351 
of Edinburgh^ Session 1864-65. 
and colours disappeared, and the eye became as perfect as the other, 
— a proof that cataract, in its incipient stage, may be discovered opti- 
cally, and may be cured. During a series of experiments on the 
changes in the crystalline lenses of animals after death, the author 
observed that the capsule of the lens transmitted water into the 
lens till it burst ; and hence he concluded that cataract might arise 
from an unhealthy state of the aqueous humour, — hard cataract 
from too much albumen in the aqueous humour, and soft cataract 
from too much water. The aqueous humour should therefore be 
evacuated, in order that nature might supply a more healthy 
secretion, or an artificial aqueous humour should be injected into 
the aqueous chamber, — operations that may be easily and safely 
performed. The evacuation of the aqueous humour was long ago 
tried with safety forty times on the same patient, in the Manchester 
Infirmary, for conical cornea; and the author of this paper has 
learned, since it was read, that M. Casimir Spirone of Turin has 
cured numerous cases of cataract by the evacuation of the aqueous 
humour, repeated thirty, forty, and even ninety times. 
4. On the Hill Forts, Terraces, and other remains of the 
Early Eaces in the South of Scotland. By W. Chambers, 
Esq. of Glenormiston. 
The district referred to included Eoxburghshire, Selkirkshire, 
and Peeblesshire, in which Mr Chambers had visited and examined 
about 200 hill forts. These ancient works are found on the tops 
of hills of moderate elevation, and are of different classes, shewing 
a progressive improvement in construction. Those of the smaller 
kind consist of one or two concentric rings of earth and stone, with 
a clear space in the centre, and measure from 150 to 250 feet 
across. Such are considered to be the earliest in construction, 
and are at the least 2000 years old, though they may have been 
kept in use later. Their first constructors were unquestionably the 
aboriginal Celtic tribes, to whom they served as places of refuge 
and defence in petty local wars, or on the occasion of invasion. 
Originally, the entrenchments or rings may have been ten to fifteen 
feet in height, but now lying in ruins and covered with sward ; 
