extract a Fragment of Iron out of the human Eye. 155 



the more encouraged,, knowing the principle to be correct, 

 and the power to be employed very great. I first examined 

 the eye with a powerful magnifying glass, and I could dis- 

 cover a very small particle of black iron, but covered over 

 with the thin coating of th-e eye ; the surface was even, and 

 like the other parts of the eye. When I had satisfied myself* 

 of the exact situation, and of the impediments which I had 

 to surmount, the eyelids were held open, and I applied the 

 north pole of a combined, staple magnet, possessing great 

 power, at the distance of about T \ r t ' 1 °f an ' nc ^ froni the 

 eye ; then I used another magnet of less power, but of more 

 convenient construction : thus I continued alternately to 

 apply them both, and at last 1 could perceive the fragment 

 of iron had projectfd above the surface of the iris of the eye. 

 This gave me some encouragement, although there was a 

 coating to cut its way through, before the magnet could 

 draw it out. To appearance it was as firmly fixed as a thorn 

 in the flesh, and which prevented it from being drawn out 

 so instantaneously, as the magnet, by its great attractive 

 power, might have done, had the fragment been only loosely 

 floating on the outer surface of the eye. 



During this operation the young man frequently thought 

 he felt the fragment rush out of his eye, before it actually 

 was so. This sensation on so tender an organ was most 

 likely produced by the great force with which the magnet 

 attracted the fragment of iron; and as it was evidently dis- 

 lodged from its former position, I was the more encouraged 

 to be very earnest in my application. After using magnets- 

 of different degrees of power, and in various directions, for 

 the space of about ten or fifteen minutes, the particle of iron 

 cut its way through the thin teguments of the eye, by the 

 power of attraction, and was taken out by the magnet : I 

 must confess that \ was surprised to find so small a particle 

 should have been the occasion of such long continued painj 

 but when the structure of that tender organ is duly consi- 

 dered, the wonder will cease: by the assistance of glasses, 

 the fragment appeared of an imperfect octagon shape, and 

 armed with rough jagged edges. 

 As spon as the fragment was drawn outj the eye was instantly 



free 



