-l6 PHILOSOPHICAL TllANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1724. 



in the aqueous humour, or adhering to the edge of the iris, could be seen, as 

 said to have been observed by Wodhouse, But what was still more surprising, 

 no remains whatever of the crystalline humour were found. The vitreous 

 humour exhibited nothing preternatural; the tunica choroidea and retina were 

 of a brown colour both internally and externally. In like manner no traces of 

 a pellicle, nor any remains of the crystalline humour, were found in the right 

 eye. The cornea of this eye was wrinkled and fiaccid; for the aqueous humour, 

 when once let out, is never renewed. Hence the use of this eye was irreco- 

 verably lost. No doubt this man had a crystalline humour in each eye before 

 he underwent the operation of couching. It is therefore inferred, that in 

 consequence of its displacement in the act of couching, and at the same time 

 of its disengagement from its connection with the ciliary ligaments and vessels, 

 by means of which nourishment is conveyed to it, this humour, (the crystalline 

 humour,) wasted away and disappeared.* It is conjectured that this always 

 happens after the operation of couching. This case very clearly proves, con- 

 trary to the opinion of the Parisian oculist Wodhouse, that vision may take 

 place where the crystalline humour is wanting. 



An Account of a Book entitled, Dominici Bottom, de immani Trinacrice Term 

 Motu Idea Historico-Physica, in qua non solum Telluris Concussiones transactce 

 recensentur, sed novissimcs Anni 1717- Messance 1718, Svo. By J. G. 

 Scheuchzer, M. D. R. S. S. Coll. M. L. Lie. N° 334, p. 151. 



This treatise contains an accurate historical account of the several violent 

 earthquakes, which happened in the kingdom of Sicily, in the years 1693, 

 1694, and 1717, interspersed with some philosophical digressions concerning 

 the causes and effects of earthquakes in general. An account of the first of 

 these was communicated to the Koyal Society by the late Malpighi, and is in 

 serted in the Phil. Trans. N° 207- 



The summer of 1 692 was exceedingly hot and tempestuous, with frequent 

 thunders, lightnings and rains. About the middle of September fell such 

 profuse showers, that all the rivers and torrents increased to such a degree, as 

 to overflow their banks in several places, and cover large tracts of ground with 

 water. This joined to the continual blowing of southerly winds, during the 

 autumn, put the inhabitants under great apprehension of future mischiefs. 

 And indeed, the disastrous fate, which afterwards befel Sicily, the beginning 

 of 1693, proved that this ominous fear was not groundless. For on January g, 

 about the 5th hour, according to the Italian way of counting, after a warm, 



* Being absorbed. 



