XC1V BOWMAN LECTURE. 



the opaque lenses were much harder than normal lenses of 

 corresponding age. 



GLAUCOMA. 



(Figs, and descriptions 28 to 34 in Appendix III.} 



About glaucoma as a hereditary disease I need not say 

 very much, since the known cases (some twenty-four families) 

 have been quite lately collected by Mr. Lawford. So far 

 the most striking features are the strong tendency to anti- 

 cipation in the younger generation and the continuous 

 descent.* Probably many of us have seen one or two 

 cases of typical primary glaucoma in children, and it will 

 be of extreme interest in future to investigate the family 

 history of these very rare cases. 



In some of the glaucoma families there seems to be a 

 possible relationship between this disease and myopia, and 

 an attempt might well be made to ascertain whether, in 

 such families, the two conditions can in any degree 

 replace one another. 



The prognosis for operation is another point whose 

 importance needs only to be mentioned ; in the members 

 of some pedigrees the prospect is as good as possible, but 

 I am inclined to suspect there are other families in which 

 operation is generally unfavourable. 



These and other considerations show how urgently we 

 need the collection of much more material relating to the 

 heredity of glaucoma. 



RETINITIS PIGMUNTOSA. 



(Figs. 35 and 36 in text 37, 38 and 39 in Appendix IV.} 



This malady, which, especially since Liebreich/s observa- 

 tions in 1861, has been a rich source of material to those 

 interested in the influence of heredity and of consanguinity 

 in family disease, has lately been dealt with at some length 



* Lawford, R.L.O.H., xvii, 1907, p. 57. Anticipation is shown in Cases 

 1,3,6,7,8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 24 of the series. Only one, 

 Case 2, shows discontinuity of descent. 



