommended Johnston's golden oMitment, which was 

 made use of with great benefit ; and in a short t.'me the pain and 

 irritability of the eyes were entirely removed. She .'low gradually 

 recovered her sight ; perfectly with the right eye, but i*he left was 

 ■so weak she could scarcely open it, and saw every thv;3§ as it 

 were through a ir.ist. 



From this period until June 1815, she continued in a very va- 

 riable and infirm state of health. On the 4th of that month she 

 is said to have been visited for the first time by Dr. Renwick. 

 He found her so much affected with giddiness as to stagger in 

 walking across the room. With the left eye she could scarcely 

 distinguish any object, and with the right for several days pre- 

 vious to his visit every object at a distance appeared white ; and 

 those which were near double. On the 7th of June she could 

 not distinguish any object whatever, and appeared totally blind. 

 The pupils were consideralily dilated, and did not contract upon 

 the application of strong light. 



The succeeding passages of Dr. Renwick's observations we 

 shall give in his own words : 



" August 2. Mr. Thomas, surgeon, and 1 particularly exa- 

 mined her eyes exposed to the light of a candle as near to the 

 eye as possible without burning her, but without observing the 

 slightest contraction or dilatation of the pupil, or the least sensi- 

 bility in the eye. I have frequently since this period thrown my 

 hand suddenly towards her face;' have pretended to dash a 

 pointed penknife at the eye ; and have often applied the point 

 of the finger in a quiet and steady manner as near as possible to 



Vol. 51. No. 237. Jan. 1818. D the 



