156 Successful Application of ike Magnet, &c, 



free from pain, although many months before, both night 

 and day, the pain had continued without intermission ; and 

 the young man was unhappy from an apprehension that he 

 must lose the sight of that eye, which had been much im- 

 paired by the misfortune. A small scar remained on the eye s 

 but it occasioned no pain. The weakest magnet which I 

 used for this operation will suspend a weight of about three 

 pounds, and the strongest will suspend a weight of about 

 fifty pounds. The weakest magnet by its construction, not 

 being so unwieldy to manage as the other, gave me an op- 

 portunity of approaching more closely to the organ of sight 

 than I could with the largest; but I think they both had 

 their use in forcing the fragment to cut its way through the 

 teguments which enveloped it. Not being a medical man, 

 it is probable I may not have given the description so accu- 

 rately as it might have been given ; but the effect produced,, 

 and the manner in which it was accomplished, I think can- 

 »bt be misunderstood. 



I must here recommend to persons who may be induced 

 to make use of the same means to discharge any particles of 

 iron from the eye, not to be discouraged in their applica- 

 tion, if the iron should not so suddenly be extracted as they 

 might expect : they should take into consideration the de- 

 gree of confinement, and every other existing obstacle be- 

 tween the iron and the magnet ; and should not too hastily 

 decline the operation. 



I have not slated these particulars as in themselves ex- 

 traordinary, nor as calculated to excite surprise. We all know- 

 that the natural property of the magnet is such, as to attract 

 iron in every possible situation j and we also know the pene- 

 trating force of the magnetic fluid will, with a degree of 

 strength equal to the power communicated, make its pas- 

 sage even through plates of glass, when any particle of iron 

 is within the circuit of its influence. I can therefore only 

 wonder that a means so familiar, and which seems to be 

 pointed out by a law in Nature, should not more frequently 

 be used on such occasions. 



William Pi gram Sen. 



XXVII. Rer 



