58 



in the least possible portion of muriatic acid, equal parts of the white 

 oxide of antimony and phosphate of lime ; after which, pouring this 

 solution gradually into distilled water previously alkalizated by a 

 sufficient quantity of ammonia, a white and abundant precipitate will 

 be produced, which, being well washed and dried, is the substitute 

 he proposes for James's powder. A few observations are added on 

 the theory of this combination ; as also an assertion, that this powder, 

 administered as a medicine, perfectly agreed in its general effects 

 with James's powder, and the pulvis antimonialis, often prescribed 

 in lieu of it, with this advantage, that being more mild, it may be 

 given in larger doses, without producing the nausea or other stimu- 

 lating symptoms that usually attend it. 



Case of a young Gentleman, who recovered his Sight when seven Years 

 of Age, after having been deprived of it by Cataracts, before he was 

 a Year old; with Remarks. By Mr. James Ware, Surgeon. Com- 

 municated by Maxwell Garthshore, M.D. F.R.S. Read June 11, 

 1801. [Phil. Trans. 1801,;?. 382.] 



The subject of this case was the son of a clergyman in Somerset- 

 shire, who in his early infancy had every appearance of being a 

 healthy, perfect child ; but, when about a year old, was accidentally 

 observed to be deprived of sight. A surgeon in the country pro- 

 nounced that he had a complete cataract in each eye ; and Mr. Ware, 

 on being consulted, did not hesitate to decide that the only cure 

 would be the removal of the opaque crystalline humour ; but he 

 added, that he did not think the child would be fit for the operation 

 until he was at least thirteen or fourteen years of age. At the age 

 of seven, however, the child's parents brought him to London, in 

 order to enable Mr. Ware to form an opinion from his own obser- 

 vation. A recent case, in which this eminent operator had succeeded 

 to restore sight to a youth about fourteen years of age, without ex- 

 tracting the cataract, but merely by making a large puncture in the 

 capsule, so as to bring the opake crystalline into free contact with 

 the aqueous and vitreous humours, having induced him to retract his 

 opinion concerning the necessity of extracting the cataract, he pro- 

 posed to perform the above operation immediately on one of the eyes 

 of this new patient. This he effected without giving much pain ; and 

 in a few days the child described without hesitation all the objects 

 that were set before him. 



The author now draws a comparison between this case of restored 

 sight and those described by Mr. Cheselden in the 35th volume of 

 the Philosophical Transactions ; and finding a considerable deviation 

 in the results, he is induced to form several conclusions, which differ 

 materially from those of his predecessors. These are briefly, That 

 when children are born blind, in consequence of having cataracts in 

 their eyes, they are never so totally deprived of sight as not to be 

 able to distinguish colours : that they have likewise some percep- 

 tion of distances ; and that hence, when they recover their sight. 



