1832.] Proceedings of Societies. 257 



coats of the eye, three lines hehind the junction of the cornea and sclerotic ; and 

 the new instrument is introduced with its concavity forwards and edges verti- 

 cal ; it is carried behind the lens, over the upper edge of which the concavity 

 of the instrument is placed, and depression effected in such a way as to separate 

 all the attachments of the capsule, and to lodge the lens and its capsule at once 

 below and behind the pupil ; the handle of the instrument may then be rolled 

 between the finger and thumb, so as to disengage its blade from the lens ; and 

 the instrument is to be withdrawn. The author considers Mr. Breton's estimate 

 of the failure of couching in the hands of the natives, (taken probably from 

 their own operators' representations,) to be erroneous ; and that instead of 

 10 per cent, of failures, 40 or 50 per cent, might be a more correct average. 

 He says, from having seen the native oculist mentioned by Mr. Breton, put out 

 four eyes in succession on the same morning, in two of which cases the lens wag 

 pushed into the anterior chamber, and in one the iris torn in half ; and from 

 having constantly patients brought to him whose eyes were destroyed in con- 

 sequence of the native operation : he is inclined to consider couching as per- 

 formed by the native oculists, barbarous and unscientific. He altogether dis- 

 credits the account of the native operation having been performed seven times on 

 one eye, with ultimate success. The author states, that in a fair proportion of 

 cases in which the new instrument has been used, the operation has been 

 successful ; but he cannot yet decide whether the subsequent inflammation, 

 generally speaking, is greater than after the European mode of couching. In 

 several cases, however, it has been severe; and he thinks constitutes the 

 principal, and, perhaps, the only solid objection to the operation performed in the 

 manner he has now advised. 



Mr. Mercer's paper relative to vaccination and varioloid diseases was then read 

 and discussed by the Meeting. 



3, — Agricultural and Horticultural Society, 



The Ulh June, 1832. 

 Sir Edward Ryan, President, in the Chair. 

 The following Gentlemen were admitted Members of the Society, viz. 

 1. — Lieut. Colonel Thomas C. Watson, European Regiment. 

 2. — Mr. Richard Hunter, C. S., now of Cuttack. 

 3. — Captain W. Badenach, 57th N. I. 

 4. — Mi - . George T. Lushington, C. S. 

 The following letters were read : 



1. From the Secretary of the South Carolina Agricultural Society, to Mr. Pid- 

 dington, Foreign Secretary, dated 31st October last, acknowledging receipt of 

 this Society's circular letter of the 1st of the preceding March : offering to sup- 

 ply any indigenous plants and seeds that may be required ; and presenting some 

 publications of the South Carolina Agricultural Society. 



2. — Mr. Piddington was requested to acknowledge the receipt of these publica- 

 tions, and to procure a parcel of seeds for the South Carolina Society. 



3. — From Captain Cowles, two letters, dated Diamond Harbour, 8th and 24th 

 ultimo, presenting two samples of Sugar, of his manufacture, and furnishing some 

 particulars of the proofs, &c. — The thanks of the Meeting were voted to Cap- 

 tain Cowles. 



4. — From Mr. Kyd, dated 9th ult. presenting some China Potatoes for seed. 

 The Secretary stated that he had forwarded the Potatoes to the Allipore Garden. 



