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VII. An A ccount of the Diffe&ion of an Eye with a 
Cataraff. By Mr. John' Ranby, Surgeon . 
CEpt. 21. 1723. 1 was confulted by one William Sol - 
/<2r.r, aged Fifty, who complain’d of a Decay in his 
Sight j upon examining his Eyes, I found two Cata- 
racts, that in his right Eye almoft ripe, the other juft 
forming. There being no other obvious Method of re- 
lieving him, I propos’d the Operation, but firft advis’d 
him to confult fome others of the Profeflion, and accor- 
dingly he advis’d with my ingenious Friend Mr. Tan- 
ner, who, upon viewing his Eyes, declar’d them both 
Cataracts, but that neither of them was as yet ft for the 
Operation. In the mean time the, poor Man fell ill of 
a Fever, and died the 2d 0 {March. I procur’d the 
Right Eye, in which the Cataract was- moft confirm’d, 
in order to make an exad Bijfedion of it : In examining 
it, I found the Aqueous and Vitreous Humours in their 
natural State, but the Cryftalline Humor was opake 
and of a foul Pearl Colour, and more folid Subftance 
than in its natural State.,. The generally receiv’d Opi- 
nion, that a Catarad -is a Film, growing behind, or 
fometimes before the Pupil* made us examine botli 
Chambers of the Aqueous.. JHfui^our, with the utmoft 
Exadnefs, but all to no Purpofe, for the Aqueous Hu- 
mour had its natural.' Tranfparoncy, nor could we ob- 
ferve any thing preternatural either on the Iris or C V- 
vea , except too great a Contraction of the Pupil. This ‘ 
very much ftrengthens Opinion of Maitrejan, Brif- 
fe\ Heifter , and Valfalva i who have feyeraUy aflerted, 
that a Catarad is only an Opacity of the Cryftalline 
HumhMf, and that it naturally proceeds from a Serous 
Acid, 
