[ 533 ] 
it never was carried into practice among the ancients, 
is, that, had they made the extraction of the cata- 
racts, they mu ft have found it to be the cryftalline 
humour, and not remained in the error they have all 
fallen into, that the cataraCt was a membrane form’d 
in tbe aqueous humour. 
In regard to Taylor, he may have attempted, but 
never did carry it into practice ; elfe he would not 
have fail’d to have publifh’d it in the numberlefs pro- 
ductions he has given. I know, that, in 1743, I fol- 
low'd him in Edinburgh for fix months, where he 
performed above 100 operations of the cataraCt by 
couching; but never once attempted this way, nor 
ever mention’d it but in the cafe, where the cryftalline 
is lodged in the anterior chamber; which operation 
has been deferibed in many authors. So that I think 
Mr. Daviel may be truly faid to be the fir ft, who has 
brought this method into general practice for the 
cure of a cataraCt. 
I think the greateft rifle one runs in this operation 
is the pufhing out of the humours of the iris thro’ 
the opening, which forms a Jlaphyloma ; and I find 
this has been the cafe in fome of thofe that have 
failed ; and it is not eafy to contrive a bandage upon 
that part, to make a comprefiion equal to the refift- 
ance of the cornea before it was open’d. I am, 
Dear Sir, 
JTours, &c. 
Tho, Hope, 
XCI, 
